If you are planning to sell or purchase a property in Australia, it is important that you consider hiring an agent. This will help to ensure that your transaction goes smoothly and without any problems.
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Determine if you need to hire a real estate agency.
You can sell your home yourself.
You can hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home.
You can hire an agent to help you buy a home.
Decide if you want to sell your home privately.
If you want to sell your home quickly, then selling privately is the best option. However, if you are looking for the highest price possible and don’t mind waiting until after Christmas or New Year’s Day (depending on where you live), then listing with an agent may be more appropriate.
Choose the type of property you want to buy or sell.
When you’re thinking about buying or selling a property, it’s important to consider the type of property you want. For example, if your goal is to buy a house, then a residential real estate agency can help with that process. If instead, you’re looking for an office building (or anything else), then a commercial real estate agency may be more appropriate.
Choosing the right kind of real estate agent will determine what kind of services they offer and how much money they charge for their services.
Obtain an appraisal for your property.
An appraisal is a report of the value of your property. It provides you with an estimation of what it could sell for, based on comparable properties in the area and other factors such as location, size, and condition.
If you don’t have an appraisal done at this stage, then your real estate agent will likely recommend one for you. While most agencies charge about $500-$600 for their services, there are some cheaper options available if you’re willing to do some research online or ask around locally (more on that later).
Create a list of potential real estate agencies.
First, you should create a list of potential real estate agencies.
- Check online for real estate agencies in your area. You can also ask friends and family members who are looking to sell or buy property if they know any good ones that they’d recommend.
- Look for real estate agencies that have been in business for a long time, as this means that there’s experience and professionalism behind them—not just one-hit wonders who might not be able to deliver on their promises (and may even have questionable practices).
- Get recommendations from people you trust who have dealt with these different agents before—they’ll be able to tell you what type of service they received from each one (if any).
Obtain a list of references from each agency.
- Obtain a list of references from each agency.
- Talk to previous customers, ask for recommendations from friends and family, check social media reviews and ask for references from other agents too.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) if you’re not sure if they can give you an unbiased opinion on their work ethics or customer service skills.
Request proof of licensing from each agency on your list.
- Check that the agency is licensed by the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA).
- Check that the agency is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- Check that the agency is licensed by ACMIA.
Check with local authorities
Before you sign a contract with a real estate agency, check with local authorities to see if any complaints have been filed against the agencies you are considering hiring.
The local council and chamber of commerce may also be able to provide information about the reputation and performance of each agency in their area. In addition, it is important that you check on the reputation of any person who has sold or rented property at your address (for example landlords, tenants) over recent months or years; this can help to inform your decision about whether or not they would be suitable as your agent
Ask the agencies
Before you sign a sales contract, it’s important to ask the agencies in contention to provide you with a sales contract prior to signing anything. This will ensure that both parties are happy with their understanding of what they’ve agreed upon and how long the contract is for.
Ask yourself: Is this what I want? Do I understand everything about it? Is there anything missing from this agreement that could cause problems later on down the line (e.g., if one party breaches terms)?
If not, then there’s no need for panic—just make sure your agent has written out both sides’ obligations clearly (including any penalties) before proceeding further into discussions or negotiations; otherwise, things could get messy very quickly!
Conclusion
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and visit the real estate agent’s website and get started on your journey to home ownership.