Thread: Buying agent questions

If you're buying a house, chances are you'll be employing the aid of a real estate agent to guide you through the process. The important thing to remember is that you are technically their boss. They should be working for you, whether you're buying or selling a home. That's why it's so necessary to interview several real estate agents before settling on one. Here are some helpful questions to narrow down the candidate field.

Questions needs to ask?
1. How many years have you been working in real estate?
2. How many homes do you sell yearly?
3. What is your area of expertise?
4. How many other clients are you currently working with?
5. Do you have a list or client references?

Nothing says more about the professionalism and worth work ethic of a realtor than their ability to provide you with a list of client references. Just producing a list on the spot is a good sign that the agent is prepared and wants your business. If there is none available immediately, or the agent sputters out some excuses, take it as a sign to head elsewhere.

Originally Posted by lajim

We aren't happy with our current agent and will probably not renew him. But before making a final decision, I want to see if our desires are realistic.

We are A+ buyers with money and impeccable credit looking at high end homes. We would like our agent to pre-screen and pre-view homes to our specifications before showing them to us because we are very busy. Our current agent is unwilling to do that, he just wants us to look at whatever is for sale in our price range. And he hasn't stepped foot into any of the houses before we have.

Our we unreasonable in our desires?

If we were talking 300k homes you might be asking to much when it comes to the over all time versus money calculation. If we are talking 160% of the this price then I would say that you are only asking your agent to perform his job.

In my opinion if we as agents are to be earning our fee for service in the higher end homes it is by reducing the time constraint of the home buying process. For busy people like yourself your time is your most valueable asset without a doubt and it should be worth it to you to pay handsomely for someone to save those ours for you. Asking your agent to pre-view properties is not out of line. It is simply a request to bring value to the transaction.

I know and excellent agent in the Seattle area that would be more than happy to pre-view propeties on your behalf. You may even be able to talk them into taking video of the properties as they tour them. Let me know if you would like to recieve their contact information.

Originally Posted by lajim

We aren't happy with our current agent and will probably not renew him. But before making a final decision, I want to see if our desires are realistic.

We are A+ buyers with money and impeccable credit looking at high end homes. We would like our agent to pre-screen and pre-view homes to our specifications before showing them to us because we are very busy. Our current agent is unwilling to do that, he just wants us to look at whatever is for sale in our price range. And he hasn't stepped foot into any of the houses before we have.

Our we unreasonable in our desires?

So what happens if you buy something and later find out your agent did not show you a property you consider superior because he previewed it and decided you would not like it for you?

I can't count the number of times a client has bought a house that I never in my wildest dreams would of imagined them liking or not buying what I thought was the perfect house.

People buy a particular house when they get the feeling of being home. This feeling is indescribable and can only be experienced personally by the buyer while in the house.

Personally, I think you would be selling yourself short if you don't see as many houses as possible.

If this is an important thing to you, and your current agent won't do it, then fire him. I myself don't preview properties very often. Also, if you already know you won't be working with him, you can always ask to be released from your agreement.

I have never had a client ask me to preview or release them from their contract, but I would preview if they were dead serious, and I wouldn't have any problems releasing clients that are unhappy with my services.

When I practiced real estate. I would have pre-view the homes if requested. The commission recieve in real estate is ridculous when compare with most other profession and I feel that the agent should earn his/her commission.

On a $500k with only a buyer's side commission at 3%. That comes out to $15,000 .. If your agent can't not put in a few extra hours of his time, then you are right to choose someone else. But..

Have you done anything to indicate that you're not serious about buying? Often agents deal with "window shopper" so often that if you exhibit any of these traits he might think you're not serious about buying, thus the refusal to previews. Remember agents have been burned very often. So take a step back and look at it in his shoes.