A: The greatest value that an agent brings is in negotiating the best deal for you.
During the first meeting, you want to find out if the agent will devote the time and energy to work for you and represent your interests. You should ask for recent examples of their negotiating successes.
Both buyers and sellers should ask:
• What’s your negotiating style?
• Do you have time for me?
• How often will we be in contact?
• When I have questions, how quickly do you promise to get back to me?
• Which neighborhoods do you specialize in?
• How familiar are you with the other agents, players and properties in my neighborhood?
• Can you offer me two to three references from past clients who are in the same price range?
Underlying all these questions, get a sense of whether the agent will listen to you, give you the attention that you deserve and do their job effectively.
John Solaegui,
Paragon Real Estate Group,
(415) 738-7232
This is an excerpt from my San Francisco Chronicle Interview. Please click here for the full article.
