Buying or Selling a Home/selling a home

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Question
I am trying to choose a new realtor for a home we have for sale.  Do I want a buyer or seller agent?  Do I want someone who works 50/50 buyers and seller or 30/70?  And can I trust information that they put on websites about themselves?  Is there a way to view how "successful" they actually are?

Thank you

Answer
Dear Tina;
When an agent is representing you they become a Seller's agent.  If the agent works as both then all it means is that they can work both sides of a transaction but should certainly only represent you as a seller when they sign a listing agreement.  That means, they are representing you and your best interests 100 percent of the time.  If you want this, then make sure that it is spelled out in your listing agreement.  

As for the success of a real estate agent, you can certainly talk to the managing broker, but I suggest asking around--friends, family and co-workers.  If no one gives any recommendations, then choose someone, interview them and ask for references and then call the references.

Good luck and best wishes.

Jessica Bryan

Buying or Selling a Home

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Jessica Bryan

Expertise

buying and selling process such as:
General questions from first time buyers
How to market a home
Why choose a REALTOR
How do I find a REALTOR
Should I consider buying or selling without a REALTOR--how much can I save
Should I remodel or move
How much can I expect to gain by fixing up my home before selling
Helpful tips when selling
Helpful tips when buying
finding a good mortgage loan
what is the difference between banks, mortgage bankers, and mortgage brokers
Questions from the general public, people thinking about getting their real estate license, newly licensed.
Fellow professionals who have interests in networking and how to get started
What is a market evaluation and how does it differ from an appraisal what are the different loan programs
services a REALTOR can perform
when to use a lawyer
when to use escrow
what are the regional differences in the buying and selling process
what is the MLS and how does it work
how can the layman access information on the web--listings and other information
These are just a few of the questions. I can suggest that if I am unable to answer a question I will refer the inquiry to a source that can.

Experience

Anyone who is in this business and who dedicates oneself to professionalism has continued to take classes and along with it,additional credentials, awards and honors. I can list a host of them, but my greatest accomplishments happen to be those of getting first time buyers (who didn't think they could afford to buy a home)into a home of their dreams. The look on their faces when I hand over the keys is worth all of the hard work.

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