There are many benefits to using a registered REIWA agent

When it comes time to sell your home or purchase a new one, it is in your interest to deal with real estate agents who are registered with the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

From promotion of the property to protection of monies and extra benefits, you can be rest assured that a REIWA agent will save you in the long run.

Here are the top six reasons to sell or buy your home through a registered REIWA agent:

Promotion

An important function of a licensed agent is to take care of the promotion of the property.

This includes providing advice on the best way to sell a home, dealing with buyer inquiries at all hours, attending to home inspections, ensuring that the conditions applying to the sale of the property are quickly attended to and playing a role in the negotiation process.

REIWA member agents also have access to state-of-the-art systems to promote properties for sale, including the Multiple Listing Service and the largest Western Australian real estate portal, reiwa.com.

Protection

The Real Estate Act guarantees consumers security for all monies held by licensed real estate agents on their behalf.

Funds such as deposits must be placed in a trust account and an industry fund exists to guarantee these funds.

First home buyers scheme

A means tested first home buyer grant of $2,000 is only available to first home buyers using the services of a licensed real estate agent.

This money originates from an industry fund of interest earnt on deposit funds held in agent trust accounts.

Security

Customers of real estate agents who are members of REIWA have extra security.

All REIWA members voluntarily agree to a code of conduct that includes professional conduct and consumer protection provisions. They also all carry professional indemnity insurance.

REIWA will assist with a speedy resolution to any problems between REIWA member agents and their clients.

Standard and affordable legal documents

Buyers and sellers in WA are fortunate that the contract for sale of properties has been standardised.

In WA this is commonly known as the Offer and Acceptance Contract which is accompanied by the General Conditions for the Sale of Land.

These are very important documents because they clearly set out the legal commitments the buyer and seller agree to when an offer to buy a property is accepted by the seller.

They were developed by REIWA in association with the legal sector and all REIWA agents are trained to use them.

These documents also set out the conditions that will apply to the sale. This includes standard conditions like;

• pest inspections
• dealing with sewer connections and septic tanks
• and home loan approvals.

There are also other standard documents that may be required to deal with changes to the settlement date.

No risk service

Finally, you know you're receiving 100 per cent commitment from a registered REIWA agent because an agent's fee is only payable if the sale has been successful.

This puts you, the buyer or the seller, in the advantageous position of having little to lose and much to gain when dealing with a REIWA agent.