Minnesota Real Estate

Buying and sellin... home. Real estate agents have access to the MLS on a level that buyers do not. They can search specific criteria and fi...

Let the Real Estate Buyer Prepare: Internet Tools to Assist in Your Search for a Real Estate Agent
By: Martin Winer: Let the Real Estate Buyer Prepare:Internet Tools to Assist in Your Search for a Real Estate AgentReal Estate transacti... offer extensive information about a given agent, such as, the agent's pets and number of children the agent has. While ...

Personal Branding Techniques for Real Estate Agents and Brokers
By: Dan R. Vella: A key principle of marketing is to find something unique about what you offer as the basis of your sales message. Even... do not have the visibility or exposure of Oprah, they can still be visible in a smaller audience. There is no point try...

When a Real Estate Agent May Not Be The Best Option
By: Chris Cates: Historically, when homeowners wanted to sell their home, the first call made would be to a Realtor. Since the early 19... then an agent is not a viable solution. Fortunately, today homeowners have options other than calling a Realtor. There ...

How to Become a Real Estate Agent
By: Andre McFayden, Ph.D.: The process of becoming a real estate agent is fairly simple, although it does vary a lot from state to state. Here a... using their agreed-upon commission split. This is often 50-50 for new agents, so in that case the agent in our example ...

Top Ten Suggestions for Selecting a Real Estate Agent

1. DO NOT blindly walk into or call a neighborhood firm and ask for an agent at random.
   
   
   
   
2. Ask friends and family for recommendations.
   
   
   
   
3. Interview several real estate agents:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Find out their history with the brokerage, their experience and background.
     
     
   • Gauge their knowledge of your favorite towns.
     
     
   • Ask for a list of previous clients and their phone numbers.
     
     
   
   
   
4. Pay attention to whether a potential agent is listening closely to what you say.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Is he or she asking follow-up questions which prompt further explanation and help him or her understand exactly your needs and wants?
     
     
   
   
   
5. Give a potential agent the opportunity to educate you.
   
   
   
   
   
   • A good agent should walk a customer through the buying or selling process before ever showing properties or discussing a specific transaction.
     
     
   
   
   
6. Have a good idea of what you expect from an agent and communicate those expectations.
   
   
   
   
   
   • How often do you want to hear from your agent?
     
     
   • Do you want to hold meetings at your house rather than the real estate office?
     
     
   
   
   
7. Weigh the benefits of working with an experienced agent versus a novice.
   
   
   
   
   
   • An experienced agent may have more insight, but a new agent may have innovative ideas or more energy and time.
     
     
   
   
   
8. Find an agent who complements your personality.
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you like to start your day at 7:00 a.m., don't choose an agent who arrives to the office at 10:00 a.m.
     
     
   • If your preferred method of communication is e-mail, don't choose an agent whose most advanced technology is a fax machine.
     
     
   
   
   
9. Evaluate the agent's firm and/or office.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Look for a real estate organization whose agents can empower you with real estate expertise and resources and provide first-rate customer service.
     
     
   
   
   
10. Look for an agent who will be your partner.
    
    
    
    
    
    • Find someone you trust, who will give you the facts, help you make intelligent, well-informed decisions and work with you throughout the entire process.