So you’re thinking about working with a real estate agent, but you’ve never done so before, or it has been a really long time since you last dealt with the whole buying and selling process… what are some things to ask a potential real estate agent?
Questions to Ask
First, it’s good to do some online research and “interview” potential agents you might like to work with… asking them key questions like, “How long have you been working in real estate?” It’s nice to work with someone seasoned, with several years under their belt, compared to newbies.
Next, you might want to ask, “What’s your average number of clients?” You can then figure out if he or she will have time to devote to your needs, or if you’d end up feeling like just another number on a long list. If you’d be the agent’s only client, that might be a red flag because you’d think, “What is it about them that I’m the only one they’re working with– shouldn’t they have at least a handful of clients right now?” If they’re good, then yes– they should have a couple clients at any given time.
Also, you’ll want to ask, “What area(s) do you generally cover?” For example, Donna Littlefield generally covers Wheatfield, Pendleton, Amherst, Clarence, North Tonawanda, and Tonawanda, New York. Donna is your ideal agent covering both Erie County and Niagara County. If you’re looking for a place in Western New York, she can help you find the perfect property for your needs.
Another thing to find out is, “Are you part of a team or do you work solo?” You’ll want to know whether or not you’d be working with just one agent or if there are others “on the team” who you’d be interacting with, for whatever reason.
Do you have a unique situation– the kind that’s a bit “out there?” If so, you’ll want to ask your potential agent if he or she can handle that… and if they’re honest, they’ll tell you a simple yes or no.
Finally, it’s a good idea to ask, “What kind of communication can I expect from you?” Are they the kind of agent who does everything by email? Do they call you on the phone? Do they love in-person meetings? Basically, you want to know what you’re “getting into” before choosing to work with a particular agent whom you’ll be spending a lot of time and energy dealing with, in order to buy or sell real estate.
You’ve probably heard of the term “concierge” in relation to big city hotels in tourist areas like New York or Miami. At a hotel, the concierge person is the one who helps guests find things such as taxi rides, tickets to shows, and whatever else they need that happens to be located outside of the hotel complex.
If you’ve lived in Western New York for any length of time, you’d know that it usually starts to snow about the second week of October. This year, however, we have had an extended summer. The months of September and October were warmer, sunnier and more pleasant than normal. However, as November and December creep up on us, the weather has changed. It’s that time of year to winterize your home. If you have forced air, when’s the last time you replaced your furnace filter? Make it a regular habit; put it on your calendar to remind yourself when it’s time to change it. During the winter you don’t want a dirty filter because that restricts air flow while costing you more money to heat your house since your furnace has to work harder.