Before hiring a buyer’s agent, make sure that you assess and determine whether they are the right fit for you. Knowing a buyer’s agent’s qualifications is important since you will be entrusting your entire home buying journey to them. You can do this by interviewing them and asking them the right questions.
By asking these questions, you’ll be able to assess their knowledge, background, and experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask these questions before you hire a buyer’s agent as a skilled buyer’s agent will be able to answer them with no problem.
1. How long have you been an agent?
How long a buyer’s agent has been in the industry says a lot about his/her experience in real estate. The longer he or she has been a buyer’s agent, the more clients he or she might have already handled. Ideally, hire a buyer’s agent with over 10 years of experience in the real estate industry as a licensed sales agent. These several years of experience have definitely provided the buyer’s agent with enough knowledge that he/she needs to provide the best service to his/her clients.
2. How long do you usually work with buyers, from the first home you see together to the closing table?
It isn’t easy to find your dream home and your buyer’s agent plays a big role in the time it takes to find your perfect home. Although there are many factors that also affect the duration of the home buying process, you should still ask how long it usually takes for the agent to close a deal as you should be wary if the agent often takes six months or longer before closing a deal.
3. Have you helped buyers find homes at these price ranges?
All buyers work within a budget when looking for their new home. You need to to make sure that your buyer’s agent specializes in properties that are within your budget range. Given this, your buyer’s agent definitely has enough experience and knowledge in finding the best properties within your budget. You’ll know that with the property you’ll be purchasing, you’ll be able to get your money’s worth.
4. What is your experience with the neighborhood I am interested in?
It is important that the buyer’s agent you hire is knowledgeable and has had previous experiences in the neighborhoods you are interested in so that they can make sound judgments on whether it is a good fit for your goal.
The advantage of having an experienced buyer’s agent is that they will be able to tell you what type of community that neighborhood is and how it is developing. They should also be aware of where the neighborhood essentials are such as the grocery stores and hospitals, the quality of schools and life in that neighborhood in general, and if it is suited for your lifestyle or if there is another neighborhood that they can suggest.
5. What is your expertise in the type of property I want to buy?
Aside from knowing the neighborhood, the buyer’s agent you hire should also be an expert in the type of property that you plan on purchasing. Different types of property require different sets of skills and each has their own considerations and challenges to look out for. Make sure that your buyer’s agent will be able to check the type of property you need to buy for red flags.
6. What’s the most you’ve negotiated from a purchase price in the last year?
Make sure that your buyer’s agent knows how to negotiate. Find out about their negotiation style and experiences to determine whether they are a good negotiator or not. You will need a good negotiator to get the best price you can for the property that you want to buy. This is where their experience is revealed. Top negotiators have been in the industry for many decades which is the best way to gain effective negotiating skills.
7. How do you help buyers compete in this market?
If you are buying in a competitive buyer’s market, you might need to stand out from all of the other offers to ensure your offer is the most competitive in all areas, not just price. This is where an experienced buyer’s agent will really show their skills that will help you determine if your choice of your buyer’s agent has been the right one.
8. What are the legal pitfalls I need to worry about?
Although you will be hiring a real estate settlement agent when your offer is accepted, there are still some legal issues that might come up even before the settlement day. Hence, this question will test the agent’s legal knowledge. As a buyer’s agent, he/she should be familiar with disclosures, conditions, paper work, closing issues, and more.
Your buyer’s agent will be your partner in looking for your dream home so it is essential that you hire one who’s reliable and well-experienced in the real estate industry. The buyer’s agents at Buying Perth Real Estate are ready to answer these questions and any other questions that you might have. These experienced buyer’s agents can definitely provide you with the best service. As experts, we will start by learning about the needs of the client and create the best strategy to help you find your perfect home.
Give us a call at 08 6215 0200 or send an email to clive@buyingperthrealestate.com. We’d love to walk you through the whole property buying process.
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