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 Lafayette, MN

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Lafayette, MN 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 Lafayette, MN 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 May 2007
Our experience with Jen was awesome. She is very knowledgeable and up to date on the latest realstate trends. She is easy to talk to and great to work with. She was able to answer any questions we had and made the whole process much easier. Our house sold in less then three months during the...
Jen & Jeff Geisinger ~ Luke Team Real Estate
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Reviewed in July 2022
It is my pleasure to report about my experience last year in searching for a house. My husband and I were fortunate to have had Angela Stroh recommended to us. Once we contacted her, she immediately began to understand our preference and needs and recommended many properties that we considered....
Kris Lindahl
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Reviewed in October 2019
Jason and his team at Huerkamp Home Group were amazing from start to finish in our home selling experience. We interviewed six different realtors before going with Jason and his team. To be honest it was not even close. My wife and I felt very comfortable with Jason from day one and would only...
Huerkamp Home Group
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Reviewed in May 2014
The guy that I've worked with was really good. He was very thorough and straightforward and he had all the info that I needed. He's really good. I liked him. We met him in a lot of places, there were many houses, and he was always straight on time. I've used him after I bought my house with him...
Countryside Realty
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Reviewed in October 2016
It went well. The house sold in weeks and closed the sale promptly when title work was completed. Schatz Real Estate was totally helpful and professional.
Schatz Real Estate Group
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Reviewed in July 2013
Brian Nygaard ((320)761-0077 npi.centralmn@gmail.com was very professional , punctual, detail oriented ;showed and explained everything in basic terms.. He took pictures and notes on everything before that needed attention so I can sound professional when calling pros. He was very patient with...
NATIONAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
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Reviewed in March 2013
It went very well, we had purchased our last house 40 years ago and a lot had changed since then. Justin was very patient and well informed of the process we were going through and the area we were interested in. When we did find the right house he was very helpfull in arranging the title...
GILLESPIE REAL ESTATE
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Reviewed in November 2015
Worked around the clock, helped out with a distance sale, very knowledgeable. Secured the price I asked.
Shawna Huseth Re/Max
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Reviewed in July 2013
I really like the realtor with whom I work with. They're probably reasonable because it's the same as everybody else, where you just draw on your closing cost so I'm not going to get a separate bill from them. They're very available, I really like the personalized service. Todd is very friendly...
GRIMES REALTY
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Real estate agents in Lafayette

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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