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Buying or selling your Las Vegas home is one of the most momentous things you can undertake, and finding the right real estate agent is crucial. An experienced and ethical real estate agent can be the difference between paying too much for a house that not only needs lots of work but may be uninhabitable and getting too little for a house that’s beautiful, sound, and in the perfect neighborhood. Here are five things to consider when hiring a real estate agent.
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You’ll need to shop around for the right real estate agent as you would with any other contractor whose job requires lots of time, money, and expertise. Get references from coworkers or friends and family members who live in the area. If you live in the Vegas area you can utilize the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for a list of real estate agents or look up Las Vegas real estate agents online.
If you’re selling your home, you may be fortunate enough to utilize the real estate agent who helped you buy your house in the first place. However, if you’ve lived in your home for decades, that real estate agent may no longer be in business. Even if they are, you should still make sure that the agent you had a good experience with in the past is up to date on any changes in the real estate market and has maintained a good track record with clients.
Though fledgling real estate agents can provide excellent service, experience does count. An experienced real estate agent has dealt with all manner of the frankly outlandish situations that can appear in the housing market and can help you navigate them. On the other hand, a fledgling real estate agent will be eager to do their best for you. You should ask them if they are being mentored or are part of a team of agents that can backstop them in case things get a little out of hand.
After ascertaining that your real estate agent is licensed and has some experience, you should ask how many deals they’ve done so far in the year. Though the actual number shouldn’t decide whether you work with the agent or not, you should get the sense that they operate in the real estate business full-time as opposed to now and then.
Your agent should be easy to reach when it comes time to seal the deal between you and a buyer or seller. It’s not uncommon for some sticking point to show up during a transaction that can only be solved by a licensed real estate agent. The agent should also be available to answer any questions you may have, either over the phone or in person. If your agent is in such demand that they can’t carve out time for you, it may be time to find another agent.
Though a real estate agent isn’t there to tell you which property to buy or avoid, they are there to let you know of any concerns they may have. It’s then up to you to use this knowledge when it comes to buying a property. If you’re selling, your agent may let you know that the selling price you’re asking for is not realistic for the market.
The agent should also help you if you have a timeframe. You might need to sell the house quickly and settle for a price lower than you wanted, or you might have the luxury of time and can hold out until you get a better offer. The agent should also help if you’re willing to negotiate a price.
A good real estate agent lets you know what the Las Vegas market is like, can help you set a price range for your home, and help you avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers. They can guide you to the best neighborhood for you and provide types of insider knowledge that make buying and selling a home a little less daunting.