When you’re buying or selling a home, one of the decisions you’ll need to make is what type of real estate professional to work with. Different kinds of real estate professionals have different types of skills and expertise, so it’s important to choose the right one for your situation. Find out more about these real estate professionals.
Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents work with both home buyers and sellers. These agents must have proper licensing in order to provide real estate services. Hiring a real estate agent means you’ll have a knowledgeable and experienced professional at your side to handle the buying or selling process from start to finish. This includes determining a listing price for your home, staging your home, negotiating with a buyer or seller, and assisting with the closing process as needed.
Real Estate Broker
Real estate brokers are real estate professionals who have successfully taken a broker’s license exam. Some of these professionals have their own firm, while others work independently. In addition to having the skills to handle the same tasks as real estate agents, brokers have knowledge of legal issues in real estate. Brokers have more in-depth knowledge of real estate overall compared to agents, which is important for buyers and sellers who are doing more complex real estate transactions.
Realtor
Realtors are licensed real estate agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This membership indicates that these agents meet NAR’s standards and follow a code of ethics. Realtors receive certain benefits with their NAR membership, such as being able to access real estate market data. Hiring a realtor when you buy or sell a home means you’re working with a real estate agent who is able to meet NAR’s stricter standards.
Listing Agent
Listing agents are real estate agents who work with home sellers only. These agents provide assistance with open houses, listing prices, showings with prospective buyers, and other tasks that are part of the selling process. When you hire a listing agent, you can expect to receive expert help selling your home, including advice on home improvements to consider making to boost its value and negotiating offers from buyers.
Home Builder
Home builders sell new construction to those looking to buy a home. When you buy from a home builder, you’re typically purchasing land and having a custom home built. While you can complete a home purchase with a home builder on your own, you should avoid doing so. Hiring a real estate agent, broker, or realtor helps ensure that you get a fair price and that the entire home buying process goes smoothly. These real estate professionals bring their expertise and skills to the home buying process.
Buyer’s Agent
Buyer’s agents are real estate agents who work with home buyers. These agents help home buyers with all of the tasks involved with purchasing a home, such as home inspection issues and price negotiations. Buyer’s agents can also help buyers find available homes and provide recommendations for any other real estate professionals buyers might need to work with, such as a real estate attorney. Hiring a buyer’s agent means having expert advice and guidance throughout the buying process.
Real Estate Attorney
Real estate attorneys handle legal issues involved with real estate transactions, such as looking over contracts before buyers purchase a home. While you don’t necessarily have to work with a real estate attorney when you buy or sell a home, you might consider it if you have a more complex real estate transaction. A real estate attorney can also help you navigate any legal issues you encounter when you sell or buy a home.
If you’re buying or selling a home in the College Station area, please contact Judy Sweat today for professional real estate services.
