Real estate agents are professionals instrumental in connecting the buyer with the seller.
Additionally, many real estate agents manage rentals wherein they introduce tenants to landlords and oversee the maintainance of the property on behalf of the landlords.
In most areas real estate agents are required to be highly educated, licensed and are regulated by a governing body.
Some real estate agents are also Realtors.
To use the title Realtor, a real estate agent must be a member of the National Association of Realtors which in addition to a number of other requirements, requires Realtors to adhere to a strict code of ethics and offers Realtors additional educational and designation opportunities.
Though not required by rule or law, it might be a wise decision to seek the services of a Realtor.
What Do They Do....
Real estate agents bring together two or more interested parties, perform those steps necessary to successfully conclude a transaction and charge a commission for their services.
For sales transactions, they charge commission to the seller while for rentals, commission is typically charged the landlord.
Real estate agents generally calculate their fee as a percentage of the selling price (in the case of a sale) and as part of the rent for rental units.
How Do They Do It...
People who want to sell or rent their property leave details of their property with the real estate agent.
Along with all property details the real estate agent will typically have keys to the house to facilitate showings.
The other interested party (i.e. the buyer/tenant), gets access to this information and to the property by contacting the real estate agent.
That’s how the real estate agent becomes a hub of information.
Contrary to some common misconceptions, real estate agents typically represent the seller or the buyer but rarely both.
Why Should I Use One...
First and foremost, to protect yourself. Real estate transactions are highly regulated, highly paper (document) intensive transactions.
The real estate agent possesses an in depth knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, disclosures and documentation necessary to successfully complete the transaction to the satisfaction of the buyer, the seller and the law.
Because real estate agents are most familiar with local real estate market conditions, it is wise and makes sense to seek the advice of one to get an idea of the current trends and pricing for properties within that market.
A good real estate agent will know the prices (or price range) of various properties of different types and at various locations within the region.
Because of the real estate agent's knowledge and expertise, property sellers often get a few thousand dollars more for their property.
Many home seekers, including seasoned real estate investors use the services of real estate agents to locate the best real estate bargains in the easiest and quickest manner.
Furthermore, the best agents analyze the wants and needs of a home buyer/tenant and provide valuable input as to the kinds of properties available to them within their budget. Therefore, a good real estate agent will not just present a list of available properties to the buyer/tenant but will actually discuss their needs and make suggestions.
The good real estate agent, working in this manner benefits in at least two ways...
First and most obviously, when the real estate agent is able to successfully complete the transaction the commission is earned and the real estate agent is paid...
and secondly, if they make the customer/client happy they earn a good reputation and often receive referrals (hence more business).
Worth Noting...
It is worth noting that there is a myth floating around that real estate agents only work on behalf of the seller, buyer beware.
This is not written in stone nor is it always the case. Real estate agents are, in most regions, highly regulated.
With few exceptions, real estate agents work either for the seller (as is the case with many listing agents) or for the buyer (as is the case for a buyer's agent).
Additionally, some areas allow for dual agency where an agent can work for both the seller and the buyer or as a transaction broker where the agent represents the transaction itself and neither the seller nor buyer individually.
However, in the case of dual agency/transaction brokerage, note that rule, regulation (law) and ethics do not permit the agent to act in favor of either party while in detriment to the other.
If you are unsure of the relationship between you and your real estate agent, do not hesitate to ask.
Dave Jarvis is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and is Broker and Owner of Realty Concepts, Inc. http://www.rciflorida.com a Southwest Florida Real Estate Corporation. For more Free real estate articles, information, news and tips see : http://www.realestateseekerusa.com
The author of this article has chosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
» left by Anonymous (331 days 23 hours ago.)
Hello, Dave. I hate it when a read an ad in which a buyer agent claims their services to be free. I am on a mission to clarify that. I do not work for free, but I do not expect to be paid up front either. Respond to this comment
» left by Dave Jarvis(3) (195 days 14 hours ago.)
Hi Anonymous,
I don't know exactly what to make from your response. I understand and am compassionate toward your mission, however I am unclear about your intent with regards to this article. Are you attempting to admonish me for something or simply expressing an opinion. This article is neither an ad nor can I find anything in it referring to anyone claiming to work for free, working for free nor anything about up-front payments.
There are agents (and I know a number of each) who prefer to only list properties, agents who only like to work with buyers and agents whom, like myself, do both.
All earn some form of fee or commission, typically based upon completion of a transaction. Additionally there are agents (typically buyer's agents) that charge an "up-front" fee to compensate them for their time and service etc. and though this might be legal, I don't practice it myself. However, I personally do not know of any licensees of any type that advertise that they nor in fact do,work for free.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
