5 Ways Your Real Estate Agent Works For You

There’s no way around it: Renting an apartment will cost you. Broker fees are required in Massachusetts, but in return, renters receive valuable support and resources from licensed real estate professionals in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Here are five ways your broker fee benefits your home search – it pays to have an experienced rental agent on your side. 

Simplify Your Search

Working with a real estate professional will make your life easier. When looking by yourself, you will need to research potential properties, coordinate times to see the listings, tour the prospects, and arrange your finances before signing a lease. An agent takes the bulk of these responsibilities off your plate.

This is particularly important for people relocating to another city or even to another country. A real estate agent will provide you with available listings that fit your criteria and interface with the listing broker to ensure the application and lease signing process goes smoothly. Your time is valuable, and agents are here to help you make the most of it.

Access is Everything

Not every apartment for lease will make it to an online marketplace like Apartments.com or Zillow. In some cases, real estate professionals have connections with landlords that grant them exclusive rights over leasing and selling. Even if a landlord intends to list their apartment on the open market, they may first ask their real estate partner to float their property around to potential renters in an off-market deal. To get access to these units, you’ll need to be working with a real estate agent who’s privy to what’s going on behind the scenes. Senné Associates have access to some of Boston’s best listings before they even hit the market.

Knowledge of the Market

Landlords will sometimes list apartments above market value to maximize their profits. Agents who are regularly processing transactions have the most up-to-date market data and can gauge if these asking prices are fair. We know the true worth of each property and ensure you don’t overpay. Further, we may know of comparable options within the same price range that better suit your needs. Our extensive knowledge of the market will undoubtedly help you find your next apartment.

We’re in Your Corner

Negotiation is perhaps the most important service a real estate professional can provide. Many renters don’t realize how much back and forth goes on behind the scenes, and you may not even realize you have the power to make certain requests. After years of practice, agents know what to ask for and how to ask for it. As an example, with the surge in pet adoptions during the pandemic, more renters are now looking for pet-friendly properties while many owners state “no pets.” A good agent will be skilled in the art of negotiation and make sure you get the most for your dollar.

Lease Terms are Critical 

The final step before you can move into your new apartment is to sign the lease. Real estate professionals regularly work with lease documents and can verify if the details of your lease are standard fare. Our main purpose for reviewing these is to make sure there aren’t any unreasonable requests or stipulations. Leases are there to protect you and your investment. As a renter, you should have any paperwork you intend to sign looked at by an agent to guarantee you’re getting into a fair agreement.

While broker fees do increase the cost of moving to a new home, there’s no substitute for having a real estate partner at your side. We’re great at helping you source apartment options and sign leases with favorable terms, and we even have access to exclusive listings before they hit the market. Working with an agent is a great way to ensure you find your next apartment quickly and with ease. If you’re interested in moving soon, contact the Senné team at 617.314.9400 or send an email to [email protected] to find out what we can do for your real estate goals.