14 Things Real Estate Agents Really Want You To Know (2024)

Having more than five non-negotiable "must-haves" is going to make finding a home almost impossible. Going into the process prepared to compromise and prioritize will make it a whole lot less stressful for you and for us!

—danr4092ab473

There are many things you can change about a house to make it a home, but that won’t matter if it's too far from work, stores, or is out of range of cell service.

—ashleym47f990d33

Real estate agents are still a huge part of the process. You want to hire a professional that will negotiate on your behalf, and be there for you throughout the whole process. We do whatever it takes to service our clients.

—marthaa4eb8cfa8f

We are a wealth of information: We study the market and know the inventory. Don't be afraid to use us!

—feliciaclementee

When buying a house it’s not a bad idea to splurge on some extra inspections that are not covered with a regular home inspection. Get a sewer inspection if the house is older, get a radon inspection if radon is an issue in your area and you plan on having living space in the basem*nt, and get a moisture inspection if the house has stucco siding. Your local realtor will be able to advise you on additional inspections that make sense for the kind of house you’re buying. It'll help you avoid huge unforeseen costs in the future.

—katiew46e3c9a16

Most realtors and buyers will not entertain your offer without it.

—dianal442113b09

You wouldn't just look at one house, so don't look at just one lender. Make sure to compare at least two lenders to make sure you are getting the best rate and program. Don't pull your credit too many times, though, because doing so can hurt your credit score.

—adamf43b5285cd

We're one of the only professionals that only get paid when the work is 100% done. When you change your mind after 10 showings, or decide to have your cousin list the house that we staged, remember that we didn’t get paid for any of that time or advice.

—emilial46650cf5f

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Many times, big banks have too much going on to give you personal service and act in your favor. It's so important that your agent and broker work together as a team. It'll make the buying process so much less stressful.

—adamf43b5285cd

When selling a house, be honest about any issues it has on any disclosures. If you try to sweep something under the rug it will almost always come back to haunt you later.

—katiew46e3c9a16

We are people with friends, families, kids, doctor appointments — basically all the same stuff you do. We need days off or even just some hours off. Lots of clients think we should be available whenever they want us to be, but if we were available to all our clients on each of their individual schedules we'd never get a break.

—emilial46650cf5f

They will be familiar with the unique quirks of the community, as well as important vendors such as lenders or inspectors. This is especially important in places where the houses are unique (e.g. not part of a housing development).

—erindegroot525

Make sure to ask a lot of questions. Our job is to make sure you feel comfortable in your decision and have all the tools you need to be successful in your home buying experience. Don't ever feel as though you're bugging your agent or broker with your questions.

—adamf43b5285cd