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

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

Do I need a real estate agent as a buyer?

<div>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.</div>

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Verified Reviews for Real Estate Service pros in Monticello, FL

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Monticello, FL 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 Monticello, FL 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 06, 2025

Reviewed in January 2016
It is our pleasure to submit a review for our Real Estate Agent, Sergio Contreras, who is with HomeTerra Real Estate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My search for a Real Estate Agent started and ended on Angie?s List when I saw Sergio?s review. When my family decided to sell the family home,...
Sergio Contreras - HomeTerra Real Estate
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Reviewed in April 2016
Penny did a great job. After having been burned by a bad realtor experience years earlier, we chose her because of her good reviews on AL, and she didn't disappoint. She was responsive and professional. She worked around our schedule. She gave us good guidance on proper staging of the house...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in August 2017
Penny is the best real estate professional I have ever worked with. She prices homes fairly, provides top quality advice, and is attentive to my concerns. Most importantly, Penny sells homes! A Realtor more concerned about her customers than her pocketbook. A rare find. Whether buying or selling...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in June 2018
Penny was totally awesome! She guided us through every step and helped us get our property ready for the market. Because we followed Penny's advice we had four showings within the first 48 hours and multiple offers. Penny did all the negotiating and got us a price $10K over asking. Penny's...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in April 2012
I was impressed with Penny's no-nonsense approach and honesty about selling our house this year. I have had several dealings with real estate agents in the past 4 years and have been extremely disappointed in each instance. I felt very confident in Ms. Herman as she explained how she went...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in October 2015
Penny Herman is the best real estate agent in Tallahassee. She has worked with me for the past 4 years. We've been trying to sell our house for that long and she would give us advice on when to put it on the market and when not to. This year (2015) we finally agreed that it was time to put it...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in October 2018
It went very well in a slow market. I thought for sure we would have to wait until next Spring to sell the house but a buyer was found and the price negotiation was fair and agreeable. Penny kept me updated almost weekly and made suggestions along the way and they proved to be on target.
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in May 2018
We found Penny at an open house and I’m so glad we did! Once we decided to buy a house we were so excited. Penny really listened to what we wanted. We thought about putting offers on three different houses before we found our dream home. Penny said she would make the offer for us on the first...
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in April 2014
We have a contract thanks to penny's good advice, and we are waiting for final loan approval so we can close.
Penny Herman Realty
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Reviewed in January 2012
She is honest with your options and will follow through on something if you really want it. She gives you her honest opinion but she'll go ahead and do whatever you ask of her. I thought her fees were reasonable. She was good about getting back to me and following up to make sure everything...
Penny Herman Realty
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Real estate agents in Monticello

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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