Benefits of a Tech Competent-Realtor

When you choose a real estate agent, you're selecting someone to represent you in one of the largest financial transactions you may ever undertake.

As the Internet continues to simplify the way people do research on buying or selling their home, there are many good reasons to choose an agent who can harness the power of technology to provide you with exceptional service. A tech-competent agent can:

Whether you're thinking about buying or selling or simply want to stay informed about the real estate market, using new technology helps us consistently provide you with timely information and outstanding service.

Realtor Services

Maybe you're buying a home for the first time. Or maybe you're selling your old home to move up to something new. Whatever the reason, the buying and selling of a home is a big event. It's an intricate process involving many specialists. One of these specialists is a REALTOR, whose job it is to make the transfer of property as easy as possible. But not all licensed or registered brokers or salespeople are REALTORS. The term REALTOR is a trademark identifying real estate licensees in The United States who are members of  The National Association of Realtors . REALTORS adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice . The code of ethics is a firm set of rules, describing what kind of performance you have a right to expect from a REALTOR. It's your guarantee of professional conduct and the best in service. That's why many buyers and sellers turn to a REALTOR. As a member of their local real estate board, REALTORS have their finger on the pulse of the housing market and are in daily contact with buyers potentially interested in your home. You can trust a REALTOR to protect your interests and to look after details. And all the while, you're an active partner in the process, working with a REALTOR, every step of the way. So the more you know about buying and selling homes, the better your working relationship with a REALTOR. A REALTOR’s commitment to high standards of professional conduct works to the advantage of buyers and sellers alike. A REALTOR is knowledgeable about developments and trends in real estate. A REALTOR will get you the facts: comparable prices, neighborhood trends, housing market conditions and more. A REALTOR is committed to ongoing education to increase competence and effectiveness in real estate trading. Every REALTOR has been trained and tested. And REALTORS are bound by a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice that ensure fairness to all parties in a transaction. A REALTOR's pledge is to be honest in disclosing property information and forthright in providing the facts needed to help you make one of the most important decisions of your life. And remember, only a REALTOR, a member of The National Association of Realtors, has access to the Multiple Listing Service®, the most powerful real estate marketing system in America.

 ©2004 The National Association of Realtors .  All Rights Reserved.

The Benefits of A Professional Realtor®

By: Lori Osenbaugh

The Benefits of a Sellers Agent

When you list your property through a real estate company, the individual with whom you list is known as the sellers agent, or listing agent. The very first thing that a listing agent has to offer a seller is a comparative market analysis, or, a CMA. A CMA compares your property to other real estate property listings, preferably ones that have sold. The goal of the agent is to compare apples to apples. In other words, they compare MLS listings (a.k.a the multiple listing service) with similar square footage, whether or not the property has a garage, the types of flooring the home has etc. In the end of this analysis, the agent provides you with a figure for which he or she feels that your property will sell.

Once you have chosen a sellers agent, you enter an agreement with them, often called an exclusive right to list agreement. This simply creates a legal relationship between your agent and yourself. Once your house is listed in the MLS listings, there is still much more your real estate professional can do for you. Real estate agents advertise property within their office and on their own personal websites. They often send out news letters, flyers, post cards and offer MLS bulletins for other realtors to see so that your property gains maximum exposure. In addition to advertisements, real estate agents also perform open houses on your property, during which potential buyers can see all that is good about your home.

The Benefits of a Buyers Agent

Many people feel that real estate agents are for sellers and sellers alone. But this is most definitely not the case. The first arena in which a buyers agent is helpful is finding the perfect home. Real estate agents have access to the MLS on a level that buyers do not. They can search specific criteria and find the perfect three- bedroom, two-bath home with a fenced in back yard and a rocking chair front porch. In addition, they can narrow real estate property listing searches by capping the minimum and maximum prices that the buyer wishes to spend. Once homes are selected for viewing, the agent then ensures that appointments are set up with the sellers of the homes to view the property.

Next there is the negotiation stage where a buyers agent comes in handy. The first part of this legal area is the writing of a contract. Real estate agents can help a buyer fully understand the ins and outs of an offer to purchase and give them a sense of exactly what they are getting into. Once a contract is created, presented, and accepted, the agent then sets up appointments on behalf of the buyer for things like the home inspection, pest inspection and appraisals. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.Buyers agents also have a sense of who is good at these things and who is not, making these decisions easier on the buyer. Then, when closing time comes, the agent is there to help the buyer warm up their signing fingers before signing all of the papers making their home ownership a reality.