| Buying and selling real estate can be a tedious and | | | | in the same price range. |
| stressful time. Atsome point during your search | | | | The appraiser is more objective and compares |
| to buy or sell real estate, you will needthe | | | | age, size, andcost-identifiable features in your |
| services of a real estate agent. Selecting an agent | | | | home against other real estateproperties, which |
| can beconfusing. | | | | have been sold in the area. |
| There is a way to determine who is most likely | | | | Good real estate agents use their experience and |
| to succeed inhelping you get your most | | | | expertise tofine-tune the price by taking into |
| favourable price and terms when selling, orfinding | | | | consideration all of thesevariables. |
| the perfect house when buying. | | | | Most uninformed home buyers go about the |
| QUESTIONS TO ASK A REAL ESTATE AGENT | | | | process backwards. Thatis to say that they |
| Do you work full-time or part-time as a real | | | | spend several weeks, months and sometimes |
| estate agent? | | | | years,looking at real estate ads, driving |
| How do you market your properties? | | | | neighbourhoods and attending openhouses looking |
| Do you have a full-time assistant to see that no | | | | for the perfect homes for sale. |
| details are overlooked? | | | | Once they've found the house of their dreams, |
| How do buyers contact you? | | | | they place an offerto purchase it subject to |
| Are you marketing real estate for sale on the | | | | obtaining finance. Then they shop around fora |
| Internet? | | | | loan. More often than not, it is above their means |
| If I choose to auction off my property, are you | | | | and they lose thehouse because they can't afford |
| experienced in such transactions? | | | | it. |
| In what ways will you encourage other real | | | | Condition |
| estate agents to sell my home? | | | | New homes enjoy a marketing edge over resale |
| Do you have a system to follow-up with other | | | | homes because theyare shiny and clean. Builders |
| agents so that we get valuable feedback after | | | | enhance their appeal by offering modelhomes for |
| every showing? | | | | sale, clean, bright, and decorated in popular colours |
| How many properties have you sold within the | | | | andamenities for prospective buyers to examine |
| past 30 days? 90 days? 6 months? | | | | on display. |
| Do you have a list of references whom I may | | | | Finance and Basics |
| check? | | | | These days, buyers of Australian real estates are |
| Are you available in the Internet so that my real | | | | wising up on the correct way of purchasing |
| estate property is exposed to millions of buyers | | | | homes. |
| instantly? | | | | The 'savvy' buyer of today shops for finance first |
| What is my property worth? | | | | and only whenthey know exactly how much they |
| What price do you recommend? | | | | can afford will they inspect a realestate property |
| How did you arrive at that price? | | | | for sale that are only within their affordable |
| Can you assist me in purchasing other homes for | | | | pricerange. |
| sale? | | | | There are two methods of doing this. The |
| Do you have a written marketing plan designed to | | | | standard way is to callor meet with a loan agent, |
| sell my real estate property quickly and for top | | | | whether it's the bank or building society. |
| dollar? | | | | Tell them your financial and credit history, have |
| Do you guarantee my satisfaction by allowing me | | | | the agent do a checkon your credit rating , after |
| to exit the selling agreement at any time if I am | | | | which the loan agent discusses with youthe |
| not happy? | | | | amount you qualify for. |
| If the agent you are interviewing does not | | | | Sometimes though the borrowers 'forget' to |
| answer the abovequestions to your satisfaction, | | | | reveal late credit cardpayments, their new boat |
| find another agent who does. Hundredsof | | | | payment or car payment or they may even |
| reputable real estate agents are out there, with | | | | resortto inflating their income figures beyond |
| brilliant trackrecords and willing hearts. Get your | | | | reality. |
| contacts through word of mouth, orif you want | | | | The preferred method is to complete an |
| to be a little techie about it, consult real | | | | application, provideincome, taxation and |
| estateclassifieds. | | | | employment records. The loan agent runs a |
| Location | | | | creditcheck, and then submits the file to a lender |
| You have no control over the location of your | | | | for countersigning andapproval. Then they will |
| present home, andyour home's location and | | | | provide a commitment for a loan to you. |
| setting influences its value to some degree. | | | | This is also a powerful negotiating tool when |
| has rental properties if you are between houses | | | | presenting an offerto purchase. Real estate sellers |
| withnumerous listings in many areas. | | | | prefer to accept an offer from a buyerwho |
| For instance, a home inside a quiet court or a new | | | | already has a loan commitment than from those |
| subdivision maysell for more than the identical | | | | without. |
| home on a busy street or close to afreeway or | | | | So to wrap up, here's the correct order when |
| railway line. | | | | you set out getting anew real estate property: |
| Remote country areas typically sell for less than | | | | Get a loan commitment first, and then findyour |
| inner suburbanand well-established homes. Even | | | | dream house. It' up to you if you're going to sell |
| streets in the same area may havedifferent | | | | your housethrough a real estate agent or by |
| values too. Views, rivers, and trees, schools, | | | | yourself. Lots of free onlineclassifieds are out |
| churches, andshopping centres all come into play | | | | there where you can list your home for free. |
| when homes' prices are determined. | | | | Theadvantages of selling your house on your own |
| Home Prices | | | | is that you have fullcontrol of all aspects and |
| Your home must be priced within the appropriate | | | | details, and you get to keep the profit allto |
| range. You mustactually 'sell' your property twice: | | | | yourself because you don't have to for |
| first to the purchaser and also tothe property | | | | commission. |
| appraiser. The buyer is more subjective and | | | | But if you don't want to spend the time and |
| compares theamenities of your home to those of | | | | effort in putting upyour homes for sale, then a |
| the home they live in at present andother homes | | | | real estate agent will gladly do the jobfor you! |