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 Mount Olive, IL

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

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Last update on April 07, 2025

Reviewed in May 2023
Unbelievable! Remember the "good ol' days", when people actually SERVICED what they represented or sold? Well, thanks to NICHOLAS ACOSTA (aka Nick) at Lipply Real Estate, THOSE DAYS ARE BACK! My husband and I seriously cannot thank God enough for putting us in the path of this man! We are...
Lipply Real Estate
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Reviewed in September 2022
Ron is truly exceptional. I met him when I was searching for a home in Bloomington in 2015. My sister and brother-in-law recommended Ron for our home buying process, based on their excellent experience with him. I was impressed with his level of knowledge and the amount of data that they had...
Ron Plecher
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Reviewed in July 2013
Tina and her assistant Kristi Divine have tirelessly viewed numerous homes and patiently waited as we checked out each available address. They were able to accommodate our requests for viewings on very short notice. Tina is a wealth of information regarding the purchase process and the local...
Tina Sergenti
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Reviewed in October 2015
I have purchased 5 properties, sold 1 property, and rented 3 houses with Nick's help. He's a great realtor in that he always goes above and beyond to help you find what you need in a home. I've got a completely different aesthetic than many people and Nick is never judgmental about what I...
Nick Curtis, Realtor
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Reviewed in June 2014
She is bright. That's in our realtors term, my house was sold before she even have a schedule. She made some recommendations that probably helps out which is nice. A lot don't do that they're afraid they're going to offend the homeowners. We had a carpet and apparently we had a dog having...
Jennifer Evans - Century 21 Tucker Swanson
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Reviewed in March 2012
Mr. Gall was very personable and made it a friendly experience. His price was low. The man that bought my house was very particular. Mr. Gall had worked with him before, so he helped me with the negotiation.
Gall & Williams Real Estate LLC
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Reviewed in April 2019
A big thank you to Emily for helping us sell our home. We listened to her expertise and followed her instructions. The house sold quickly. Our first offer was received within three days. The total time between listing to closing was about 2 months. The professional photographer helped our home...
Linda Nugent Realtors
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Reviewed in September 2013
I had a great experience with them. They even did some repairs in my house to get it ready, and they just sold it in a week. They provide very personable service.
Sancken Sole Realty
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Reviewed in July 2013
Excellent. Tina Sergenti and her assistant Kristi Divine worked with us as we search many, many homes to find just the right one. The worked tirelessly and made themselves readily available for viewings.
COLDWELL BANKER
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Real estate agents in Mount Olive

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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