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