There are a lot of real estate businesses in the phone book. How do I know which is best? I dont have time to contact them all research them? Are there any "big" companies (that would be in a lot of states) that people have had good business with, that can recommend that certain real estate company as being the most reliable best overall? Thank you!
The big companies are pretty standard. If you want to go with a full service agency, make sure they do the following for 6% of the asking price they will be taking from you when they find you a buyer: List in the MLS with multiple pictures, not just one picture List in any other web based for sale sites that they manage with multiple pictures advertise your open houses in the newspapers advertise you home if it doesn't sell in the first 30 days in some sort of real estate magazine like your local homes and land, again with at least 1 picture. Agree to staff at least 2 open houses for you, if not with your actual Realtor then a licensed real estate professional within their organization. Make sure you are comfortable asking questions and spending time with the person you hire. If you want to go the cheaper route than 6% try some of the discount agencies that offer the full 3% to an agent bringing you a buyer, but the listing agent only takes as little as $250 to list on the MLS but you don't get the hand holding a full service agent can provide, and you are then responsible for marketing your home.
I agree, it is not the company but the RE agent that is the important aspect. If you don't have time to research, go to a couple open houses, see if there is an agent you click with. Some more experienced agents allow newer agents to sit their open houses, and these folks may have more time for you than an agent with 100 transactions going on. Remember you are going to spend a significant amount of time with this person, I think it is important that you find someone who will work for you and fits your needs. Buying a house should be a pleasant experience! Good luck!
Being a Realtor in Central Texas the company is not the issue. There are several National Real Estate Companies. The Agent is more important than the Company. I deal with Agent's all the time there is a big difference. Most are part time and do not do a great job for their client's. You do need to interview several Agent's and come up with the one you are most comfortable with.
If by company you mean the office for which a broker or sales agent works read the following: When a house sells, the agent who listed the house and represents the seller gets a portion of the commission and the agent who brought the buyer to the transaction gets the other portion. Sometimes the agent who lists the house also sells it [has a buyer] but increasingly buyers are told to get a buyer's agent to avoid conflict of interest. Laws and practices vary by state. The commission is agreed upon at the time the listing is taken. Generally the seller pays it from the proceeds of the sale. It can be renegotiated later if the selling price is lower than asked or if the price is bid up. For example a listing will indicate commission is 6% of the selling price split 50/50 or 40/60 between the listing broker/agent and the buyer's broker/agent. The split depends on market conditions - is it a buyer's market or a seller's market. If it is a seller's market that means houses to sell are in short supply making a listing a valuable thing and the listing broker or agent may, but not always, get a larger split of the commission. The portion of the commission that goes to the respective sides is split again. Take the case of a Century 21 office. A portion goes to cover the franchise fee i.e.; goes to C-21 corporate, a portion goes to the broker who manges/owns the office [company in your question] the selling agent is associated with, some may go to cover special advertising or printed materials and the rest goes to the broker or sales agent who found the buyer or took the listing. That is an over view of the process.
