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 Dover, NC

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Dover, NC 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 Dover, NC 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 05, 2025

Reviewed in February 2021
Beth and team were laser—focused on selling our home from the onset of our contract to the final sale. We had a challenging sale (home was on a busy corner), but Beth and her team were relentless in keeping our listing ‘fresh’ in the minds of local realtors and potential buyers. We would...
Beth Smith Shuey Team/ Keller Williams Southpark
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Reviewed in August 2022
We were difficult clients because we had very specific needs in location, price and floor plan. Linda was by far the best realtor we have ever worked with in over 20 transactions in three states. She listens carefully and is a stellar negotiator - always is at the top of her game. We...
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in February 2016
We found Amy on Angie's List. There were many realtors with good scores, but her personal website made her sound like a good fit for us. This turned out to be true, and my husband and I feel so lucky that we found someone who understood just what we were looking for, even when we didn't quite...
Amy Faust - Long & Foster
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Reviewed in January 2022
Kelli is amazing. Her knowledge of the market is top notch. She sold our house at a premium, and found us a home to buy (off market). With a million things going on there was calm and confidence from her and her amazing team. We would follow her and her skills anywhere, this is our third closing...
Anchor Real Estate
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Reviewed in August 2011
They are very good and very effective. They are nice people on top of it too. Without question I would recommend them. This is a very professional outfit. Their business practices are excellent. They keep good books and they are absolutely reliable.
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT INC
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Reviewed in March 2012
Kim made sure we understood everything and would answer all of our questions at any point in time. We spent about 14 hours with her one day and she was right there with us making sure we found what we needed. She went above and beyond and worked outside of her hours. She was very courteous and...
Century 21 American Properties
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Reviewed in July 2013
They are good. They are working hard on the sale of our property. They are very personable so I'm sure the customers like them. The price is very good; it is 5% instead of the usual 6%.
nc coastal properties
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Reviewed in June 2014
Hurst has managed the house we own in Swansboro for almost a year. We have been very satisfied and highly recommend them!. Due to the time of year, it took a few months to secure renters. Hurst was in continual communication with us throughout the process. Any time repairs or issues have come up...
HURST MANAGEMENT ASSOCS
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Reviewed in June 2015
Hurst has done an excellent job managing our property. They are quick to respond to repairs for the tenants, keep us up to date on any happenings at the property, and always friendly in their correspondence. Because they are local to the town that our house is located, they do random drive-bys...
Hurst Realty
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Real estate agents in Dover

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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