Bend Oregon Real Estate Agents
Working with Bend Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Brokers
Real estate agents and brokers help people buy and sell houses. Your Bend Oregon Real Estate Agent must be able to:
- help you find the right house
- negotiate the terms of the sale on your behalf
- determine what comparable homes were selling for
- determine how much money your house is worth
- know the local real estate market very well
- know local laws that affect the buying or selling of a house.
- help you with price negotiations
- help you with paperwork
- help determine how much you can afford and
- help you find and arrange financing
"Finding the right real estate agent / broker is essential to making your home-selling experience a positive one."
Certified Residential Specialist
Experience
To earn the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation, every REALTOR® must have significant experience and demonstrate volume of real estate transactions or gross sales, as well as complete rigorous educational requirements.
Ethics
Every CRS designee is required to maintain membership in the National Association of Realtors® and to abide by its strict subheader of Ethics.
Technology Expertise
The training available to CRS designees includes a strong focus on technology and its applications in the real estate business.
The Top 4 Percent
Less than 4 percent of all licensed Realtors® are Certified Residential Specialists.
Median Income Much Higher*
The typical CRS designee earns an average income nearly three times that of a Realtor® who is a typical sales agent.
*Source: Council of Residential Specialists' 2007 Member Survey
Real Estate Agents and Brokers as Intermediary
Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Brokers act as an intermediary between people who want to sell a home (sellers) and people who wish to buy a home (buyers). Home sellers look to professional real estate brokers and/or their salespersons (real estate agents) to market their home for sale for the highest possible price and under the best terms for the home seller. In comparison, home buyers turn to professional real estate brokers or real estate agents to assist them in buying a house for sale at the lowest possible price under the best terms for the house buyer.
Although a home seller and buyer may each have their own real estate broker or real estate agent to assist them during the real estate transaction, they may sometimes have the same real estate broker or real estate agent work on behalf of both of them. As a home seller or home buyer, you should always be in a position to know if a real estate broker / agent is working on your behalf as your real estate agent or working with you while actuallity working on behalf of the other real estate party.
Does the Real Estate Agent Work for the Buyer or the Seller?
Real Estate Seller’s Agent
A real estate seller’s agent is a real estate agent / broker who is engaged by a seller to represent the seller’s interest.
Real Estate Buyer’s Agent
A real estate buyer’s agent is a real estate agent / broker who is engaged by a buyer to represent the buyer’s interest.
Real Estate Dual Agent
A real estate agent / broker may represent both the buyer and seller if they sign a separate agreement or document permitting the real estate agent / broker to represent both the buyer and the seller. In such a "dual agency relationship," the real estate broker / agent will not be able to provide the full range of fiduciary duties since a dual agent's loyalty is divided between real estate parties with competing interests.
Real Estate Services and Compensation:
To help you sell your home, a real estate broker / agent will perform a number of marketing services for you. Services to market your home for sale may include:
- helping you price your property at the best possible price
- advertising and marketing your home for sale
- using reasonable skill, care and diligence
- providing you with the required property disclosure forms to complete
- providing you with all material facts that could influence your decisions
- negotiating on your behalf for the best possible price and terms
- reviewing all of the written offers presented to you and
- otherwise promoting your interests.