Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

Ask Heather about: Mortgages, Finance, Taxes or Home Selling?
  

Using Two Agents

  Dear Edith - My fiancee and I are selling our respective houses and buying one together within the year.  What would you suggest, each using our own agent or the same one? What advantages/disadvantages would there be for both scenarios?  Any advice would be appreciated. 
 
 

My first reaction was that I had absolutely no opinion.  Same with  my husband, who is a Realtor.  But the more we thought about it, the more we felt you’ll be better off working with one agent, assuming your present homes are located fairly close to each other.

Try this: Invite three different firms to send someone over to look at one of the houses you intend to sell, and both of you listen to the presentations each agent will give you.  If no one strikes you as the right person, call three other firms and meet their agents at the other house. You should be able to find the right fit among six agents, and life will be a lot simpler if you stick with that person for everything, including the purchase of your next home.

    Edith
Originally published on June 6, 2006
 
    Back to Summary