Many people believe that they can cut out the middle man and sell their home or find a rental by going directly to the property owner While this is possible, it is also extremely risky and not advisable Real estate agents are trained to evaluate buyers and sellers and can often identify red flags that should raise suspicion Agents can also help with the reams of paperwork and coordinate with other professionals involved in a real estate transaction including inspectors, lenders and notaries
 
   https//preysfruitbarncom/  is a complicated business and many sellers are not prepared to handle all of the responsibilities of selling their home by themselves They have to rush home from work or leave their day job whenever someone wants to see the house, make it ready for showings and answer a barrage of calls from interested parties A good agent can manage all of this and still make the process a positive one for their clients
 
 Another issue is that the typical seller wants a licensed and accountable real estate professional to be present at all showings for security reasons The last thing a seller wants is for an unsolicited buyer with a fake email address to show up unescorted and possibly steal the property or damage it An agent can screen potential buyers and only arrange showings for qualified prospects who have been pre-approved by a lender or have a down payment
 
 A potential scammer can create a convincing social media profile by using fake email addresses and fake phone numbers It is important to look at the full profile, not just recent posts Look for a well-rounded profile that includes photos, a business description and contact information Also, look for a website that is easy to navigate and contains a lot of relevant information
 
 Scammers can also use a variety of other tricks to fool people into believing that they are legitimate For example, they might send realistic-looking documents quoting different coverages and carriers Some will even use an agency or carrier logo in their emails To avoid these types of scams, always ask for an agent’s official license number and verify that they are licensed to sell insurance in your state You can often find a licensed agent’s license number by looking up their name on the agent directory or finding an agent through a carrier
 
 Some property managers and landlords may try to lure renters with fake ads and websites They may ask for money upfront in the form of application fees or security deposits before you can view the property Legitimate property managers or landlords will be willing to meet with you and will not insist on you paying upfront before you can see the rental
 
 There are also instances where a listing agent will show a prospective buyer the property and then attempt to cut the other buyers’ agents out of the deal by telling them that they already have an offer from a buyer This is called dual agency and is a violation of fiduciary duty