It is typical for people to face, at same point in their lives, the prospect of selling or buying an investment property or a real estate. Because of the innate complexities accompanying the deals and conditions, and even the system of buying and selling itself, people need to seek the assistance of real estate agents to do for them all the works. In return, such agents would be sharing a small percentage of the total earning from the sale.

Normally, the percentage would run from 4% to 6%. However, this could still vary depending on the agreement between the broker and the homeowner.

Why enlist real estate agents? Why not sell or market the house on your own?

Well, as we have said earlier, the process of buying and selling real estates does not fall on elementary conditions. It is bounded by complex tax regulations, marketing and advertising schemes, and complicated mediums of selling. Thus, for ordinary people who have no orientation on either sales or laws, selling real estates is not just difficult, it is undoable.

Besides, real estate agents are in a way the authorities in the market within their communities. They know exactly how to give prices on various properties and they know exactly which property would best suit a future owner. They also have the access on financing as well as the laws and local zoning.

In a nutshell, real estate agents are the intermediaries between the sellers and the buyers.

Real estate agents are normally independent workers who work on a contract basis with real estate brokers. Brokers are the business people who sell other people's real estate properties, or manage them for a fee. These brokers would give the agents commission on the sold properties.

However, both agents and brokers could go beyond the sales. They also spend significant amount of searches and time to obtain listing of properties that would agree to fall under their firm. This may sound easy enough since there are lots of people who always search for assistance but this is further from the truth as you might have first perceived. Often, this would set the difference between succeeding and failing. In the absence of properties to sell, there is logically no earning. But that doesn't stop there.

Even with some listing of properties, there is still no assurance of succeeding unless they have established themselves enough. This will vary depending on the credibility the agents and brokers have gathered, the accomplishments, the years they have existed and their fang with competition.

Most real estate agents and brokers contract and sell residential properties. However, some focus or at least specialize on industrial, commercial and agricultural types of real estate. Each specialty would need a great extent of knowledge on the field.

As with the process, this often starts with the meeting between the agent or the broker and the client. This would supply enough information and the feel of what property suits the client. This would also establish rapport between both parties which would help them become transparent with each other. His qualifying stage would also help determine the extent of how much the buyer could afford. In fact, the acquaintance between both sides would help create a good environment. After the initial meeting, they might meet for several times more and discuss on the agreements and issues they both would be facing.