Moving into a new home is exciting, but sometimes finding the right property for you can be difficult. Working with a real estate agent to find a property that ticks all the boxes and is perfect for you is often the best solution and can streamline the search in many ways.
Finding a Real Estate Agent
If you are going to use a real estate agent to help in your home search, you need to find one that will help you, not steer you, as you are looking for properties. A real estate agent that is willing to listen and show you listings that meet your needs is going to have a better chance of helping you find the right home for you.
Interview the agent you are considering when you meet with them. It is okay to ask them about their background, the success rate in finding homes for clients and how long they have been in the business. If you feel like the agent is not a good fit for you, try a different agent and see if you get a better feeling about them.
Finding Your Home
Once you have given your real estate agent the list of must-have items for your new home, they will begin searching the listings for homes that meet your needs, budget, and desires, then bring you some listings to consider.
Go over the listings with your agent and pick out a few. It is okay to look at properties that could be a little over budget because you can always make a lower offer than the asking price that is on the home. If you find a house that is a little more than you want to spend, your real estate agent can call the listing agent for the house and see how motivated the seller is and if the seller is willing to entertain offers.
Your agent will walk you through making an offer and then let you know if the offer is accepted or not. If you make an offer and the sellers counters, don't worry too much, some amount of back and forth is normal, and your agent will help you dial in the offer a little to get into the range you want, and ensures the seller is happy.
The Final Steps
If the seller takes your offer, Your real estate agent will help you with the contract process and the closing on the house. An excellent real estate agent will be there all the way through the home buying process and still be there is you have questions after the closing.
For more information, reach out to a local real estate agent.
