The Right Agent Makes All the Difference in the World®

Make no mistake about it. Buying a home is a big deal, and it can be complicated. That's why an agent can help. A good one will make a huge difference. To earn a real estate license, an agent, also called a sales associate, must complete several weeks of study in an approved course and pass a state-sponsored examination.

Not every real estate agent is a REALTOR® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®. Only those sales associates who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® may use the REALTOR® or REALTOR ASSOCIATE® designation. These REALTORS® have committed themselves to that organization's standards for professionalism and ethics.

Only you can make the final decision as to what you should offer for a house. However, because of their experience and training, a sales associate can be an invaluable source of advice and guidance as you select and purchase a home.

Experience Counts

A sales associate is involved in more real estate transactions in six months than most of us are in a lifetime. Even if you've bought and sold several homes in the past, it's probably been several years since the last time you did. The last home sale in which a sales associate was involved may have been just a few days ago.

If you're new to an area, a sales associate can help you get settled into your new home. After all, it's his/her hometown, too. It's not unusual for newcomers to become good friends with the sales associate who helped them find their new home!

Once you've selected the home you want, your sales associate can be even more valuable. He or she knows what is negotiable in a contract and what is not. They can help you interpret the contract, put together your offer, find financing, and then guide you through the settlement process.

Additionally, because the buyer selects the professionals involved in the settlement such as attorneys and home inspectors, you may want a recommendation from your sales associate. (Note: In some states, escrow companies handle the settlement.)

MLS

Through their association with a real estate firm such as independently owned REALTY WORLD® offices, sales associates have access to resources not available to the general public. One important resource is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a subscription service available in most areas only to licensed brokers.

The MLS is a database, and includes many properties that are never advertised in the classified section of the newspaper. As importantly, the MLS includes many more details about each listing (such as real estate taxes and utilities) than could be included in any classified ad. Because the MLS is a database, the information is easily located and quickly helps you narrow your search with a complete list of properties that meet your criteria for price, location, size and amenities. REALTY WORLD® Carolina Properties is a member of both the Triangle MLS and the Sanford MLS, which gives our clients access to more than 20 counties in the Central Piedmont area.

Using the MLS, your sales associate can also tell you the recent sales prices of comparable properties in the same area.

Your local REALTY WORLD® broker is a member of one of the largest real estate networks in North America with offices and agents located throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, the REALTY WORLD® System has helped and guided literally millions of buyers and sellers.

Nearly all REALTY WORLD® agents are REALTOR® associates. Our high standards, combined with those of the National Association of REALTORS®, are your assurance that your REALTY WORLD® agent is an honest, skilled professional.