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 Smithfield, 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.

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Last update on March 31, 2025

Reviewed in January 2025
We’ve known Linda for a number of years and she’s helped us with several home purchases. She is very dependable and always makes the process so easy! She recently helped us find a townhome for our daughter and the process was quick and easy! We highly recommend using her.
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in January 2025
I cannot say enough about how dedicated Linda Nuxoll was in selling our house! She was always available and responded quickly when we had questions!! She worked very hard the entire time and sold the house quickly!
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in January 2025
Linda was good at explaining issues to people who had not sold a home in over 50 years. She suggested changes to the home that were excellent and not cost prohibitive. She was very good at finding people to do last minute painting and cleanup. After the offer was made, she found an excellent,...
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in July 2024
Linda recently helped us find a new house and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. She was so knowledgeable and obviously has a great deal of experience. Even though the market was moving very fast this summer she was a very calming and helpful presence. I very much recommend working with...
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in July 2024
Linda Nuxoll and her team are consummate professionals and a pleasure to work with! She has been in the real estate profession for years. Linda brings to her customers a wealth of knowledge in the sale and promotion of her clients' housing needs and the communities she serves. We recommend her...
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in May 2024
Corey was great to work with. His knowledge of the market and the closing process proved to be of great value in the purchase of my new home as well as selling of my condo.
RE/MAX Southern Shores
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Reviewed in December 2023
Linda was great! She helped us buy our dream home in Cary, NC! She was very professional and always available by phone or text. Highly recommend Linda and her team!
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in May 2023
We had already moved away but needed to sell a large home in Eden Prairie from across the country, when the market was starting to take a downward turn. Billy and his team were absolutely amazing to work with. They had clear marketing plans (great stager, photographer), set realistic...
Pauling Homes Team- Keller Williams Premier Realty Lake Minnetonka
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Reviewed in April 2023
Linda did a great job helping us sell our home! She was no-nonsense and was available to discuss any concerns we had. It had been a LONG TIME since we had moved and a lot had changed in the contracts etc., but Linda helped us through it. She knows the Triangle area well and is energetic about...
Linda Nuxoll
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Reviewed in January 2023
Linda is simply the best. We've purchased 3 properties with Linda and every one of those times, Linda was there for us when we needed her. Her responsiveness and attention to detail set her above the rest in our opinion. And when we needed an honest and independent feedback, she was always...
Linda Nuxoll
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Real estate agents in Smithfield

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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