Real estate agents are licensed professionals who assist home buyers and sellers
through the real estate transaction process. They work hard to make sure that
everything goes smoothly for their clients and customers from assisting with finding
properties to finalizing the escrow process and closing on the property. In order to be a real estate agent, you need to meet your state’s licensing requirements which
include taking a pre-licensing course, taking and passing the state exam and then
joining a real estate brokerage firm.
For a seller, a real estate agent can help with listing the property for sale, setting a
competitive selling price, advising on how to prepare a home for showings and
assisting with the inspection and appraisal processes. They can also help with the
financing of a property which often involves dealing with lenders and other third
parties. They can also serve as a go-between for the buyer and seller during
negotiations and even accompany them to the property closing.
Buying a property can be a complicated process and real estate agents are often
required to attend a lot of property open houses on behalf of their clients. When
they find a property that meets their client’s criteria, they will schedule viewings
with the client. During these viewings, they will take the client through all of the
features and amenities of the property and answer any questions that their client
may have. Once they have found a property that their client wants to purchase, they
will advise them on making an offer and guide them through the due diligence
process including working with the lender, inspectors and appraisers. For more info https://www.joehomebuyertriadgroup.com/durham/
In some cases, a real estate agent can represent both the seller and the buyer which is known as dual agency but this is illegal in most states except for Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Vermont. In most cases, a real estate agent will work with a broker, who is a higher level licensee that can oversee transactions to ensure that all state and federal laws are being followed.
It can be a very rewarding career for agents who enjoy meeting people and helping
them achieve their goals. It can also be challenging when you’re interacting with
people who aren’t easy to work with but as long as you remain professional and
focus on serving your clients, the challenges will resolve. Becoming a real estate
agent is a big commitment and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Be sure to
research the brokerage you want to join and speak with other agents in the office to
learn more about what it’s really like to be a real estate agent. Good luck!