Finding a Washington, DC area Buyer's Agent:

The most important step is to find an agent that will work with you as your buyer's agent. Most state laws say that if you do not have an agreement with an agent to work with you as a buyer's agent, that agent has a duty to represent the seller.

Today, most agents will be willing to work with you as buyer agents. When entering into a buyer agency agreement with an agent, ask them to include as one of the terms, that if you are not happy with their services you can terminate the agreement by providing 48 hours notice. Discuss the buyer agency option at your first meeting and surprise the agent with your knowledge!

The most common complain consumers have is that their agent is not very responsive. Therefore, finding a buyer's agent that will return your calls promptly and will be available for your questions is important. An agent's responsiveness should be evident pretty quickly. Test it!

Another good trait you should look for in a buyer's agent is attention to detail. Since something seemingly unimportant as a checkmark or an initial, can make a big difference in an offer, a methodical and careful agent is a big plus!

Given that the likelihood of competing with several other buyers for a property is high, it will make a big difference if your agent has good negotiation skills and formal training in negotiating. Good negotiators build consensus. Avoid working with a buyer's agent that gets angry and argues with the listing agents.

Finally, remember that even though by law an agent's responsibilities end when your new home is under contract, most agents will assist you all the way until settlement. Make sure that your agent will be by your side until settlement and even after.

In Washington, DC as well as Northern Virginia and Maryland most agents will not only assist you in finding a home but will help you with obtaining financing via referring you to a lender, and will attend your closing. Don't settle for anything less than the best agents the Washington area has to offer!

The purpose of this page is not to cover all details relevant to a home sale, but rather to give you a few tips about selecting a good real estate agent when selling your home in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia or Maryland.

REMEMBER: All agents are not equal. A good agent is golden. The same way a good accountant can save you on taxes, and a good attorney can protect you from a lawsuit, a good agent can steer you clear of many traps.

REMEMBER: A good agent is not only marketing and selling your home, but also covering all bases to protect you from liability.

Finding a good agent:
Surprisingly, finding a good agent is not very complicated. In the Washington, DC area there are many qualified agents that can assist you. How would you go about finding any other professional, such as a good attorney, or accountant?

Probably visit their websites, review their professional credentials, business experience, and professional achievements. Do the same with a real estate agent. Interview them! We also recommend that you check the Agent Comparison service we offer, which is free and with no obligation.

There are a few things you need to look for when interviewing agents:

» Is the agent a full time agent?
» Is the agent well educated and trained?
» Does the agent have business experience?
» Negotiation skills? Training in marketing?
» Does the agent seem responsive?
» Is the agent actively involved in professional associations, etc?
» Do you feel comfortable with the agent?

Finally, be aware of the three most common misconceptions. Do not select an agent based on:

a) The volume of properties they have sold.
b) Their claim of specialization in a specific neighborhood.
c) The price they claim they can sell your home for.

a) The number of properties an agent has sold, does not necessarily speak to the agent's quality of work. Quantity does not equal quality.

b) An agent "specializing" in a very specific neighborhood might not be the best person to market your home. After all, the buyers will most likely come from a different area, so the property has to be marketed with an open mind to a wide audience.

c) When interviewing an agent, most sellers want to know what the agent can sell their home for. Never base your decision on the number an agent will give you. In fact, if it sounds too good, you might as well walk away. Some people will tell you what you want to hear, just so they can get your business. The truth is that the agent does not determine the listing price. That is up to you to decide, and the market will decide if the price you selected was right or not.

Fees
There are numerous stories about people that tried to save a penny and ended up losing a dollar. Just remember the golden rule; you get what you pay for. This is the one transaction that you should not be stingy or greedy.

That does not mean that a good agent will be more expensive or that an average agent will be cheaper. You can find good agents that will charge a lower fee than many average agents do, so don't let the fee be the deciding factor.

If anything goes wrong, good agents can save you much more than what you pay them. Since you are a paying client, find someone who can offer you peace of mind!

Relocating is not an easy process therefore you should look for an experienced relocation agent that will make the home buying process as efficient as possible so you can have more time to dedicate to other tasks.

Depending on where you are relocating from, the local Washington, DC Metro market might be a bit of a shock to you. Not only is it different from other cities, but even within the Washington metropolitan area, customs and laws vary between localities.

In the interest of saving you time (as well as travel expenses, etc) it is best to contact a REALTOR as soon as you have made the decision to move.

She/he will discuss your needs as well as the state of the local market, so when the time comes for you to visit, you will better understand the homes and areas you will be looking at.

To find and compare REALTORS, based on their experience, skills, past customer reviews, etc, we recommend that you use our Agent Comparison service. It is free, there is no obligation and you remain anonymous throughout the process.

Welcome to Washington, DC and enjoy your new home!

You can use your own criteria to search through all properties available in the Washington, DC Metro market regardless of which company has listed the property. The database is updated real time and provides you with basic information about each property.

The MLS search function will give you an idea of what is available in the various price ranges. In order to make your home search more efficient and your time more productive you should consider establishing a working relationship with a real estate agent, early on in your home search.

If you are in search of a real estate agent in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia or Maryland we recommend that you use our Agent Comparison service. It is free, there is no obligation and you remain anonymous at all times.

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