adpapa Editor
22 August 2020
A real estate agent plays a fundamental role in ensuring that you are buying your dream home at a convenient cost. These agents have a fiduciary duty that binds them legally and ethically to ensure that your interests are advanced with great skill and care. The fiduciary duty guarantees that your agent will put your interests first during the transaction processes.
Real estate agents have an ethical responsibility to use their best skills to negotiate and secure the best price for your new home. Also, they play a tantamount role in reviewing real estate documents and modifying such agreements in the pursuit of protecting their clients against exploitive clauses.
In this regard, it is evident that the importance of a real estate agent cannot be negated and therefore you ought to be mindful when hiring. There are basic guidelines that could be instrumental in securing a great agent, and they are elucidated as follows;
Review their portfolio
Real estate agency is a lucrative industry and therefore it is probable that you could find agents that will overstate their ability or misrepresent information in order to secure your business. Therefore it is intelligible to ask these agents to avail list properties that they have sold or bought on behalf of their clients.
Through such clients, you can be able to assess an agent’s negotiation skills and his general ability to safeguard your interests.
Verify their license
States, through relevant institutions, dictate that real estate agents must endeavour to acquire permits before purporting to administer services to the people. Governments set up various boards to issues licenses to qualified professionals and also institute disciplinary proceedings against noncompliant agents. In most cases, such licensing information can be obtained online however you must not shy away from demanding a physical copy.
Review their credentials
Real estate agents undergo mandatory training programs to equip them with adequate skills that ensure quality service delivery. These are credentials that proffer accreditation from governmental institutions.
Therefore you ought to be mindful of the relevant training regimes and make sure that your prospective agent has complied thereto. Also, it is preferable to hire an agent that has taken up additional training programs to further his knowledge in a particular specialty.
Consider their experience
Long term service in any particular profession will subsequently enhance the expertise and skill of an agent. Therefore it is recommended that you endeavour to secure the services of an experienced agent due to their comprehensive knowledge of the industry. Also, an experienced agent can advise you sufficiently based on the accumulated knowledge and the current market trends.
One of the biggest purchases one is likely to make, is buying property. It places one on the road to wealth creation. It also creates a foundation for future investments. Unlike other things, the price of property seems to remain the same even when the economy changes. Buying property is, therefore, the biggest investment one can make in any economy. Hence people should be well informed when buying a piece of property.
This is the best when it comes to the management of property. Here are some of the best tips that you should consider when buying property.
The need for larger families
Condos provide for ample space if you are looking to settle with your family or together with an extended family. However, if you are trying to put up an off starting family into later life, then they are still a preferred choice.
Choice of lifestyle
More people are now flocking to urban centres compared to the serene countryside environ. The main reason for staying in an urban setting is due to the closeness to amenities and the lifestyle that comes with urban areas.
Buying your dream home can be affordable
If you are looking to stay in an urban centre, then be sure to spend quite a substantive amount of money on apartments. This is because of the constant increase in land value and housing. However, condos offer you a better option since they are more affordable especially for first-timers.
Proximity to jobs
Most people prefer to be closer to the urban centres due to the ease of accessibility to their jobs. Long commutes are unproductive and might even lead to poor quality in service delivery. On the other hand, with more jobs present in urban centres, there is the need for an even greater housing within the urban setting. In this regard, high-density apartments (condos) and land supply constraints are easily taken care of.
Longer working hours
The world in 2020 is a twenty-four-hour economy and that being the case people are now putting more working hours. That said, people choose to stay closer to the urban centres.
Location
An important thing about the property is that it should be an investment. As time goes by, the value of the house should increase and not depreciate. The location will determine if the value of the house will increase. For that reason, there is the need for one to conduct extensive research on the location of property.
Consider the infrastructure of the area, the security, solar panels and power, transport, how good are the facilities such as schools, healthcare, and others. If you check on all this, you will be on the road to getting a good and valuable property.
Budget when buying your dream home
Well, nothing matters more in any purchase than the amount of money you have. The money you have will determine what you can afford and what you can afford. Nonetheless, there are loans which can cover up your expenses when buying a new home. It is, therefore, vital; to put into consideration your budget and how much more you are willing to spend, especially if it is a custom home.
Survey the market
Another important aspect is trying to see what is available on the market. Consider your specific wants then study the market to see what it can offer. You can start doing so by searching the internet. The internet might have websites that have property lists, reviews and other information that will be useful to you. The local newspaper is also an excellent tool to get information. Here you will get advertisements and listings in in the area you have chosen.
Structural aspects
Before you purchase a property, you will always have time to look at it and take a tour. Here you will have to take a good look at structural aspects. Make sure there are no dangerous mishaps that will incur you a lot of costs repairing after purchase. As a buyer, it is your responsibility to ensure you get what you want in good condition.
Traffic in your home
Keep in mind the type of traffic in your house when it comes to carpet and flooring decisions. If you live in a very busy household with children, pets, and plenty of visitors, you will need products that can handle heavy traffic. You might also not require hardwood floors that could be scratched or scuffed because of kids and their toys, the shoes your regular visitors wear and much more.
There are some kind of carpet and flooring that work well in homes with high traffic. It is an excellent idea to look at those if you know it will be difficult to keep them clean due to your traffic.
Cleaning and maintenance
You will have to figure out how to clean the type of carpet and flooring you purchase. This is paramount because you want to make sure you do it in the correct way. The wrong method can end up damaging those surfaces hence making you replace them again.
Appearance and décor
The appearance and the overall décor of your house will influence what you purchase. You will want your house to be a place where you are glad to look around and view your investment. Additionally what you choose should be durable and good in meeting your ongoing flooring needs.
Conclusion: buying your dream home
There are many other things that you should consider when buying your dream home. However, these are the top things to put in mind. You can have a checklist that will help you get all that you need. Keep in mind a property is a long term investment.
