Like many places, and by this we mean everywhere, real estate which includes land and any man-made additions such as apartments, houses, shops, buildings, etc can be broadly grouped into;
- Residential,
- Commercial,
- Industrial,
- Land and sometimes,
- Special houses.
Residential properties are houses built purposely for self-use or residence; hence, they cannot be used for robust industrial or industrial activities. In the same breath, special homes often with ancestral or emotional attachments come across as sentimental properties whose owners are usually folks with unique social, economic, and cultural standings, tastes, lifestyles, etc.
Considering their optimum use and health and safety requirements, commercial and industrial properties are those whose occupants are like the proverbial ants working round the clock, day and night, weeks and months.
Agents and agencies, or real estate brokers, property brokers, realtors, and our local infamous accommodation agents, are the personnel, corporations, experts, property enthusiasts, and businessmen/women who, by the day, synergize the availability of properties with matching occupants for a fee, i.e., commission. While the standard fees charged for their services range from 3% to 10% on the value of properties, certain occasions open up for negotiations and discounts, just like many other businesses.
Unfortunately, many are of the perception that agents or agencies often do not have their work cut out as other professions as theirs is “only to receive calls and show properties”; but it is more than that, and rightly worrying such perception and subsequent attitude from customers ends up costing them precious time and money spanning from viewing fees, to unconventional hours/days of searching for the right fit properties to dealing with the wrong, fake, or fraudster posing as owners.
All these thus ease us into our main topic; how to assess and access the right agent or agency to guarantee you;
- up-to-date knowledge of the local industry,
- solid network of connections of property owners and developers across neighbourhoods,
- broader understanding of the local market,
- attention to detail to meet specific demands,
- engaging and establishing a clear line of action,
- operates solely within an unspoken boundary of honesty and integrity,
- problem solving approach to the dynamics of customer demands.
Spotting the right agent or agency in your journey to homeownership ultimately relies on the customer undertaking proper due diligence and having the right set of questions, expectations, and professional desire to engage an agent or agency for their service. Some questions you can ask include; whether the agent operates as part of a team, the number of years’ experience they have in the real estate industry, and most definitely some references or referrals.
Research the agent or agency online, check out their website, skim through their social media, and read their reviews for details and information.
Speak to their references to assess their track record, weigh their knowledge, experience, willingness, and readiness to help.
Speak to the prospective agents to gauge your level of comfort and confidence in working with them, how polished they are, and their degree of responsiveness. Speaking with them will help you assess how well you mesh together. The homeownership journey can be rockier than anticipated, and you will need a dependable partner on your side to help you sail through those rough times.
Any potential property buyer, investor, or renter armed with this salient information puts their best foot forward to have a great representation for their property purchase.
Floorspace Realty, like many other wonderful businesses and individuals in Ghana, is well positioned to undertake and assist from the very first whistle to check lists and cross out all necessary requirements in line with customer demands and expectations. Thus, it is imperative for customers to also be honest with their search since information such as;
- how soon they are ready to take occupancy,
- your budget pain points,
- number of agents/agencies engaged in the course of the property search
- favourable payment terms and schedules
- the background of a trustee—either helping with payment, inspection, mortgage, etc.
These will best position your agent/agency to best understand the house-fishing and matching-process, clearly appreciate the level of effort and work required to set the right expectations, and offer you a personalised , hassle-free experience at zero risk to you.
To conclude, it is near impossible to buy or rent a house without a plan. One of the key areas to look out for is the prospective agent/agency, and to figure out which or who you should engage, we entreat you to look out for the following;
- familiarise yourself with common FAQs within the Ghana property market
- look for reliable contacts and information -about personnel associated with the business
- get a lawyer/a trustee to handle offline related activities
- double check the domain name and age of the website
- be proactive about protecting your personal information until it is bankable.
- get an agreement in place/discuss commission before engaging the agency
- ask to speak directly to the developer or owner of the property in the presence of the agent and afterwards
- focus on building a relationship even before and after the deal with the agent
- do all payments via trusted channels with witnesses
- call or email https://floorspeacerealty.com
