Not all real estate agents are created equal. Some of them are highly knowledgeable, efficient, focused and specialized in certain areas while some aren’t. The decision to buy or sell property isn’t a decision you take lightly so neither should choosing your real estate agent.

When working with a real estate agent, the buying and selling process tends to run a lot smoother and is less stressful than if you did everything alone.  One agent can list and sell your property while also helping you look for a new piece of land or a new home. They will serve as your liaison and handle most of your important paperwork for you. In addition, real estate agents know more about specific locations and neighborhoods as well as the best places to find home warranties, home inspectors, appraisers and more.

The benefits of using a real estate agent are great, but it’s important you reap all of these benefits by choosing the right agent for your needs.  There are many questions you need to ask so that you can identify the best fit for you and your property.

How will you market it? Do you just want a sign in the yard and a couple classified listings? Or do you want to reach buyers through advertising, direct mail or emailing marketing, real estate catalogs, etc? And do you want to reach out locally, by state or nationally?

What’s your specialty? Are you selling a luxury estate? Hire an agent that specializes in high dollar, large estates. The same can be said for farms, ranches, hunting properties or any other special properties you might own or are looking to purchase.

What’s your fee? Obviously, you are looking for an agent who will sell your property quickly and for the most money. Normally, that means using a range of marketing tools to get you the best deal possible in a reasonable amount of time. A reasonable fee will depend on the amount of tools you want and need to sell your property.

What do you expect of me? Agents who can think like a buyer, which is a good thing, will have expectations of the seller. This means sprucing things up, moving things around or making sure a pet is out of the house during a showing. Putting expectations in the forefront will alleviate headaches later.

Overall, buying and selling a house can be a daunting task. The good news is you don’t have to go at it alone. Find an agent that you can partner up with and take advantage of the benefits.

United Country Real Estate is the largest fully integrated network of real estate and auction professionals with more than 4,000 agents from coast-to-coast. Our agents live and work in small towns and specialize in lifestyle real estate. For more information or to find an agent near you, visit www.UnitedCountry.com.

Sources:

http://blog.rismedia.com/2016/how-working-with-a-real-estate-agent-benefits-you/

http://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/how-to-choose-a-great-listing-agent