Common Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing Real Estate Agencies
In these tight times, taking any risks in selling or buying your home is stupid. You need to play act as conservatively as you can. One of the riskiest things you can do is try to sell your home yourself. Home buyers still pursue the traditional real estate listings and trusting name brand real estate agencies to find a reputable house. You need to use a broker with a solid real estate agency in your area.
Taking The First Broker You Meet
Because so much money is involved, you should do comparison shopping for real estate agencies and individual brokers as you would buying a car or choosing a college to go to. Don't just go with the real estate agency who lives closest to you, or the one that seems the least expensive. You need to get value and service for your money, or you'll never be able to unload your old house.
Using Only One Home Inspector
Any broker from any real estate agencies will have their home inspectors go through your home before they list it. But you really should get a second opinion on something so vital (and expensive) as a house. You should hire your own home inspector to go over your house to find anything the realtor's home inspector missed or to challenge a finding. You can find a home inspector by going to the web site of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Putting Down Non-Refundable Payments
If your broker or real estate agency urges you to put down a non-refundable deposit on a home you haven't decided upon yet, get another broker. This is a high-pressure sales tactic that you really don't need to fall for. You could wind up loosing thousands. If you are absolutely positive that the home is for you, then perhaps a non-refundable payment might make sense at the time, but a good broker will urge you not to do that, even if you love the house.
Buy This House You Can't Afford
A good broker from a good real estate agency will know how much you can possibly afford for a home and NOT go above that limit. Especially with the current mortgage crisis, there is no way you should buy a home you can't afford. A home you can afford would have monthly payments of 20 -25% of your take home pay (after taxes). A good real estate agency would never show you a home you can't afford in the first place.
