(Good) Help Wanted 5 Things You Need to Know About Hiring a Real Estate Agent
Don’t hire a real estate agent just to “do them a favor.” Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you will make in your life. A real estate agent should be helping you, not the other way around. What we’re trying to say is, don’t hire your cousin who just got their real estate license last month. Do some research. Check with your state’s regulatory body to find out if a potential real estate agent is licensed and if they have any complaints against them. This information may be available online, and you should also look up credentials, peer-given awards, and reviews. Zillow.com is a great place to find reviews from previous clients. Always interview a potential real estate agent in person. Someone could look great on paper, but meeting them in person is the only way to know if you like them enough to work with them.
Ask about other listings in your area. It’s in your best interest to hire a real estate agent who’s familiar with your area or the area you want to move to. A knowledgeable real estate agent will be able to name a few listings off the top of their head and tell you a bit about them. Request references. A talented real estate agent will confidently give you contact information of previous clients or employers. Ask how the agent knows the people on the list and if you can call them with additional questions. Ultimately, you need to treat finding a real estate agent as you would treat conducting a job interview. Don’t feel uncomfortable about asking questions or doing a background check. Remember, you are hiring a real estate agent to do a job for you. You should feel confident about your decision to work with someone before you hire them.
Here’s a dirty little secret about real estate agents: Not everyone is cut out to be one.
A real estate license doesn't automatically make someone experienced enough to handle your listing. Bad real estate agents have been known to move up closing dates just to get their commission faster, make critical mistakes on paperwork, and cost their clients more money in the long run. Here are five hiring strategies you need to remember when looking for a real estate agent, so you can avoid an expensive mistake.
Laugh Out Loud
One-Pan Mexican Quinoa
This healthy, tasty, filling dish is a cinch to make on a busy weeknight. And cleanup’s a breeze!
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned, or roasted
2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 teaspoon chili powder
1 jalapeno, minced
½ teaspoon cumin
1 cup quinoa
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup vegetable broth
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
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Juice of 1 lime
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Stir in quinoa, vegetable broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and Instructions
pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in avocado, lime juice, and cilantro.
3. Serve immediately.
Recipe adapted from DamnDelicious.net.
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