When you’re buying or selling real estate, one of the first things you should consider is whether or not to engage the services of a real estate agent. The answer, in short, is “Absolutely!” Real estate transactions are really a team activity, and you should spend some time assembling the absolute best team you possibly can (real estate agent, closing attorney, mortgage lender, insurance professional, surveyor, home inspector, etc.). These folks excel at getting their clients over, under and through all of the obstacles that tend to pop up in a real estate transaction. A good real estate agent often “captains” this team as you move towards closing the transaction.
Helping you define your goals in the transaction, advising you on a listing price or buying price range, and showing you properties or making sure your property receives plenty of traffic are just a few of the things a skilled agent will do to get the “Under Contract” sign out front as soon as possible. Many folks see this as the end of the agent’s job. However, that’s just a small part of the value that a quality agent brings to the table. From the time you go under contract to the time you close is when the really good agents earn their commissions. Arranging for inspections, repairs, surveys, soil tests; scheduling closing, helping you navigate the loan process and dealing with the 1,001 small issues that come up prior to closing is when you’ll really be glad you have a real estate agent by your side.
Be careful though, not all real estate agents are created equal. Ask friends and family or other professionals you trust for referrals. You want an agent who is organized, prepared, professional, and who knows the local real estate market. Look for someone who returns your calls, leverages technology, pays attention to detail, and is willing to take the time to make sure you understand the process. At Coltrane, Grubbs & Orenstein, we have the privilege of working with some of the best and brightest real estate agents in the Piedmont Triad. We’d be more than happy to refer you to a few of them. Feel free to contact our office for more information.