Picking a real estate agent can make all the difference when selling your home, or searching for a new property to buy. Here are 5 things that can go wrong choosing an agent.
You could miss out
Most of us worry about missing out on something better, and picking a real estate agent is no different. If you choose the wrong one, you might not get the best price for your home. An inexperienced agent might fail at negotiating on your behalf or finding the right buyer.
If youre looking to buy a home, you might never find your dream home and have to settle for less. With Compass real estate, you have access to exclusive listings, so you wont miss out on finding a property to suit your needs, and will have an advantage over home hunters who are using other real estate agents.
Potential legal problems
Even if you have basic legal knowledge, the right real estate agent can advise you in more depth on potential problems and how to avoid them. Making the wrong choice could result in an agent who either doesnt know or simply isnt concerned about any legal issues you may encounter and just wants to make a sale.
Losing money
Aside from the financial repercussions of legal problems, or not getting the best price for your home, you could lose money in other ways too. The wrong real estate agent might charge you higher fees than other agents. So, its worth looking around, speaking to a few, comparing the fees, and learning what you can expect in return.
A lack of communication
Theres nothing worse than listing a property for sale or expressing an interest in one, then hearing nothing for days or even weeks afterward. There may not always be anything to tell, but if you choose the wrong real estate agent, they might fail to update you on offers from buyers or new properties on the market, until its too late. A good agent will at least send an email updating you on a lack of progress, so you know they havent forgotten about you.
Youre pressured into making bad choices
Some real estate agents might try to pressure you into buying a property that isnt right for you or selling your home at a lower price than its worth. Its natural for the estate agent working for the other party to be more concerned with that persons interests than yours, but if your own real estate agent is putting pressure on you, its time to take a step back and have some time to consider your options.
Property is the most expensive thing most people own, so you shouldnt feel pressured to sell below the propertys worth or rush into buying a home youre unsure about.
While it might seem like choosing a real estate agent is likely to end badly, these are rare examples of what can go wrong. If you find the right agent to work on your behalf, they will usually do their best for you.
