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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*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Summit, 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.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Real Estate Service companies in Summit, 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.

Last update on April 06, 2025

Reviewed in August 2024
Kanani Briggs far exceeded our highest expectations! Our family was in a position of potentially relocating to the Atlanta area. We came across the Curtin Team while researching top Georgia realtors. We were perfectly paired with Kanani. Having gone through a similar move herself, Kanani...
Joanne Curtin, Keller Williams Realty
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Reviewed in October 2023
Cheryl and her team went above and beyond to help my wife and i secure a sought after piece of real estate in Saugatuck, MI. During the process the sellers had reservations on letting the parcel go and that's when Cheryl and her team stepped up to keep the deal alive. Forever grateful !!
Cheryl Grant Real Estate Keller Williams
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Reviewed in January 2025
Do not engage w this company on either buying or selling end if possible. As a buyer and as a seller, Ive never experienced anything like the unprofessional practices of the agent and his clients (the sellers) representing this firm.
REALTY SOUTH
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Reviewed in July 2023
I was referred to the Sarah Leonard Team by some neighbors. She made it so easy, from start to finish. It was nice her team has so many contacts, my husband and I didn't have to do much work. She not only sold our home for above asking price, she helped us negotiate a fair price for our current...
Sarah Leonard Team RE/MAX Suburban
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Reviewed in May 2023
Sergio went over and beyond in helping us with our home purchase in South Florida/Miami region. He was very patient along the way; and gave very objective advice, and we did not feel rushed while making the decision - in fact we felt very well prepared. He is extremely knowledgeable about the...
Sergio Contreras - HomeTerra Real Estate
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Reviewed in July 2012
We’re not sure of the cost but it was between $800 and $1100. The overall job went well. The overall experience was excellent. The price was a little bit more than we thought it would be. The quality was good. We will use them again in the future.
M&M Home Remodeling Services
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Reviewed in September 2022
Susann is simply amazing. Not only is she the best Real Estate Agent we have ever worked with, we now consider her a friend after the short time we spent together and all the help that she has provided for us. We bought/sold during the end of the crazy housing market through Summer 2022 – Susann...
Rhoades Team, Re/Max Suburban
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Reviewed in August 2016
Doug and Lori are the wonder team! They flew in and rescued a very tired and frustrated owner whose home had been on the market for almost two months. I should also add that this home is in a sought-after neighborhood. The Mitts Home Team managed to sell my home in a jiffy!! I was...
The Mitts Home Team - Keller Williams Realty Partners
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Reviewed in May 2011
They did a great job. I have used their service several times and I am very happy with them. They are very experienced with older brick homes. They give you variety of options on how you want to go about fixing something. They will tell you if what you want to do is the wrong way to do it,...
Star Tuckpointing Inc
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Real estate agents in Summit

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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