Hiring an experienced agent who is a professional Realtor can help you avoid making costly mistakes when purchasing or selling a house on Long Island and going through the buying process.
"Realtors," "real estate brokers," and "experienced agents" as they can be called should be able to help potential buyers and sellers in various ways when entering the real estate market.
For instance, a potential agent should be able to educate buyers and sellers about current market conditions, guide them through each step of buying and selling a house, go over price ranges, know how to complete a financial transaction, have professional business cards, and make referrals to other professionals, including home inspection companies, real estate lawyers as well as mortgage lenders and/or mortgage brokers.
Since buying your first house or selling your first one, are both important financial decisions you will want to be sure to pick a licensed agent that is best for you and has the communication style you seek.
Realtors can be found everywhere be it through online reviews, phone calls, flyers in your mailbox, or on current listings in the neighborhood when you are actively house hunting.
However, bear in mind some high-performing real estate agents at various real estate brokerages may not be willing to help new clients with their real estate transactions.
If you're interested in finding a good Realtor on Long Island who collaborates with first-time buyers, and first-time sellers, as well as juggles dozens of houses on any given day, a more established Realtor may be able to refer you to another agent who works with first-timers.
You will want to vet agents out of the thousands that are out there on Long Island so you get a knowledgeable agent rather than dealing with those who are inexperienced agents and may lead you in the wrong direction.
Realtor vs. Real Estate Agent
A good way to find an expert in the industry is to check the National Association of Realtors' website and look up to see if they are a member of the national organization.
Keep in mind that not every real estate broker is a Realtor. Real estate agents have Licensed Brokers who are NAR member brokers. Member brokers pledge to abide by the NAR's standards and codes of conduct.
An ideal agent must be properly trained and certified before selling homes in any competitive market as well as have market knowledge as this can be a complicated process be it selling or buying a home.
To become a real estate agent, one must first obtain a license from their local real estate board. One must then take courses and pass exams to prove their knowledge of the industry.
A real estate agent represents buyers and sellers; a Realtor represents brokers.
A real estate professional has gone one step further than the typical real estate salesperson by obtaining additional education and passing a licensing examination. Brokers may supervise other real estate professionals, work for a brokerage firm, or operate independently.
Below are some tips and advice for where to further look and how you can find a good Realtor, or associate broker whether you are a first-time seller or first-time buyer on Long Island.
Ways of Finding and Hiring Realtors
There are so many options out there that it can be hard to know where to start when you enter the home-buying experience.
Most people would benefit from sticking to sources that make it quick and easy to locate high-end real estate professionals.
Start your search by asking friends and family for recommendations and a personal referral. If you get a glowing recommendation from someone, ask them for some additional details.
You can also check out to see if the Realtor has an online presence with their website.
Other websites or groups/organizations below help you find an agent who is active in the housing market, as well as the buying process and selling process:
Real estate websites.
Through the National Association of Realtors
Local newspapers and local magazine articles.
Real estate associations for local communities.
For sale signs in the area where you live.
People who recently bought or sold houses nearby.
Legitimate Agents
Do check if your experienced Realtor is legitimate and if they have bad reviews.
Realtors' websites should list their background, stats, education, what they specialize in, sales history, if they offer a marketing plan, can tell you about their sale process, are part of a dual agency, or can offer a list of other agents to help.
Just gather a few names from those you trust and after you do an online search on your own or at your comfort level.
With so much real-life real-estate buying and selling happening online today, it makes sense to check whether the agent you're considering working with is legitimate.
Choose the Best
After you have made a list, pick those to talk to and ask them specific questions about their experience collaborating with you.
You need to interview at least three potential Realtors before choosing one to represent you throughout the entire buying process.
Here are some things to look for when vetting your agent and his or her company:
If you want to be sure that the person selling you a house is properly trained, ask to see their Realtor's realty licensing certificate.
Look up the broker's info. All Realtors are affiliated with a realty firm, which may also have additional licenses.
Contact the agency to confirm the representative works there and check out reviews of the firm online to make sure they sound like a good place to work. If it's a nationwide firm, be sure to look into the info for the local branch where your representative works.
Next Steps
After you've narrowed down your list of Realtors, contact them by phone or email and ask if they're available to meet with you. If they say yes, then schedule a time when you can meet up.
You should know what you're getting into before signing any contracts. A Realtor can help you find the right property, negotiate the best price, and guide you through the entire process. They'll also manage everything after you've found your dream house.
You may think that any Realtor you hire will be representing only your interests. However, there are times when Realtors don't have to represent solely one side or another.
For example, a dual Realtor represents both the buyers and sellers in the same sale. A transactional Realtor works with both sides and doesn't have a fiduciary responsibility to anyone.
Both parties need to be clear about the nature of the agent's relationship with you. Make sure that the agent provides you with a written contract that clearly defines his/her responsibilities and obligations.
Another thing to consider is finding out what kind of training and qualifications does their virtual assistant have?
Sometimes, agents and some assistants help them out in their inventory of homes for sale. As a first-time home buyer, and a prospective buyer you're going to be collaborating closely with an agent, it's important to know whether they prefer having their assistant or if they want you to manage things yourself.
Also, don’t be shy and ask how long has the agency been operating, and what training or experience does the agency offer? Look for an agency with a good track history of serving people like you.
Commission Structures
Typically, noted in the listing agreement the sellers pay the real estate commissions, which brokers split with the buyers' agents unless you are doing a sale by owner of course.
If you're selling a house, you might be able to negotiate a better sale price by offering to pay less than half of the buyer agent's fee. You could also ask for a refund of part of the buyer agent's fees if they don't help sell your house for the sales price you hoped for.
Some full-time agents as well as individual agents or even prospective agents might not be willing to budget on the average commission, but it's worth asking.
There are plenty of options when it comes to finding a Realtor and as you pursue a list of agents. However, just like with any profession, there are some great Realtors, some who aren't so great.
There are some pitfalls when buying real estate but finding a good Realtor who excels at comparative market analysis shouldn't be one of them.
Not just any real estate agents will be able to help you sell or help you purchase one of your houses fast. Hopefully, these tips for finding a good Realtor on Long Island can help you choose the best one.
Bottom line: Real estate agents on Long Island are available anywhere nowadays – whether through online searches where they should have an online profile, on billboard advertisements, or referrals from family, friends, or neighbors who can all assist in helping you find your dream home or selling the one you have on Long Island.