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Thursday, 16 October 2014

How To Choose The Right Chicago North Shore Real Estate Agent

By Patty Goff


The decision to buy or sell a home is perhaps the biggest financial commitment that most people make in their lifetime. This process involves a lot of paperwork and complex issues, and any slight mistake can cost you dearly. It helps to have an experienced Chicago North Shore real estate agent in your corner to help you with the process. When searching for the most suitable agent the following are factors you should consider.

Locating prospective agents is probably the first thing you need to do. This can be done in a number of approaches including searching online and asking for word of mouth referrals. If you know of friends, colleagues, neighbors or property managers who have successfully handled a similar issue using the services of a realtor, ask them to recommend their service provider. Let them furnish you with reasons why they think that professional will also be suitable for your needs.

When choosing a realtor, you are performing a rigorous job interview for an important task. Your expectations should definitely be demanding; you are buying or selling one of your biggest assets. Among the first things you should check is if that individual is licensed to provide the services in question in your state. Agents are required to have a high degree of professionalism, and licensing is a must.

You can also check if that individual or company is affiliated to any professional or mortgage organization. If an affiliation is claimed, you can verify by contacting the organization. Always ask for proof of any claim of specialization that the professional makes. If it is ascertained that any of these claims is false or misleading, this should be an early sign that you should be considering another service provider.

Realtors use different strategies when providing their services. If you want to buy, you might be interested in knowing how your new home will be searched for and the number of homes you will likely see before selecting one. You might also be interested in knowing if you will be competing with other buyers and how multiple offers will be handled. Similarly, if you are selling, you have the right of knowing why the agent decides on using a specific marketing strategy.

If you are selling property, the marketing strategy used is key. You are looking for a service provider who has a detailed promotional plan that will ensure you reach your target clients easily. Make sure you ask how that professional plans to market your property and at what frequency. It will be an added advantage if you settle for someone who will aggressively promote your property online along with traditional marketing plans.

You should expect to pay for the services of this professional. Their increased numbers in the market means that their rates and billing mechanisms vary. Before agreeing to the services of any firm or individual, make sure you are aware of how much it will cost you, and how this cost compares with other service providers in the industry.

When selling or buying property, the services of a realtor are beneficial. However, you should ensure that you are settling for the right service provider. Factors you should check include licensing, marketing strategies he or she is planning to use and the cost of services.




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