Buying property in any place can be a grueling process, especially in a seller’s market. It might seem like all you need to do is find a place you love and offer X amount of money, but there’s a lot more detail that goes into buying a home.
When it comes to purchasing the home of your dreams, you’ll be dealing with a lot of back and forth between lenders and loans (unless you’re paying cash), sellers and offers, and much more on top of trying to pack your belongings, schedule movers, etc.
If you’re looking to make the process as easy as possible, it’s likely a real estate agent will be helping you handle the chaos as you experience the house-buying roller coaster.
To help you get started in the right direction, we’ve prepared a few questions you can ask your agent of choice when you’re ready to start hunting for that perfect home.
Do I need a pre-approval letter?
When you begin searching for a house, you’re likely going to hear the term pre-approval letter more than once. Especially when you talk with real estate agents. They’ll ask if you’re working with another agent and if you’ve spoken to a lender and gotten pre-approved for a loan.
The importance of this letter is to show sellers that you’re a serious buyer and that you have somebody ready to back you when it comes time to close on the property. This letter is also a great way to protect you as a buyer, the seller of the home, and the agent that’s representing you.
Additionally, a pre-approval letter can help you avoid looking at properties that aren’t within your budget, which can help you find the perfect place even faster.
What areas do you work in?
Many agents will cover a variety of towns and neighborhoods, and they’ll likely be more familiar with certain areas than others. Discussing what areas your agent has handled real estate transactions in can help you determine if they’re the right fit for you.
As a buyer, you want to work with somebody that has insight on the neighborhoods you’re looking for property in.
How long have you been a Realtor?
While experience isn’t everything, working with somebody familiar with the ins and outs of the real estate market is essential. It’s never rude to ask a realtor how long they’ve been in the industry. After all, you want to work with somebody that knows what they’re doing when it comes time to negotiate on a property you’ve fallen in love with.
How many homes have you sold in the last year?
It’s important to recognize that real estate isn’t your standard 9-5 job. It’s very similar to freelance work in the sense that some agents don’t work full-time. Many real estate agents have other jobs or responsibilities they need to focus on and may not be available 40 + hours a week to help you with buying a home.
This specific question falls in line with learning about an agent’s experience. It can help you determine if they have the time in their schedule to fully attend to you and your house-hunting needs, as well as help you get a better understanding of how many other customers and clients they might be working with.
It can also be a great way to determine how motivated they are when it comes to helping you negotiate for your dream home. If an agent works full time and is consistently helping clients with their real estate needs, they’re likely going to do everything they can to get you in your dream home.
What can I do to make My offer stand out?
An experienced agent will be able to offer more than industry knowledge. They’ll be a seasoned negotiator, well-versed in the changes in market trends as they happen, and have tips for making your offer stand out from other buyers.
This can be things like helping you determine how much earnest money to offer upfront, adjusting contingencies in a way that protects you but also makes your offer more appealing, and knowing when to offer less than the asking price for a home or more.
There’s no one size fits all solution to making the perfect offer, and there’s never a guarantee a seller will accept your offer. However, with an experienced and knowledgeable agent backing you, you’ll receive the dedication and support you need to ensure your offer has the best chance possible when bidding on a property.
Ready to get in touch with an agent that’s prepared and excited to help you when it comes to finding the right place to call come? Let’s connect and talk about what your dream place looks like.