What questions should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them?

<div><p>Interviewing real estate agents is the best way to find the right person for the job. Consider asking the following questions to find the best agent for you:</p><ul><li><p>How will you show my property?</p></li><li><p>Will you do open houses to market my home?</p></li><li><p>How will you handle dual agency (representing the buyer and you as the seller)?</p></li><li><p>Should I make repairs to my home before listing?</p></li><li><p>Will you get professional photos taken of my home?</p></li><li><p>What is the best price you think we can get for my property?</p></li><li><p>How long do you expect the sale to take?</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

Do I need a real estate agent as a buyer?

<div><p>You don’t legally need a real estate agent as a buyer, as you can represent yourself, but you should always hire an agent as a home buyer. A professional real estate agent will have access to local MLS services to find homes that meet your criteria and needs, can connect you with other professionals—like a mortgage broker and real estate attorney—you’ll need for the purchase, and can often negotiate a better price for your home to help save you money. Plus, as the buyer, your agent’s commission comes from the seller’s proceeds from the sale of the home.</p></div>

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Q: Do I need a real estate agent as a buyer?

<div><p>You don&rsquo;t legally need a real estate agent as a buyer, as you can represent yourself, but you should always hire an agent as a home buyer. A professional real estate agent will have access to local MLS services to find homes that meet your criteria and needs, can connect you with other professionals&mdash;like a mortgage broker and real estate attorney&mdash;you&rsquo;ll need for the purchase, and can often negotiate a better price for your home to help save you money. Plus, as the buyer, your agent&rsquo;s commission comes from the seller&rsquo;s proceeds from the sale of the home.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Real Estate Service pros in Columbia, CA

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Columbia, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Real Estate Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Real Estate Service companies in Columbia, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Real Estate Service needs.

Last update on April 10, 2025

Reviewed in April 2025
Alan Gitz was extremely helpful, friendly, knowlegable and professional. Not to mention very patient with us. We were visiting from another state looking for a house to call our home. After a month and multiple houses we found one we really like. He worked with us through the whole process via...
Keaty Real Estate, LLC
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Reviewed in September 2018
The Brad Korb Real Estate Group did an excellent job of selling and preparing our home for the market. We needed extensive repairs and upgrades before listing the house. Living out of state we were at a loss on how to handle the logistics of hiring contractor's to make the repairs. Brad's team...
Brad Korb
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Reviewed in December 2016
Great, Rose was wonderful. She was diligent, efficient, prompt, and took my needs into consideration. She took the worry out of selling my house.
Team Forss Realty Group
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Reviewed in November 2020
Mike was very easy to work with. He was super responsive, attentive to our wants & needs, and shared his real estate knowledge as well as research on prospective properties . He made our relocation experience much less stressful.
Michael Marshall - Buyer's Resource Realty Svcs.
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Reviewed in May 2013
I am in an area that Angie's List is not established in (Barstow). I left a message looking for an appraiser in that area. Penny does not handle the area I am in. Normally if there is nothing in it for the vendor you never get a call back. Penny called back within minutes and went out of...
Penny Smith Realtor/Appraiser
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Reviewed in October 2012
Forbes and Associates provides excellent real estate agent services, they are always there for you and will go above and beyond... I was really impressed by their attention to detail and protective demeanor of the client, always pointing out every small detail and being totally transparent, as...
Sue Forbes
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Reviewed in February 2015
Richard Genari did a great, professional job of listing and selling a single family home for me in the Palmdale, CA area. I had moved approximately 100 miles away, and so did not want to have to travel up to the area often. Richard took care of all details and had the home sold very quickly at...
REALTY EXECUTIVES PLATINUM
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Reviewed in September 2012
I spent several days with Romy in May, looking at areas and houses, and then my wife and I worked with her in mid-June, making a successful offer on a house in Windsor. Making her work more challenging was that we lived on the East Coast, and that the market for houses is "thin" in the Santa...
Romy Campbell
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Reviewed in January 2011
She really helped him to get into a home that was affordable. She comes from an old time Fortuna family and really knows how to look after someone.
Rohnerville Rental & Real Estate
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Reviewed in October 2015
A full home inspection from top to bottom and front to back, including the electrical, roof, A/C and heating, and the overall structure. Joseph was very timely and prompt with our communications and arrived on-time. He explained the items that needed attention and answered my questions. I...
JS HOME INSPECTORS-Fresno
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Real estate agents in Columbia

Real estate services FAQs

Real estate agents work on commission, so the cost of hiring an agent will depend on the cost of the home you’re buying or selling. The listing contract should include information about the commission for both agents, which is usually 6 percent of the sale price in total or 3 percent per side. With an average national home value of around $440,000, the typical commission per agent is $13,200. However, you won’t pay this total out of pocket. Instead, the commission comes out of the sale price of the property.

Interviewing real estate agents is the best way to find the right person for the job. Consider asking the following questions to find the best agent for you:

How will you show my property?
Will you do open houses to market my home?
How will you handle dual agency (representing the buyer and you as the seller)?
Should I make repairs to my home before listing?
Will you get professional photos taken of my home?
What is the best price you think we can get for my property?
How long do you expect the sale to take?

Yes, hiring a real estate agent is worth it. Many homeowners make the mistake of trying to sell their homes by themselves, thinking that they’ll save money on the commission, but what they save on the commission, they very often pay for in frustration and concessions on the sale price. Hiring a real estate agent to handle the sale of your home not only makes the process far easier and takes the burden off of you, but most homeowners get more for their homes when going through an agent because of the marketing and salesmanship they bring to the table.

You don’t legally need a real estate agent as a buyer, as you can represent yourself, but you should always hire an agent as a home buyer. A professional real estate agent will have access to local MLS services to find homes that meet your criteria and needs, can connect you with other professionals—like a mortgage broker and real estate attorney—you’ll need for the purchase, and can often negotiate a better price for your home to help save you money. Plus, as the buyer, your agent’s commission comes from the seller’s proceeds from the sale of the home.

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