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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Verified Reviews for Real Estate Service pros in Oak Ridge, TN

*The Angi rating for Real Estate Service companies in Oak Ridge, TN 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 06, 2025

Reviewed in September 2013
I would recommend Kelly to anyone looking for real estate in this area. We found Kelly through Angie's list, and contacted him by email from out of state. We had a pretty good idea of what we were looking for, and Kelly sent us listings that were pertinent via email. That gave us the opportunity...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in February 2017
Kelly did a terrific job, once again! We have used Kelly's services for 2 other homes- one sold and one bought- and he has come through with flying colors every time. This home was only on the market 45 days before we got an offer and it closed (with Kelly's help) less than 45 days after the...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in August 2014
I used Kelly as my buying agent. He was everything I could have hoped for. He was thorough, patient and always professional. He was also clearly knowledgeable about real estate in the area I was looking to purchase. He understood my taste and was able to suggest expanding my home search to...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in February 2014
I found him on Angie's List and he was fine. We are very happy with him. He put my house up for sale and he had a contract on it in two days. He did pretty good. I have not had any problems yet and everything was great.
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in May 2013
We first viewed the property in May of 2012. Kelly spent hours walking up and down the hills with us, showing various features of the property and detailing the history of both the plot and the neighborhood. When we placed an offer, several legal issues with the property became apparent, but...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in April 2015
We really enjoyed working with Kelly. He was quick to reply and set up showings on requested proprieties. I was living in another state at the time, so someone who was very good with email communication was necessary. Kelly delivered on that. We saw a marathon 30 properties over a weekend and...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in December 2017
Excellent! Kelly is a true professional. His calm demeanor was an added bonus during a hectic time of change, and I cannot imagine having anyone else listing my property. I live in another city now, and I would recommend him to anyone considering needing a realtor. He's the best!
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in August 2017
Kelly is wonderful ! Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable of area, market and processes. Always ready to answer questions, arrange showings, prepare paperwork. Our experience with his services were exceptional.
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in July 2018
We used Kelly as the realtor on our first home purchase and we could not have been happier. He was attentive and prompt when we wanted to see a house, and offered indispensable feedback throughout the entire process from the early stages of touring homes until closing. He did a great job of...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Reviewed in January 2014
Kelly Clevenger with Coldwell Banker, Wallace & Wallace served as our personal real estate agent for well over 6 months. He worked with us as we moved long distance across the Country and helped us locate the property that was right for us. He made the transition go smoothly and provided us...
Kelly Clevenger-Coldwell Banker Wallace
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Real estate agents in Oak Ridge

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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