Monday, September 15, 2014

5 Topics to Discuss with Your Real Estate Agent


You’re ready to buy – but whether this is your first or fourth home purchase – you may find that working with a realtor to be confusing and difficult. Having a clear understanding of what you want and how to communicate that with your real estate agent is critical for success. To keep everything running smoothly – make sure you discuss the following topics with your agent.

1 – Home Size

Knowing how large (or small) you want your next home to be is an important step towards weeding out the homes on the market that don’t meet your needs. It is likely that you will end up visiting empty and occupied homes as you look at what’s available. Your agent should be able to help you understand how square footage impacts the look and feel of each home you visit. If you aren’t sure exactly what size of a home you want – get specific about room sizes. This can help the agent narrow down which homes will best meet your needs.


2 - Style

Houses have different architectural style – from log cabin to Victorian. If you know that a style specific home is what you want – be sure to tell your agent up front. Make sure they know what style features you’re looking for and which ones you want to avoid. Remember a house can look different from the outside to the inside so be clear about what appeals to you.

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3 – Landscaping & Pools

Buying a home involves more than just the structure itself – the type of property you desire (or want to avoid) can make or break a sale. Are you prepared to landscape raw land? Do you want to maintain fruit trees or a small vineyard? Do you want to see homes with Pools? If you are open to putting effort into landscaping and yard work – make sure your Realtor knows. If ease and low maintenance are crucial to whether you buy a particular home – make sure these requirements are clear from the start.

4 – School District

If you have young children and have a strong desire for your kids to attend a certain school district – make sure your real estate agent knows. District lines are clear and an agent will be able to determine what properties will qualify especially because “a few blocks down the road” may not be acceptable to consider with this goal in mind.

5 – Long Term Goals

Is this the home you plan on living in for a few years or a few decades? Do you plan on turning this home into a rental eventually? Could you be transferred and need to sell quickly? Understanding your long term plans can help tailor the homes your agent presents to you. For example: If you are only planning on staying a few years – a home in an established neighborhood might be easier to sell than a new neighborhood that is still experiencing a lot of construction.

Key Take Away


Being open and honest about your needs with your real estate agent will strongly affect your relationship. By talking with your Realtor prior to visiting homes, you can save yourself a lot of wasted time and frustration (and your agent will thank you!) Good luck in your search for your new home!

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