Choose the right real estate agent

Opkotoisuva@fijitimes.com.fj

NE of the biggest decisions I believe I'd have to make if I ever decided to put my property on the market is selecting the right real estate agent to sell my property.

We read and hear many stories of people being scammed in many different ways. When selecting the best real estate agent he or she should be able to work towards getting you the best possible price for your property and also make the transaction as easy as possible.

There are many things that you must consider when selecting a real estate agent and you can find tips on this from this website: https:// www.homesfiji.com/.

1. What should you look for? – When selecting a real estate agent, look for someone who has a clear interest in selling your property and is willing to meet your requirements.

In addition, they should be registered with the Real Estate Agents Licensing Board (REALB), demonstrate marketing knowledge and provide references from past clients. They must also demonstrate skills and experience in real estate and provide some advice as to how they will handle your property.

2. How to find potential real estate agents? – The first step to take when trying to find a real estate agent is to visit the website mentioned above and look at the real estate agents who advertise properties on the website. You can follow this up by also looking at properties for sale in your area and the listing agent, referrals from family and friends, newspapers and the REALB website. After doing so create a shortlist of agents that you may wish to work with.

3. Questions to ask real estate agents before hiring them? – Asking questions is very important therefore once you've created your shortlist of real estate agents conduct one on one interviews. Here are a few questions that may help you during interviews.

 How long have you been working as a real estate agent and are you a registered real estate agent?;

 Which properties have you recently listed and sold in the area?;

 Can you please provide three referrals of your last three clients?;

 What sort of buyer would be interested in the property?;

 Is now a good time to sell my property?;

 What's the best method to sell my property? (This includes sale, price, offers invited, auction, tender etcetera).;

 How will you market and sell my property?;

 What are your fees and how much will this cost? (This should include sales commission, fees, advertising and marketing costs, etcetera); and

 Why should I hire you to sell my property? 4. Formalise the agreement – A listing agreement should be drawn up between you and the real estate agent once you've selected your agent. This should contain estimate of the total fees, charges and expenses you can expect to pay when your property is sold by the selected agent.

Always remember to seek legal advice to ensure that you are clear on all the terms and agreement before signing the documents or agreements.