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Are the property listings I receive from you listed by your company?
Why are there are no photos on some of the listings you send me?
I do not think I can qualify or afford to purchase a home, so wouldn't it be better for me to rent?
Do I have to get pre-qualified?
You are Buyer Agents. What does that mean? Does that mean you represent Renters as well?
Can I contact the Landlord’s Agent directly?
Can the Landlord's Agent represent both the Landlord and me?
I want you to represent me exclusively. Do I have to sign any Agreements?
How long is the Tenant Agreement for?
So you work for me, represent me and my best interests, then how do you get paid?
What paperwork will I need to complete?
I have already looked at some rental homes with another Agent. Is there a conflict?
Are you full-time Realtors®?
Why should I look for a Realtor® with the Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation?
I have another question that is not answered here.
Are the property listings I receive from you listed by your company?
There are many, many different companies (including Brio) that market and list homes for rent throughout our area. Each Listing agent that represents each Landlord enters all pertinent information about each home, including interior and exterior pictures, into a central computer database system called MRIS (or also referred to as the MLS). The MRIS then distributes all the information entered in the system to Internet websites such as Homesdatabase.com, Realtor.com, WashingtonPost.com, etc., and company and Realtor websites. No matter what website you go to, the information is coming from the same source. However, each website curtails what and how much of that information you see.
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Why are there are no photos on some of the listings you send me?
It is each Listing agent’s responsibility for the quantity and content of the photos and information in their listing (or the lack thereof). Therefore, if you do not see any photos, this is because the Listing agent did not submit them into the computer system. Regardless of what website you view, if photos were not submitted by the Listing agent, unfortunately then there are none to view.
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I do not think I can qualify or afford to purchase a home, so wouldn't it be better for me to rent?
Possibly. It will depend on your personal financial situation including your credit rating, how much cash you have available and how much you would qualify for to purchase a home. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED! There are great loan programs available today for many different financial situations, particularly for first time home buyers. To ensure that you are making the best decision about renting versus buying, you should speak with a loan officer so they can help determine what best meets your needs. They will discuss with you the loan process including your credit report, interest rates, points, prepayment penalties, escrows, closing costs, down payments, and many other issues. They can also discuss with you and help you work towards home ownership if you can't afford to buy a home today.
While you can certainly use any loan officer you wish, we do work with great loan officers that would be happy to speak with you. There is no obligation, so you have nothing to loose and lots to gain. Please contact us and we will be happy to send you their names and phone numbers/emails or we can have them contact you directly at your convenience.
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Do I have to get pre-qualified?
Most important, you need to determine how much rent you can afford. Typically, most Landlords require a full month's rent upon signing, a full month's rent as security deposit, and sometimes additional deposits to cover other items such as pets. Each listing will specify the monies required.
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You are Buyer Agents. What does that mean? Does that mean you represent Renters as well?
A Buyer agent is a real estate agent who represents only the Buyer or Renter (Tenant) and their best interests throughout the entire real estate transaction. We take care of and treat our Tenant Clients the same as we do our Buyer Clients.
As a Tenant Agent, we will find and show you properties that meet your needs, provide you with all available facts about each property and/or the Landlord that could influence your decision, keep all personal information about you held in the strictest of confidence, and coordinate and handle the steps required to get you in your rental home.
If given the opportunity to represent you as your Realtor® and Tenant Agent, we will provide outstanding service. We are loyal, dedicated, confidential and always there for you. Anytime you have a question or concern, we are available to help you. Your calls and emails are always important and answered promptly.
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Can I contact the Landlord’s Agent directly?
A Landlord’s agent, also referred to as the Listing agent, is a real estate agent who represents only the Landlord’s best interests. The Landlord’s agent has responsibilities, which include obtaining the highest possible rent price and the best possible rental terms for the Landlord. They negotiate on behalf of their Client, the Landlord, not you.
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Can the Landlord's Agent represent both the Landlord and me?
While a Landlord’s agent can certainly show you the home they have listed for rent, if you decide you want to rent that home, they now are considered a dual agent. They now represent both the Landlord and you - the Tenant. The agent is obligated to make certain that all material facts relating to the property’s condition are disclosed; however, they must exercise care with negotiating information. Being a dual agent limits their ability to represent both parties fully and fairly. Because of that, it is required by law that all parties enter into this arrangement in writing. Even though this is legal in the State of Virginia, we do NOT and will NOT represent both parties in a transaction. We will only represent you - exclusively.
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I want you to represent me exclusively. Do I have to sign any Agreements?
We can either enter into an Agreement before we start looking at homes (recommended) or after we've been out together once so we can determine whether there's a fit between us and you can decide if you want to move forward in an exclusive relationship with us to help you rent a home.
Once you have made that decision, essentially, you make a commitment to work with us exclusively and in exchange, we work exclusively with you, represent your best interests throughout the transaction, and hold all your personal information in the strictest of confidence. We are committed to working our hardest to find you the right rental home that meets your needs. We will send you a copy of the Exclusive Right to Represent Tenant Agreement (Tenant Agreement) for you to review which outlines our commitment and responsibilities to each other.
IMPORTANT: By signing a Tenant Agreement you are protecting yourself so that your Agent represents you exclusively and holds your personal information in the strictest confidence.
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How long is the Tenant Agreement for?
The Agreement is typically for 3 months, but if you decide you would like to move on anytime before then, just let us know. We will most certainly honor your request. Our utmost concern is that you are happy with the services we are providing to you.
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So you work for me, represent me and my best interests, then how do you get paid?
If you decide to retain us as your Exclusive Tenant agents, there is no upfront fee or retainer. We are paid a portion of the commission offered and paid by the Landlord. There is no cost to you. We receive this payment once you have moved into the property. We make about $200-$500 depending on the property. Not a lot of money in the real estate world, but we do this because we like helping people, like you, find a home and hope that one day you may buy a home from us and/or refer us to your friends, family and co-workers so we can help them buy or rent a home as well.
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What paperwork will I need to complete?
Typically, you will fill out a rental application which will include your personal and financial information. This application, along with a credit application fee (typically $25-$45 non-refundable per applicant) along with your security deposit and any other special deposits, is submitted to the Landlord (via their agent) for review. Once your application has been accepted, you will be given a copy of the Lease for your review and signature.
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I have already looked at some rental homes with another Agent. Is there a conflict?
Item 1 of the Tenant Agreement states that you have not signed a Tenant Agreement with another Realtor® or been shown the same properties by another Realtor®. If you have worked with and/or signed an Agreement with someone else OR if you have visited a rental community or open house and registered, just let us know. We will need to look at the situation and discuss how that affects what we can do for you.
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Are you full-time Agents?
In order to keep up with the vast changes in law and marketing and business practices that are occurring in the profession today, we are full-time Agents who are dedicated to making your dreams of a new home come true.
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Why should I look for a Realtor® with the Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation?
The ABR Designation is awarded by REBAC (Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council) to those Realtors® who have met specific educational and experiential criteria needed to provide Buyers the highest level of quality service required by REBAC. This designation is held by less than 8% of Realtors® nationwide. Both of us are ABRs and committed to giving you the best service.
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I have another question that is not answered here.
Please send us a quick email at contactus@s4homes.com and we will be happy to answer it!
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