North Hollywood, often called the entertainment center of the world, offers an abundant amount of activities. From studio tours to historical sites to even shopping all day long, North Hollywood caters to visitors’ needs and wants.
A huge selection of North Hollywood real estate agents is available, but understanding the benefits of an agent can be confusing and choosing the right one can be an even more difficult task.
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North Hollywood Real Estate Agents
The following are some areas in which North Hollywood real estate agents can assist you:
- Determining your buying power
- Finding the right loan or mortgage program for your financial situation
- Getting pre-approval for a loan
- Helping narrow your search by providing access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is where most homes are bought and sold
- Advertising sellers’ homes on the MLS for maximum exposure
- Placing an offer
- Performing Negotiations
- Drafting a purchase contract
- Getting property evaluations and inspections
- Helping properly price your home and helping sellers understand fair market value on potential properties
- Performing daily activities necessary to the buying or selling process
- Handling open-houses and answering questions
- Providing advice to sellers on increasing their home’s appeal
- Advising and handling legal concerns
- Providing assistance or information during the closing process
- Helping you avoid legal trouble or complications
Choosing wisely
It’s important to understand the difference between a buyer's and a seller's agent. These agents have loyalty to either the buyer or seller respectively, so ensure you aren’t disclosing confidential information to an agent who is acting on the behalf of the other party. For example, don’t make an offer on a North Hollywood home through a seller’s agent and then tell him or her how high you are really willing to go on the deal. That agent will convey this information to the seller, because that’s where his or her loyalty lies. If you have a North Hollywood buyer’s agent, he or she knows how to interact with other agents and how to properly make offers, perform negotiations and draft contract terms.
Remember, these people are competing for your business, so don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. For example, if you want to sell your home, ask how the agent will go about advertising the property. Also, inquire about an agent’s experience in the North Hollywood market, and don’t believe the wise choice is hiring the busiest agent. You want an agent who has a good record, but not an agent who won’t remember your name when you call. Don’t forget, you will be spending extended periods of time talking with this person and you’re going to tell him or her sensitive information about your life, including your wants, desires and financial situation, so it’s important you feel comfortable.
Conclusion: Once you’ve found one of the many available North Hollywood real estate agents, ask for a copy of the agreement. You should commission your agent for a short period of time, usually only a few months, and ensure you are satisfied with his or her fees, which usually run 5 to seven 7 of the property’s closing cost.
By David Webster
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®