What to do Before Contacting a Realtor
When it comes time to buy or sell a home, you might think that your first step is to contact a real estate agent. But don’t be hasty! There are some key things that will make your real estate transaction smoother if you accomplish them before sitting down with your Realtor.
- Get pre-approved
The best thing you can do before meeting with a real estate agent is to get pre-approved. Sit down with a mortgage lender and run your numbers. They’ll determine what you are pre-approved for a mortgage which will be helpful when deciding on a budget. Many real estate agents won’t meet with clients until they are pre-approved, so accomplishing this step will be helpful in the long run.
- Decide on what you want
You don’t have to know exactly what you want when it comes to your new home, but nail down some basics like area of town, style of home and size. This will help your Realtor when it comes time to search for homes. You can figure out more specific features after you meet with your real estate agent. They’ll know what you can expect in a home in your price range which could make that process easier.
- Figure out time frame
Are you wanting to put in a contract in the next month or do you have a more fluid time frame? Make sure to express how urgent your home search is so your agent knows how quickly you need to move. This is also a good idea for people who are selling your home. If you are needing to sell quickly, it would be best to price your home competitively, so this is information your agent will want to know up front.
- Clean your home
If you are selling your home, you’ll want to do a basic cleaning of your home before meeting with an agent. Make any small repairs that won’t cost a lot of money. Don’t start any major renovation projects until you speak with your Realtor. They’ll help make suggestions on what you should do to your home to get the best sales price.
- Write down questions
You’ll likely have questions for your agent, so write them down before meeting so you have them handy during your meeting. If you are interviewing multiple agents, write down the same questions for each agent so you can make your decision based on the same factors.
Written by: CBSHOME Real Estate
Post a Comment