If you’ve ever purchased a house, then you have heard of a broker. For a lot of people, it’s unclear what a broker does. A broker is an independent party whose prime responsibility is to bring sellers and buyers together. A broker is a third-person mediator between a buyer and a seller.

What is a broker?

A broker is a licensed mediator between a buyer and a seller, and many industries utilize brokers, including real estate, insurance, and investing. It is not necessary to use a broker for every transaction you engage in, but the main advantage of hiring a broker is because they know their market well. For sellers, a broker has the resources to reach the largest number of buyers, and they prescreen the potential purchasers as well.

No matter what kind of broker you’re hiring, it’s best to check your broker’s references. You can get a list of brokers in your local area and set up meetings with them through their website or on the phone. You can also get references through word-of-mouth. One important metric to look at when reviewing a broker’s references is how long it took the broker to secure their sales and how happy the customers were in the end.

If your broker has a website, you can also review their portfolio. Their portfolio will give information about what they’re used to dealing with and their previous clients. You can use this method to contact previous or current clients on their experiences with the broker before you hire them.

Once you’ve settled on a broker, it’s important to discuss their rates. Most people are honest, but some will try to take advantage of you, so it’s important to hire a broker with competitive rates. A broker offers many benefits to buyers and sellers, including knowing the industry and having access to a wealth of marketing information. If you would feel more comfortable with a mediator, then hiring a broker is the right decision for you.