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Jordan
Student
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What is the first thing people look at when buying a house. What are some ways to be a better real estate agent ?
I want to become a real estate agent but don't know what to look for in houses. I also want to know how to become a successful real estate agent.
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Tara Chiusano
Actor/Teaching Artist
29
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Spokane Valley, Washington
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Tara’s Answer
Hi Jordan!
Fantastic question! Full disclosure: I'm not a real estate agent BUT I come from a long line of real estate agents and have experience as a first-time home buyer. I'll try to weigh in as best as I can.
From a buyer's perspective, I loved looking on Zillow and perusing through AMAZING photos of houses. That being said, I think that it's important for real estate agents to have some photography skills and also some friends in the home staging business. Make sure the house looks inviting and dynamic. Sellers who accumulate a bunch of stuff and try to advertise their cluttered homes on the internet probably do not sell as well as they could. Investing some money into staging a home helps give buyers a showroom feel where they can imagine themselves living in the home. Price is extremely important to a buyer because they want to ensure they get a good deal. This is where comps come in. Make sure that the house is fairly priced alongside other houses in the same neighborhood. The internet makes it really easy for buyers to compare options so being honest about what the house is really worth is important. Properties that have enough bathrooms are more desirable (this is a weird thing that I found out the hard way). We struggled to sell our 3 bedroom 1 bath house because people were really not into a one-bath situation. Even people who lived alone. It's something to be aware of when you have properties like this. Families will typically want to live near good schools and shopping districts. Young couples who want kids will typically feel the same way. Making sure the landscaping is neat and tidy is important as well. A newly mowed lawn will make the place look nice and pretty. Lastly, make sure to come clean about anything that is really bad about the property. Honesty is the best policy. A trustworthy real estate agent will go far in this life. Believe me, the truth will come out eventually either in the inspection or the appraisal. Be a good human. I promise you if you do your job with integrity you will earn a great reputation and people will recommend you to all of their friends. The progress will be slower this way, but your conscience will be clean.
What to look for in good houses: enough bathrooms per bedroom (as mentioned previously), good location (near schools, parks, shopping, transportation, etc.), and good "bones" (the house has a great foundation, new roof, solid plumbing and electrical--basically, any cosmetic issues are easily fixable and you can help the seller imagine the possibilities and give them "fixer-upper" tips).
Great real estate agents are passionate about the houses that they're selling and love helping people find their forever homes. If this sounds like you, then you will do really well!
Obviously, you'll need to get your real estate license and get hooked up with a brokerage. In general, though, being a real estate agent is like being your own boss to some extent. There may be some situations where you'll have to spend money to make money in order to get yourself started. Also, be prepared to show houses whenever. When you are at the top of your game, you can make a ton of money! I wish you all the best on your journey!
Fantastic question! Full disclosure: I'm not a real estate agent BUT I come from a long line of real estate agents and have experience as a first-time home buyer. I'll try to weigh in as best as I can.
From a buyer's perspective, I loved looking on Zillow and perusing through AMAZING photos of houses. That being said, I think that it's important for real estate agents to have some photography skills and also some friends in the home staging business. Make sure the house looks inviting and dynamic. Sellers who accumulate a bunch of stuff and try to advertise their cluttered homes on the internet probably do not sell as well as they could. Investing some money into staging a home helps give buyers a showroom feel where they can imagine themselves living in the home. Price is extremely important to a buyer because they want to ensure they get a good deal. This is where comps come in. Make sure that the house is fairly priced alongside other houses in the same neighborhood. The internet makes it really easy for buyers to compare options so being honest about what the house is really worth is important. Properties that have enough bathrooms are more desirable (this is a weird thing that I found out the hard way). We struggled to sell our 3 bedroom 1 bath house because people were really not into a one-bath situation. Even people who lived alone. It's something to be aware of when you have properties like this. Families will typically want to live near good schools and shopping districts. Young couples who want kids will typically feel the same way. Making sure the landscaping is neat and tidy is important as well. A newly mowed lawn will make the place look nice and pretty. Lastly, make sure to come clean about anything that is really bad about the property. Honesty is the best policy. A trustworthy real estate agent will go far in this life. Believe me, the truth will come out eventually either in the inspection or the appraisal. Be a good human. I promise you if you do your job with integrity you will earn a great reputation and people will recommend you to all of their friends. The progress will be slower this way, but your conscience will be clean.
What to look for in good houses: enough bathrooms per bedroom (as mentioned previously), good location (near schools, parks, shopping, transportation, etc.), and good "bones" (the house has a great foundation, new roof, solid plumbing and electrical--basically, any cosmetic issues are easily fixable and you can help the seller imagine the possibilities and give them "fixer-upper" tips).
Great real estate agents are passionate about the houses that they're selling and love helping people find their forever homes. If this sounds like you, then you will do really well!
Obviously, you'll need to get your real estate license and get hooked up with a brokerage. In general, though, being a real estate agent is like being your own boss to some extent. There may be some situations where you'll have to spend money to make money in order to get yourself started. Also, be prepared to show houses whenever. When you are at the top of your game, you can make a ton of money! I wish you all the best on your journey!