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 Garden Valley, CA

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Garden Valley, 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 Garden Valley, 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 March 31, 2025

Reviewed in January 2025
The entire team at Smith Family Realty has been a pleasure to work with. I’ve bought and sold several properties with them and it’s always been a positive experience with great results.
The Paula Smith Group - Smith Family Realty
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Reviewed in February 2024
Realtor Matthew Osofsky's assistance in selling my home was invaluable. As a fellow veteran, Matthew understood my needs and concerns on a profound level. His experience in the real estate industry, coupled with his military background, made him a natural fit to navigate the intricacies of the...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in September 2023
Everything and definitely more. Our realtor Adrin has been through so much with us that we consider him family. The entire Better Homes and Gardens team were just AMAZING !!
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Welcome Home
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Reviewed in July 2018
Laurie Rummel made what was a very difficult situation so much easier. I live out of state in CA and had to handle the sale of my aunt and uncle's residence, which involved going through years of accumulated items. Laurie helped make this so easy by helping put us in touch with qualified vendors...
Laurie Rummel, Associate Broker
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Reviewed in August 2021
5 Stars! He delivers! And he's a straightforward, no-nonsense guy who made the whole process easy! He sold our home quickly and well over asking price (112%)! The pre-listing walkthrough helped us prioritize some small home improvements that got us the most return on investment. He had a solid...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in January 2019
Matt is always reliable and helpful in every transaction. He is able to answer any questions you may have and goes great advice when needed. I highly recommend Matt for your buying or selling needs!
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in March 2020
First off let me say I am so thankful to matt for always going above and beyond at every single part of this process for me and my family. It wasn't just what he was able to do, sell my house for the most money and find the perfect replacement but from the very beginning he was always available...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in January 2019
Matt has a lot of experience buying and selling homes throughout California. He is very much aware of rules and regulations within the real estate world. He is great at differentiating disasters and opportunities. I made him take me to almost 30 homes. After crossing out a few houses that didn't...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in January 2019
Matt and his team are amazing!! They go above and beyond to take everything off your plate that they possibly can during the home buying/selling process. He's ALWAYS available. Responses to your (many, if you are like me) questions are immediate and thorough. Not once did I feel like I was a...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Reviewed in March 2018
Matt was great in walking us thru the home buying process. We wasn’t sure what we were looking for just that we wanted to buy, he was able to guide us to our home. He was very knowledgeable of the different areas we wanted to live in and showed us a variety of homes. When we picked the place we...
Osofsky Real Estate
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Real estate agents in Garden Valley

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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