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Hiring a Real Estate Agent
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Real estate agent responsibilities
Real estate agents work on the basis of sales commissions. Home sellers do not pay the agent until the house is sold. The agent's commission is taken from the proceeds of the sale as a percentage of the selling price. In some cases, flat fees may be agreed upon in advance, but this is not typical. Sellers should check with prospective agents about their commission rates while, at the same time, checking on the agent's record of success.
To get a license, real estate agents pass a rigorous state examination that covers both proper marketing practices and the numerous legal considerations in the sale and transfer of property from one person to another.
Additionally, real estate companies and local associations of agents establish ethical practices that contribute to the standards of professional conduct. This gives reasonable assurance to sellers that an agent is reputable, and the ethical standards enhance the reputation of this high-stakes business profession.
Benefits of using a Realtor
Real estate agents are rewarded for finding home sellers by becoming the agent of record through an executed sales contract with the seller. The contract names the agent as the recipient of future commissions regardless of who actually sells the home. During the term of the contract, the listing agent receives the commission on the sale.
The property listing becomes the asset of the real estate agent, thus establishing the agent's own interest in finding a buyer.
The advantages of working with a real estate agent to sell a home are numerous. Here are a few:
Agents have a vested interest in the sale of the home at the best possible selling price. Commissions are not earned until the agent's work consummates in a sale.
Sellers who have limited time and knowledge about the local real estate market can benefit from the agent's talents without having to become experts themselves.
Agents can leverage their reputation in the local market with advertising and a list of prospective buyers. As professionals, real estate agents are usually aware of potential buyers long before an individual seller learns of it. Corporate moves and local business changes can give real estate agents a long list of sales leads. This works to the home seller's advantage.

A real estate agent should have a proper marketing plan in place to sell your house as quickly as possible at the right price point. (Photo by Summer Galyan)
Agents handle the negotiations with the buyers so that buyers and sellers do not run the risk of personality clashes. As professionals, real estate agents can depersonalize the sale so that if a potential buyer complains about some aspect of the home's appearance or condition, it does not offend the seller, thus causing a stalemate or an end to the negotiation, and, perhaps, a lost sale.
Honesty is essential in the contracting and final execution of the sale, but it begins at the point when the seller signs the contract to engage the services of a real estate agent. It may seem obvious, but the seller needs to know what the prospective buyer will see when he or she tours the home. An honest real estate agent will inform the seller of all potential negative factors, from pet odors to paint colors. Sellers should be prepared to hear this honest evaluation and to make the necessary changes to attract the best buyers.
Using a Realtor to buy a home
Keeping in mind that the real estate agent is paid on the basis of the sale of the seller's home, prospective buyers need to recognize whose interest is most at stake in the transaction. Selling the home is the only way the agent can make money, so even if the agent shows a buyer a home that is listed by another agent, neither agent makes any money unless the house is sold.
Buyers should be selective in choosing a home, and they should remain selective during the buying process and not yield to the pressure of an agent who demonstrates an unwillingness to negotiate on key points with the seller's agent.
A first-time buyer should research a few key things before soliciting the help of a buyer's agent. Here is a short list:
Does the agent have a good number of his/her own listings in the community where the buyer wants to live? An agent is most likely going to show the buyer the homes he or she has listed. The agent's commission will be higher because the agent is both the seller's agent and the buyer's agent in the transaction.
Is the agent associated with a realty company that has a large quantity of listings that are attractive to the buyer? An agent can bring the benefit of a much larger list of potential homes for the buyer to choose from if his network or agency has some prearranged sharing of commissions.
Ask the agent for references of recent buyers he or she has represented. Ask the referenced buyers questions about the negotiations, the closing of the deal, and what, if anything, they had to give up in the negotiations.
Red flags with Realtors
A seller ready to put a home on the market should be selective in whom they hire and review a list of real estate agent ratings. A home seller should find out about a potential agent's specific marketing plan for the home. A real estate agent who cannot give marketing details is likely not going to be as successful. Other red flags include poor communication and agents who appear self-serving.
Find out from local business newspapers, data services and real estate company ratings on Angie's List how long, on average, it takes to sell a local home. Be wary if the agent's personal record of sales is significantly longer, without reasonable explanation. Timing is often a critical consideration in home sales.
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Real User Reviews for Real Estate Agent Companies
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AThe Zac TeamJust completed our purchase and moved into our new home. Every person at the Zac Team was professional, patient and eager. Our agent was Robin Brown, and we can't say enough good things about her. We highly recommend using the Zac Team, as we will again in the future.- Evan S.
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AOlsen Ziegler RealtyWow!! We were beyond lucky to work with agent Chris Olsen of Olsen Ziegler Realty. The level of expertise that Chris possesses is above and beyond that of any realtor we have ever heard about or worked with. Chris is the agent that you want to have on your side when finding your new home. He is extremely knowledgeable on many levels, from the structure of a home, and materials used, to warning signs, and the list goes on. He has a great grasp on whether or not a property is listed close to its actual value with experience as an appraiser. He went above and beyond what is expected of an agent. His communication with us throughout the entire process, even after we closed on our new home was so excellent, thoughtful and much appreciated! An e-mail, text or phone call was answered within 15 minutes or less, even into late hours of the night. We were moving from out of state and Chris made everything a breeze. Chris acted as our proxy when we could not be present for the home inspection and he FaceTimed us during and after the inspection. It was not an issue that we were 6 hours away, thanks to Chris. Chris is a courteous professional, with an awesome personality. He is easy to talk with and direct when it comes to explaining what is what. We were very impressed and grateful that we were lucky enough to work with him. If we ever need an agent in the greater Cleveland area again, we will definitely contact Chris. We refer Chris Olsen to friends and family all of the time now and we HIGHLY recommend him to anyone reading this review. Thank you again Chris! Best! Steph & Nick- Steph V.
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AEdye Riharb, Long RealtyEdye is a class act. She became my real estate quite by accident and it was a happy one. The agent I was working with had an emergency and Edye stepped in. From the beginning I felt at ease. I know quickly if an agent is into houses or not. My experience (with many agents) is that- ironically- many have limited interest in homes/houses. It's a LOT more fun to hang out with an agent who has a passion for homes! She has an informal, easy-going, yet engaged manner. She made the investment in time, as a buyer's agent must, without knowing if we'd end up buying but never applied pressure nor caused us to feel rushed. Because we were seeking an investment property, and not a place to live, we were browsing and not feeling pressured ourselves to go forward with a deal. Yet, happily, we did end up finding and buying a house. Throughout the process, Edye was there to champion our needs and wants. Familiar with working with out of town buyers, she was 100% on top of communications. A fast and thorough responder is highly important to me, perhaps even most important. And at closing, even her congratulatory note, wine bottle and pair of wine glasses, files on a thumb-drive, placed at the house, were above and beyond the call of duty. I do hope we have the opportunity to work together again.- Leticia L.
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AJ.T. Kelly at Keller WilliamsAs someone who has worked in the industry, JT is far and away the best Agent I have worked with. Not only is he very knowledgeable about areas in Boston, but he truly understands the fundamentals of what makes or breaks a property. Besides his knowledge, JT understands budgetary constraints and will not try to upsell you and force you to go above your budget. I remember calling him earlier than 8 am to an immediate answer. No matter the timing of my calls, JT was always happy to answer any questions and point me in the right direction. JT understands the true value of customer service in real estate and is more than willing to go the extra mile to ensure all parties are happy with the transaction.- Peter R.
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AAnjali Gill, Real Estate ProfessionalExcellent !!! She was proactive in finding the houses according to our taste. Meticulous in arranging visits, and patient in showing the places. Any issues that came up during house inspection was handled very well and brought to closure Very ethical in her dealings, process driven, approachable and responds to texts and emails very quickly. She even followed up on the house we liked during her vacation even though she was in a different time zone, which ensured no delays in closing. Very Professional. Highly recommend.- Abhijeet S.
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