How to find a good realtor

How to find a good realtor if I want to sell an apartment? How much do real estate services cost when selling an apartment? What determines the cost of realtor services when buying an apartment?

Hello, friends! Welcome to the popular online magazine “HeaterBeaver”! The permanent author of the resource is Denis Kuderin.

Today we will study a relevant and interesting topic - real estate services. Anyone may need the help of an intermediary in buying, selling or renting a home. It is worth knowing in advance what the services of a realtor are and why they are needed at all.

In this article I will share my personal experience.

And now – first things first!

What are real estate services?

Every day, thousands of properties are bought, sold and rented across the country. Most buyers, sellers and tenants work through intermediaries. Do-it-yourself real estate transactions are troublesome, risky and often fruitless.

For this reason, people use real estate services. Professionals in real estate transactions help sell housing quickly, without deception and on terms favorable to the tenant.

Real estate services are a business activity that involves mediation in real estate transactions.

A realtor is a specialist who helps you buy, sell or rent an apartment, house or commercial property. Realtors are sometimes called real estate agents.

The intermediary not only selects the most suitable options for the customer, but also accompanies the real estate transaction until its completion. Thus, this is not just a successful home seller, but also an expert in legal and financial matters.

Sometimes the word “realtor” does not mean a specific person, but an entire real estate agency - an organization that performs the functions of an intermediary or consultant in real estate transactions. For their services, realtors receive an intermediary percentage or a fixed fee.

You will find all the details about the work and functions of a real estate agency in the corresponding publication.

The professional responsibilities of intermediaries are quite extensive:

• selection of real estate options for the buyer in accordance with his needs and wishes;
• analysis and verification of documents of the selected object;
• negotiating with the seller in order to achieve more favorable conditions;
• compliance with the legal purity of the transaction;
• transfer of prepayment;
• documentation of the purchase/sale transaction;
• organization of mutual settlements;
• transfer of housing to a new owner;
• advertising and competent presentation of the property when selling housing;
• searching for buyers and showing them the apartment for sale.

It happens that a realtor acts simultaneously on behalf of the seller and the buyer. In this case, he conducts 2 transactions at once and receives a double fee.

The services of a realtor are needed when you want to sell your home, buy or rent an apartment, or sell commercial real estate. Today, only a few work without intermediaries: attracting realtors is a more civilized and reliable way to sell or purchase housing.

How much do realtor services cost - an overview of factors influencing the cost

Real estate services are provided by large and small real estate agencies. There are also private realtors - independent specialists who work for themselves in the IP format.

For their work, intermediaries receive commissions, which are calculated from the transaction amount. There is usually no specific rate or it is minimal. Realtors working for an agency receive 25-75% of the fee for their work, depending on their level.

Example

Let’s say an apartment was sold for 3 million. The agency received 50 thousand for its services, of which 12-30 thousand are received by the specialist who completed the transaction, the rest goes to the organization’s income.

Accordingly, a realtor acting solo takes all the profits for himself, but at the same time performs a greater amount of work, since no one provides him with legal or informational support.

There are narrow specialists working in certain niches. Such realtors will help, for example, buy commercial real estate or rent housing to students.

Let us consider in detail the main factors influencing the cost of real estate services.

Factor 1. Property price

Obviously, the higher the cost of an object, the more difficult it is to find a buyer for it. A realtor, of course, has access to databases of sellers and buyers for all categories of housing, but the success of the transaction depends not only on the availability of information.

It depends on the intermediary’s ability to present the object favorably, highlight its advantages and hide its shortcomings. Depending on the transaction amount, the intermediary's commission is calculated.

Read the article “Luxury Real Estate” about the peculiarities of transactions with expensive real estate.

Factor 2. Liquidity of the object

Factors such as the timing of searching for buyers, the complexity or, conversely, ease of paperwork, depend on the parameters of the housing.

Therefore, when calculating the cost of a specialist’s services, the liquidity of the property, the presence of all kinds of encumbrances and other “add-on weights” must be taken into account.

Read the detailed publication on how to sell commercial real estate.

Factor 3. List of services provided by the realtor

If the transaction is simple - for example, only the purchase of a specific object, the cost of services is calculated at a minimum. But when it is necessary to carry out additional work - say, organize advertising or select several options for the buyer, the price rises.

If a realtor is engaged in renting out residential premises, then a commission is charged in the amount of 50-100% of the monthly rental cost.

There are some calculation nuances when renting commercial premises. Such transactions are more complex legally, which means the cost of intermediary services will be higher.

Factor 4. Type of payment

The average realtor rate in buy/sell transactions ranges from 2% to 7%. Very complex operations are sometimes estimated by specialists at 10% commission.

More rarely, intermediaries work for a fixed rate. As a rule, newcomers and trainees in real estate agencies receive such a fee.

The table shows the influence of factors on the cost of services more clearly:

How to find a realtor and not make a mistake in choosing a good one?

Try to find time and invite a realtor to a personal meeting or conduct an interview remotely via telecommunications. First of all, you need to pay attention to the following details:

Phone conversation

Start your correspondence acquaintance and communication with a realtor through a telephone conversation, which can provide useful preliminary information about the specialist and his assessment: whether you need him or not...

Work experience

Every good realtor in Moscow started somewhere somewhere, some specialists began their professional career as trainees in large real estate agencies, others as agents in smaller real estate offices. Ask an intermediary in the secondary market to share where the main work experience was accumulated, how long and thorny his professional path was...

Education

Ask what kind of education the broker received: secondary specialized or higher education. What advanced training courses, seminars, business trainings did he attend? The ideal option for a realtor is to have a degree in law or psychology, but it is worth noting that among graduates of technical universities there are quite a lot of worthy real estate specialists...

Specialization and qualifications

Ask a real estate agent about his specialization, rarely is anyone a generalist, each usually has his own narrow one: secondary urban, commercial, country real estate, new buildings on the primary market. Ask your realtor what trends have been observed recently in the market segment you are interested in, does he know the business he is involved in very well?

Real estate agent sales experience

The theory is, of course, all good, but real successful purchase and sale transactions are much more important for a good realtor. Find out from a specialist what specific objects he has sold and in what quantities, and if he has only a few closed transactions under his belt, then you should seriously think about it.

Practice

Ask the realtor about his practice: does he attend real estate exhibitions, does he write analytical articles, does he engage in educational activities among the population, which agencies does he work closely with as a broker. A long-range specialist must have a wide and varied practice, and not just a fat wallet...

Business reputation, recommendations, reviews

The best thing about a person is his deeds and actions, and about a realtor his business reputation or the trail that follows him. A good realtor values ​​his reputation and name, because in fact, this is the only thing he has, and tries to avoid participating in dubious transactions, while those who are thirsty only for easy money do not shy away from anything...

Psychological picture

In order to understand what the person standing in front of you is like as a person, try to create a psychological portrait of a realtor for yourself. When communicating directly with a professional mediator, notice for yourself details of behavior, character traits and personal qualities that are not visible at first glance...

Comfort in communication

For me personally, this is the most important criterion in working with clients, which can often outweigh all the others. Here you liked a person at first sight and inspires trust - even if you crack. Comfortable communication with a realtor on the same wavelength, an interesting interlocutor, common ground, many common topics for discussion - all this can be of paramount importance when choosing a good realtor. By the way, by the way, among my clients there are many women with such a “rare” name as mine - Tatyana...

Realtor's appearance

Take a closer look at how a real estate specialist dresses, and it does not have to be an expensive business suit; it is enough that a realtor should not allow himself to appear in public in an unkempt manner. Let it look simple but neat. A realtor's neat appearance, ability to present himself and behave in public can often tell us a lot. It’s unlikely that anyone would want to deal with a ragamuffin with the face of an alcoholic, right?!

Age

It is not necessary for a professional realtor to be an old person, but he must be a mature person with rich life experience. It is unlikely that an 18-year-old “green” youth will be able to competently represent and reliably protect the interests of a client in a transaction, and it is really hard to argue with this. To each his own time...

Self-sufficiency

A good realtor must be an integral and self-sufficient person, fully accountable for his actions and actions, be able to make complex decisions on his own, and, if necessary, bear responsibility for them.

License and documents confirming authority

Ask the realtor to present official documents confirming his authority, for example, a power of attorney from the head of the department, if the intermediary is a representative of a real estate agency, or a license - a certificate of registration as an individual entrepreneur and an extract from Egrip with a note on the permitted type of activity, and, in In all cases, of course, a civil passport.

Service contract

Find out what type of cooperation agreement the intermediary offers you to enter into. An agreement for the provision of real estate services, in some cases an agency agreement or a commission agreement, may be offered for signature. I recommend that you carefully read the document in advance and clarify the following points for yourself: validity period, termination procedure, penalties, commission amount and payment procedure

Cost of services and payment procedure

For many clients on the market, a good realtor is only the one who can name the smallest commission. But, well, it doesn’t come cheap, because that’s exactly what folk wisdom says. The best realtor in Moscow cannot work for pennies. However, expensive is not always great. Someone chooses a golden mean for themselves. But often, it is the question of the cost of a realtor’s services that is paramount for many owners, and it happens that after it is clarified, the need for all other subjects of discussion disappears. Ask a specialist about the cost of real estate services, whether the size of the commission varies depending on the amount of work, and whether it is necessary to make some kind of advance payment when signing a cooperation agreement. Please note that the commission rate must be agreed upon in advance and fixed in the contract; standard conditions on the market are payment for results, only after the purchase and sale transaction is fully completed.

How to find a good realtor - 5 useful tips

Those who have not previously sold, bought, or rented real estate do not understand all the features and nuances of such operations. Therefore, newcomers to housing transactions try to save money on intermediary services.

They organize themselves or hire inexperienced agents who work at minimal rates. More often than not, this approach does not justify itself and even works to a disadvantage.

Advice: you should approach real estate transactions as seriously as possible and choose only professional specialists as partners.

Even if you only need to rent out an apartment for a long period of time, it is worth engaging an experienced realtor for cooperation. Yes, his services cost money, but the intermediary will choose not the first option that comes to you, but the most profitable option in the long term.

And now tips on how to find a reliable and honest realtor.

Tip 1. Refuse to cooperate with single realtors

There are plenty of unprofessional workers in the housing market. However, agencies that value their reputation do not employ realtors who work on the “maybe it’ll blow through” principle. Such employees are fired, after which they go “free swimming”.

When you choose the Lone Ranger, you are buying a pig in a poke. The track record of such a specialist may turn out to be fake, and his reputation may be fictitious.

In agencies, each employee is necessarily checked for professional suitability. And the lists of closed transactions here are, as a rule, genuine.

Tip 2. Choose a company that has been present in the services market for a long time

Obviously, an experienced company is preferable to a company that opened a month ago. If an agency has been operating in the market for 10-20 years, it means that it has successfully overcome all waves of economic crises and remained afloat thanks to the right management policies.

But remember that a big agency is not necessarily a good one. And intrusive advertising of a company on every corner is not an indicator of the quality of services. Large organizations often attract newcomers who have zero experience in real estate transactions.

Tip 3. Carefully read customer reviews

How to check the professionalism of a realtor? First of all, it is worth studying reviews about the employee on the company’s website and on special forums.

Keep in mind that people write negative reviews more readily than laudatory ones. So if you get one dissatisfied customer out of ten completely satisfied ones, this is more likely a positive result than a negative one.

Tip 4. Analyze the professionalism of the realtor when meeting

A personal meeting will tell you more than all the reviews combined. From just a few sentences it becomes clear who practices honest and business-like relationships, and who makes promises that are not supported by real facts.

By the way, the age of an employee is not yet evidence of his professionalism. Realtors hire people under 50 years of age: it may also turn out that an employee who is much older than you is just an intern who has not closed a single deal.

A specialist who has successfully closed at least 20-30 purchase/sale transactions can be considered experienced. You should also pay attention to the number of projects that the realtor is currently leading. A professional is always in demand: he can handle 3-5 things at the same time without compromising quality.

Tip 5. Listen to the opinions of friends and acquaintances

The most reliable and effective option. Friends will not mislead you and praise an agent whose work they are unhappy with.

Ideally, you should look for a good realtor, like a family doctor, based on recommendations from people you know personally.

Is it worth contacting private owners?

1. RESPONSIBILITY

On the one hand, a private owner’s business depends on successful transactions, because satisfied clients will always recommend a good realtor in Moscow to relatives, friends and acquaintances. Therefore, he tries to do his job as efficiently as possible.

The other side of the coin is that all responsibility falls on one person, so there is a human factor involved. If a specialist has not checked something, made a mistake, or overlooked something, then there is no one to control it, unlike agencies where several specialists, including a lawyer, work on the transaction. Preparation for a transaction at the agency necessarily includes checking the property for legal purity, the legality of the previous transfer of rights, privatization and the presence of people applying for this living space, the authenticity of documents and persons participating in the transaction.

2. DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

Even if a private realtor has a legal education and was advised to you by people whom you can trust as the best realtor in Moscow, his knowledge may not help, since the constant emergence of new laws and methods of deception is, of course, easier for the agency to cover.

Complex exchange or travel transactions are very difficult to carry out alone; they require a fairly large base of clients who are ready to urgently resolve the housing issue. A good real estate agency has a sufficient number of clients, some of whom expect an alternative option.

3. PRICE

Let’s not hide that you can find a private realtor in Moscow inexpensively, but do you need such savings? The reputation of a private broker is much more difficult to track, because he does not have his own website, he places advertisements on Internet sites and can change his account and phone number at any time. A private owner often does not have his own buyer base, so a quick sale of an apartment is out of the question; as a rule, the terms are delayed indefinitely.

The complexity of relations with a private owner is also that if you are offered to sign an agreement for the provision of services, which does not happen very often, then it is still a standard one and does not contain provisions on any responsibility of the contractor.

Where to find a good realtor - review of the TOP 5 companies providing real estate services

There are dozens of real estate agencies in every city, where anyone can hire a realtor for any legally permitted transactions with housing.

To make it easier for our readers to choose an intermediary, we have reviewed the five most reliable and trusted companies in the capital market. Please note that some of the listed companies have branches in other cities of the Russian Federation.

1) SB Realty

One of the leading companies in its field in the capital. Since the early 2000s, the agency has been helping individuals and corporate clients purchase, sell, rent and lease residential and commercial real estate.

Here you can buy housing not only in the Russian Federation, but also abroad, in particular in Spain. The company actively cooperates with leading Russian banks - Sberbank, VTB, Promsvyazbank. This helps provide clients with favorable conditions for mortgage loans and provides additional security guarantees.

2) INCOM

A quarter of a century in the real estate market. Assistance in the sale, purchase, rental and exchange of apartments to citizens and legal entities. Assistance in obtaining a mortgage from the largest banks in the country, favorable lending conditions.

The company operates in the market of Moscow and the region. Guarantees legal purity in any transactions and always takes into account the interests of the client. The staff employs only professional realtors, who have dozens of successfully closed transactions.

3) Octava-Real Estate

Sale, purchase, exchange, privatization, rental of housing in the capital and the Moscow region. A reliable and successful agency operating since 1992. Provides a full range of professional real estate services.

The company's employees have experience in conducting complex transactions from a legal and financial point of view. Unusual housing situations and non-standard real estate properties do not frighten Oktava realtors: they take on any matter if they can help the client solve his problem.

4) MGSN

The Moscow City Real Estate Service has over 20 years of experience. Provides high-quality professional services to sellers, buyers, and landlords. The company is well versed in current trends in the real estate market and adjusts its work in accordance with the trends of the times. The list of other advantages includes a focus on the legal reliability of operations, low tariffs, and the professionalism of full-time realtors.

Through the agency, you can take out a home loan from a bank on more favorable terms. On the site you can consult an online consultant.

5) EGSN

Unified City Real Estate Service is a company established in 2003. The agency staff consists of only qualified and experienced realtors who are well versed in the current situation on the real estate market.

The company has an impeccable reputation in professional circles and is popular among ordinary users. The company has hundreds of successful closed transactions. EGSN guarantees its clients security, confidentiality, and legal purity. All real estate transactions carried out by the company are necessarily insured.

There are several ways to choose a realtor:

Through friends

I would like to believe that the person recommended to you is as professional as they say about him. Find out how long he has been a practicing expert, whether there have been breaks in his work, how long ago this happened. Pauses in real estate practice may affect qualifications. Timely awareness of the situation on the real estate market and changes in legislation is an integral part of an agent’s work.

Live communication

Companies with history and a positive reputation. Agencies that employ public experts who regularly confirm their knowledge. Participants in major events, forums and exhibitions are those people who are proud of their work.

Reviews of work on Internet resources

What is written with a pen cannot be cut down with an axe. Any reaction about the work that ends up on the Internet remains there. Read reviews on serious resources and forums.

How to save on real estate services - 5 proven methods

Reasonable savings are never superfluous. Here are some tips to help you save money when dealing with real estate.

Method 1. Search for an apartment yourself

There is no contradiction here. If you have some experience in selling or buying a home, you don't need outside help to find your options.

It is advisable to invite a realtor only at the last stage of the transaction, when the support of a person competent in legal aspects is required.

Method 2. Invite a realtor to act as a consultant

If you engage a specialist not as an official intermediary, but as a consultant, you can save a lot on the cost of services. Let the realtor only tell you in which direction to move, and you will conduct negotiations and transactions on your own.

Again, this option is advisable if you have at least minimal skills in real estate transactions.

Method 3. Cooperate with private realtors

Private realtors charge less for their services. This is quite logical, because they do not need to give 50-75% to the agency. But this method is not always safe.

There is a chance that you will run into unprofessionals or scammers who will take an advance payment and disappear with your money in an unknown direction.

Method 4. Refuse unnecessary real estate services

Since the main goal of every realtor is to make money, they strive to maximize the “commercial potential” of each client.

Specialists will not miss an opportunity to impose additional and optional services on you, for which, of course, you will need to pay. Therefore, before signing an agreement, you should carefully study the terms and exclude unnecessary clauses from the agreement.

Method 5. Prepare documents yourself

Working with documents yourself saves money, but increases the risk of errors. You may not notice inaccuracies or gross violations, and as a result, the document will be declared invalid at the stage of closing the transaction.

To avoid this, we recommend using professional legal assistance. In particular, the Pravoved company provides legal services for real estate transactions to everyone. It doesn’t matter what region you live in: the company operates via the Internet.

Specialists from all fields cooperate with this organization. In this case, the user himself has the right to assign a fee to the lawyer. Moreover, some consultations can be obtained online completely free of charge. To do this, you just need to go to the website ]Pravoved.ru[/anchor], select the area of ​​law that interests you and contact a specialist.

We recommend watching an interesting video in which a professional realtor explains what the cost of real estate agent services consists of.