Thursday, October 16, 2014

How To Choose The Right Chicago North Shore Real Estate Agent

By Patty Goff


The decision to buy or sell a home is perhaps the biggest financial commitment that most people make in their lifetime. This process involves a lot of paperwork and complex issues, and any slight mistake can cost you dearly. It helps to have an experienced Chicago North Shore real estate agent in your corner to help you with the process. When searching for the most suitable agent the following are factors you should consider.

Locating prospective agents is probably the first thing you need to do. This can be done in a number of approaches including searching online and asking for word of mouth referrals. If you know of friends, colleagues, neighbors or property managers who have successfully handled a similar issue using the services of a realtor, ask them to recommend their service provider. Let them furnish you with reasons why they think that professional will also be suitable for your needs.

Licensing should be the first factor to evaluate. Unlicensed agents are bad news and it is always wise to avoid them. Check if the license provided is current, not experienced, revoked or surrendered. Using their license number, you can check out stories about them; if they have any unresolved criminal cases or a lot of complaints from their past clients.

While interviewing the suitability of this service provider, asking how long he or she has been in your local market is crucial. Appreciating the fact that there is nothing wrong with a freshly licensed agent, you do not want to risk selling at an inferior price or purchasing too expensively. An experienced realtor most likely understands the local market well and will strive to ensure that you achieve your goals.

Experience in the industry is crucial in any profession. You want to be sure that you are dealing with a person who has handled similar properties before. Ask how long the agent has been in business and if he or she is familiar with your specific type of transaction. What you are looking for is a strong agent with excellent negotiation skills. Ask to be shown one property that fits the scope of your property transaction.

If you are selling property, the marketing strategy used is key. You are looking for a service provider who has a detailed promotional plan that will ensure you reach your target clients easily. Make sure you ask how that professional plans to market your property and at what frequency. It will be an added advantage if you settle for someone who will aggressively promote your property online along with traditional marketing plans.

You should expect to pay for the services of this professional. Their increased numbers in the market means that their rates and billing mechanisms vary. Before agreeing to the services of any firm or individual, make sure you are aware of how much it will cost you, and how this cost compares with other service providers in the industry.

When selling or buying property, the services of a realtor are beneficial. However, you should ensure that you are settling for the right service provider. Factors you should check include licensing, marketing strategies he or she is planning to use and the cost of services.




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