"Without her initiating the custom MLS search, we would not have found the house so quickly." Hana

This is the largest financial transaction most people will be involved in and it has risk from start to finish if not handled properly. It is not as simple as settling on a price and closing date. There are many facets to each transaction ranging from zoning and environmental topics to inspection processes and more issues too numerous to mention here. I exchange an average of 52 emails with nearly every buyer and seller I work with. This has been my career for more than 23 years and I encounter something new on nearly every sale.  It is imperative to obtain the services of a professional real estate advisor. You must take the time to find an agent who is skilled and responsive, not just one who holds a license. 

Real estate agents work on commission which can be structured and paid in several ways.  There is no standard market commission rate, not now, not ever. Commissions and types of service may vary by firm and are negotiable based on the firm you hire.  All parties are provided ample and clear knowledge of the commission arrangements throughout the transaction. This is why it is critical to thoroughly read every document and email that you are in receipt of. 

Yes, I appreciate the opportunity. You should interview several local agents whose primary real estate business is within the Hayward Lakes Region.   As you do, keep in mind that quantity does not always equate with quality.  The real estate advisor you select should be one who instills confidence that you've found the right professional to help you, the individual.  A large portion of my day to day work is focused on increasing real estate knowledge for the general population. I believe people have been in the dark far too long with regard to real estate matters.  If all you take from our discussion is accurate and insightful information I will consider our relationship a success! 

People are frequently using 3rd party real estate sites for their Northern Wisconsin real estate search but are often frustrated due to insufficient and incorrect data; that is because these sites do not have access to the information a MLS member real estate professional has. 

Your time is valuable, don't waste it searching endless websites and contacting multiple real estate agents.   I can BEST help you by visiting with you one on one to discuss your needs and provide you with insight regarding Northwest WI homes for sale in addition to community information. If you're not quite ready to partner with a local agent then I recommend Realtor.com, which is the official website of the National Association of Realtors. Go to the main search page of Realtor.com where you can search by city/state, zip code or MLS#; link is on my home search page here. Once you identify properties of interest, simply contact me to obtain important additional documents that may be available for review; documents include property condition reports, septic reports, survey maps, etc.  Another option is to have an automated MLS search set up - I can do this in a short amount of time and the benefits for you are enormous - from being the first to see new listings to not having to set up multiple intrusive notifications from other portals, you'll appreciate the convenience.