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Buying
or selling a home can be a challenging, time-consuming process
during which a significant number of your hard-earned dollars
are at stake. Protect your family's assets by taking some
of the following precautions when you are buying or selling
a home:
Call
on an expert.
Before
making important decisions like the 'asking price' for your
home, or an appropriate offer to make on your next property,
make sure you are seeking the counsel of a seasoned expert.
Few other transactions in your lifetime will have as significant
of an impact on your family's financial health and future.
RE/MAX agents are professionals
who have established themselves as top performers in their
industry; they can apply their expert knowledge to save
you time and money.
Know
the pace of the market.
Your
agent will help you to establish realistic expectations
of how long it will take to sell your home or to find and
purchase an appropriate new property. In fast-paced markets,
for example, the most desirable properties often receive
multiple offers within days of being listed for sale. Your
agent may advise you to become pre-approved with a lender
and to be prepared to move quickly when you have identified
your ideal home. Making the decision to become a homeowner
or to change residences are processes that require significant
time and attention. Once those decisions have been made,
however, you will need to be prepared to act at, or ahead
of, the pace of your local market.
Identify
your priorities.
As
a seller, your agent will conduct a CMA, or comparative
market analysis, to determine a realistic sales price of
your home. Your agent will also help you to evaluate the
results of that CMA within the framework of your own needs
and priorities. For example, if you need to relocate quickly,
you and your agent may choose to deliberately price your
home slightly under its market value in order to expedite
the process.
As
a buyer, your agent will help you to first evaluate your
priorities in terms of location, size, cost and neighborhood
amenities. Then, your agent will help you to identify neighborhoods
and properties that meet your requirements. Your agent's
knowledge of the real estate industry in your community
will be particularly important as you begin narrowing down
a list of properties. For example, school district ratings,
historical value trends and the reputation of a neighborhood
may affect a property's desirability and the likelihood
of its future appreciation.
Ask
questions.
You
should interview your real estate agent in the same manner
as you might interview any other trusted professional
- from doctor to dentist, attorney to financial advisor.
Make sure you understand what your agent will do for you
and how he or she will be compensated. Don't be afraid
to ask an agent about his or her experience in the industry.
RE/MAX associates, on average,
lead the industry in production (volume of closed transactions)
and professional designations (credentials earned through
continued education). Your agent wants to make the buying
or selling process as comfortable and convenient for you
as possible, so don't be afraid to ask questions!
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