(Newswire.net — January 28, 2015) Burke , VA — Without question all home buyers should have a buyer’s agent, and the best part is it’s free. Most people think that they must pay the Real Estate agent a sales commission, when in fact only the seller pays the commission and that is a contractual agreement between the Seller and a Listing Broker.
According to Jim Kelley of FairfaxRealEstate.Info, buying a home is one of the biggest transactions people will make in their life. The Internet has been a bad influence on home buyers searching for homes for sale. Many of the Internet tools that perform online searches for homes for sale are often listed wrong, out dated, or the information is incorrect. Having a Realtor on your side can save you time and money and truly set the level of expectations when purchasing your home.
6 Questions you should ask your Realtor:
1. Is the Realtor Full-time?
Hiring a realtor that is only working part-time is only going to give you part of their time to help you find your dream home. A part-time agent simply cannot keep up with the always changing real estate market. Using a full time agent is the best way to get the results you deserve especially looking for the latest homes for sale. Jim Kelley states, “hiring a full time Real Estate Professional is key during the interview process ask if they are full time, and make a living from Real Estate.” Purchasing a home for sale is a complex and often difficult endeavor and you will need to true professional to obtain the best results.
2. How Much Experience?
Kelley advises that the realtor you hire should have at least 3-4 years of experience. Experience is a key factor because the realtor will have seen and experienced the real estate changes. They will have also been acclimated to rules and regulations of real estate when buying a home.
3. How well do they know the area?
According to Kelley, another important quality when hiring a Realtor to purchase a home is, “Do they know the local area and laws where you are buying?”. For example, in Virginia Beach they have Crash Site Zones and Noise Zones. Virginia Beach is close to the military bases and in an emergency situation certain areas are deemed as Crash Sites. If you or your realtor are not familiar with the area, you may end up purchasing a Crash Site location which means if the military needs to land a plane in an emergency you may possibly have a plane in your back yard. Every jurisdiction has it’s quirks and it is important to know what they are or you could find yourself with a huge problem.
4. Do they have a team to support them?
Does the realtor have a team of Professionals to work with? There should be a few lenders, attorney, home inspection company, and general contractors that they have worked with and would recommend.
5. What is their Reputation?
Knowing a realtors reputation is important. Would other realtors recommend them? What are people saying about them online? Kelley has often recommended other realtors especially to family and friends. He does not mix business with his home life. He states you can check out DPOR and look up if the realtor has any registered complaints or violations.
6. What does your gut tell you?
When you’re speaking with the realtor, do you feel good afterwards? Did the realtor tell you what you wanted to hear or what you needed to know? When working with a realtor you will begin to form a professional relationship and a bond. The realtor will begin to learn details about you and your family to help gauge you through the process of buying your home. Kelley warns not to get to friendly because at the end of the day it’s a business transaction and should be treated as such. The realtor should be able to tell you the facts even though it may not be what you want to hear. Kelley stated “realtors are problem solvers”.
“It’s so tough to find a realtor that you feel really has your best interest in mind but with Jim, there was never any doubt. My husband and I took over a year to find a home (we’re pretty indecisive,) but Jim was so patient with us. He always knew just when to call or email us without us ever feeling any sort of pressure to make decisions or get things done quickly. On the flip side to this if we ever needed him, he was always there at the drop of a hat. I could call, text or email him at 7pm on a Friday night and within 30 minutes we would be on our way to look at a house I was interested in. I highly recommend Jim as anyone’s realtor.” – Alicia Wimmer
About Fairfax Real Estate
Jim Kelley of Re/Max Olympic is a 30-year veteran in Northern Virginia representing clients in Selling and Buying Real estate, as well as a Real Estate Investor. He was the host of the radio show the Real Estate Hour and gave advice about all things Real Estate. Kelley believes that everyone should have access to trusted information concerning Real Estate in Virginia and is always willing to answer questions.