A gold miner has stunned the internet after sharing the reality of finding 6,700 Australian dollars ($4,300) of gold lying around in the dirt during a search.
For Tyler Mahoney finding gold is how she makes a living, and it takes her all across Australia and New Zealand at times. Most people would marvel at the prospect of finding more than $6,000 worth of gold, but for Mahoney this is her livelihood, regularly referring to herself as a "professional gold digger."
As it is such an unusual occupation, she often shares the realities of the job on her TikTok account (@tylermahoney8) to educate others. On June 19, Mahoney posted a video of the moment she discovered "a different nugget" of gold on the ground in Boulder, Australia.
As the camera pans around, viewers might think that gold worth $6,700 might be quite obvious—but Mahoney reveals that it's a tiny amount, the size of a rock, weighing just 56 grams (0.12 pounds). Many TikTok users have been amazed by Mahoney's video, and it has already generated more than 5.7 million views and over 366,000 likes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that hard rock mining involves the discovery and extraction of non-fuel metal and mineral deposits of solid ores. Gold isn't the only mineral that is mined however, as the EPA adds that copper, iron, lead, platinum, silver and zinc are also mined.
The mining process can be lengthy, and it's not simply a matter of stumbling upon a piece of gold by chance. The first step is exploration of the area, including surveys to learn about the conditions, and drilling to obtain samples of the ore body for inspection.
Another way to gather information about the site area is by doing seismic surveys to measure shock waves, which will have different readings depending on the geological formation beneath the surface.
Once an area has been pinpointed, the extraction phase can then begin. The EPA says that the most common way of hard rock mining is through surface mining, which involves digging the necessary area. However, other methods include open pit mining, or strip mining when the deposits are near the surface.
Once the mineral has been discovered, the process doesn't end there. In order to turn it into a beautiful piece of jewelry, for example, it has to go through beneficiation, which separates the desired mineral from the waste rock around it.
The attention that Mahoney's video received has encouraged her to continue sharing her occupation with TikTok followers. She regularly shares videos of herself on excavation sites, digging for the gold and operating the machinery.
The viral post has received over 3,200 comments so far, with a lot of social media users sharing their reaction to Mahoney's line of work.
One comment reads: "Sis is living my dream job."
Another person wrote: "That's my tuition on the ground."
"It's a lot cleaner and larger than I thought," responded another TikTok user.
Newsweek has reached out to @tylermahoney8 via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the video.
Do you have funny or unusual videos of your job that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
Buying a home is the biggest purchase most families ever make. For veterans and service members, finding a real estate agent familiar with factors like housing allowances, permanent changes of station (PCS) and the application process for mortgages backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs can streamline the process.
Retired Marine 1st Sgt. Duan Rockette knows firsthand what a difference the right real estate agent can make. After a rough experience buying a home during his own PCS from Okinawa back to the United States, Rockette got into real estate when he retired.
"I wanted to do something I love to do, and that's working with people and helping people," said Rockette, who retired from the military in 2007 after serving for more than 21 years.
Now, Rockette is the managing broker for NP Dodge Real Estate in Omaha, Nebraska. He and the more than 200 real estate agents who report to him often help military families and veterans find homes near Offutt Air Force Base, south of Omaha, and in other parts of the nation.
"I just want service members to know that there are people who appreciate their service and want to help them and will do everything possible to best represent them," Rockette said.
Here's some of Rockette's tips for finding a military-friendly real estate professional:
If you're planning to use a VA-backed loan, the VA recommends that you look for a lender before finding a real estate agent.
Rockette said it's also handy because the right lender often can connect you with the right real estate agent for your situation.
He recommends checking out military-focused lenders, such as Veterans United Home Loans, USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union, and ask about their networks of military-friendly real estate professionals.
If you're purchasing during a PCS move, remember someone in your unit or another military family you know probably already has been to the station you are moving to. Rockette said those neighbors, friends or coworkers should be able to point you in the right direction.
"When someone has a good experience with an agent who provides exceptional service and shows they really care about them, they're going to talk about it -- just like they'll talk about if they had a bad experience," he said.
Your future duty station's military spouse and support groups on social media might be good places to find recommendations.
Army Capt. Joel Fulsang took to social media during his last PCS from Alaska to Georgia. "I looked at one of the Fort Gordon spouses' groups on Facebook, and there were real estate agents posting their information," he said.
Agents who work with service members and veterans might advertise in base publications or leave information at base resource offices, such as Navy Fleet and Family Support Centers, Rockette said.
Some real estate agents are veterans themselves, so consider asking at your local veterans organization chapters, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. Rockette said he has found clients through veteran groups he's been a member of, including the VFW and the Marine Corps League.
If there's not a real estate agent in your local organization's ranks, ask other members who they recommend, he said.
With any referral, Rockette said to always do your due diligence.
"It's a combination between what you hear and what you research," he said. "Put your feelers out. Check agents out online and don't be afraid to ask questions."
Outside of official lender networks, there are several networks of real estate professionals that specifically help military and veteran communities. Most are concentrated around major military installations and affiliated with larger real estate firms. So even if you're not near base, they still may be able to help you.
Rockette recommended checking out Homes for Heroes, a large network of real estate, mortgage and local business certified who serve veterans, first responders, health-care workers and teachers.
Another organization, the MilHousing Network, focuses on active-duty personnel and has more than 3,000 pre-screened agents with Tested experience working for military homebuyers and sellers.
"The average civilian will move once in 12 years, and the average military family will move three times in those 12 years," said the organization's co-founder, Lindsey Litton, a military spouse who saw a need for "military helping military" in the real estate market.
The Military Movers Real Estate Group also aims to assist service members in the home-buying and selling process to "make their PCS as smooth as possible." The group's website lists its properties, many of which are around military installations in Alaska, Colorado and Florida.
Finally, Rockette said, keep an eye out for certifications that prove a real estate professional has the training to understand unique military situations.
One certification Rockette said he held in the past is the National Association of Realtors' Military Relocation Professional certification.
This certification means that an agent has gone through a specialized course on military housing needs and veteran benefits. Some real estate agencies also might use the acronym VAMRES, or VA and military real estate specialist, to designate agents who have experience with both VA-backed home loans and active-duty changes of station.
-- Aaron Streitenberger is a reporter for Three Creeks Media. Brittany Crocker is managing editor for Three Creeks Media.
Whether you're buying or selling, get an edge with local expertise. Find a VA-specialized agent today.
© Copyright 2023 Three Creeks Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Wearing the Flamera prototype headset at Siggraph 2023
Rob SquiresIn my previous post, I focused on the slew of announcements that Nvidia made as it dominated this year’s Siggraph conference. In this post, I want to take the time to showcase some of the other companies and devices that made an impression on me during the event. I’ll close with some observations about why this year, for the first time ever, I left the world’s premier annual graphics conference feeling a little disappointed by the show.
AMD’s W7600 Professional Workstation Graphics Card
Anshel SagAMD’s New Professional Workstation Cards
Not to be left out of the conversation by Nvidia, AMD announced a pair of new graphics cards a few days before the show to help further expand its line of professional graphics cards. AMD announced the Radeon Pro W7600 and W7500 mid-range cards to complement the already available W7900 and W7800 high-end models.
The W7500 and W7600 are targeted towards the largest part of the professional graphics market, with a single-slot design and $429 and $599 price tags, respectively. What makes these cards exceptional is that they offer a single-slot design with very low power consumption. The W7600 require only a single 6-pin power connector, while the W7500 draws only 70 watts, meaning that it doesn’t need any additional power via connector and can harness the full 75 watts supplied by a computer’s PCIe slot.
In addition to these new GPUs, AMD also had system integrator Silverdraft at their booth showing off a workstation with seven W7800 GPUs and an AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro W5996WX 64-core CPU. In fact, AMD’s booth was very much a marriage of the company’s wildly successful CPU business with its latest professional workstation graphics cards easily running all kinds of professional workflows. This included a Dell Precision 7865 running the DaVinci Resolve video-editing application using the latest and greatest 4K reference monitors from EIZO.
Meta’s Prototype Headsets
Siggraph would not be complete without interesting research and development devices from some of the world’s leading organizations, whether that’s a university, the U.S. Government or, in this case, a company investing heavily in the XR space like Meta. This year, Meta demonstrated two prototype headsets that utilize the latest in optics and display technologies.
Meta’s Butterscotch Varifocal headset
Anshel SagThe first headset, codenamed “Butterscotch Varifocal,” is a combination of technology developed for the half-dome varifocal prototype headset shown in 2015 and a retinal-resolution VR display that the company debuted in 2022. This headset also had windows cut into the sides to easily show how the varifocal nature of the headset works as it moves the display towards and away from the users’ eyes depending on the virtual object that the user is focusing on.
I found the headset to be very impressive both for its high resolution and for its varifocal experience, especially considering how difficult this is to accomplish in most headsets today. The Meta engineers even included a great toggle for turning varifocal mode on and off, which really made you appreciate the ability to change focus. That said, the focus system definitely could be faster and more responsive, which I hope is something they work on for future versions. While it remains unclear when or if either of these technologies will ever make it into a shippable consumer headset, it is quite clear that Meta continues to innovate and explore ways to make VR better for its millions of users.
Meta’s Flamera flat composition camera headset
Anshel SagMoving on from VR, Meta also demonstrated the Flamera flat composition camera headset—one of the most interesting-looking headsets I have ever seen. Meta designed this headset to showcase some of its latest pass-through optics technologies, which create a more realistic and higher-resolution AR experience. Pass-through is short for camera pass-through, which uses outside-facing cameras that provide a real-time view of the external world inside a closed headset to create an AR-like mixed reality experience.
Meta claims that its Flamera computational camera uses light-field technology for distortion-free, perspective-correct MR pass-through. Meta also claims that it has patched together dozens of sensors to create a realistic reproduction of the real world. While it did look good, the headset ran quite hot for many people and it had only one focal point, which to me defeats the purpose of using light-field technology. Meta also said that it chose to use waveguides inside the headset to enable as thin of a form factor as possible, but unfortunately this choice affected the field of view of the headset. It will be interesting to see what Meta does down the road with its pass-through tech, especially when you consider how important pass-through will be for the next few years until waveguide technology improves enough to become mainstream.
Leia Acquires Dimenco
Without a doubt, one of the biggest pieces of news from the show—one that will likely reverberate within the industry for years—was Leia Inc.’s announcement that it acquired Dimenco, which is another 3-D display manufacturer based in the Netherlands. Dimenco’s focus has primarily been on Windows users and building 3-D display technologies for laptops and monitors, enabling 3-D productivity and 3-D gaming. Leia’s strengths have mostly been in smaller displays like the Red Hydrogen One or the Leia Lumepad 2, which debuted earlier this year and I reviewed here.
This acquisition will create one of the most comprehensive 3-D display manufacturers in the world, with expertise in both Windows and Android operating systems. Hopefully, this will help unify the two worlds, making the industry more cohesive and helping to drive more product volume. I don’t think we understand yet what the two companies will be able to achieve working as one, but it is quite clear that together they will be able to create technologies and opportunities that simply didn’t exist before.
Edible lenticular lenses
On a lighter note, one of the most fun things I saw at Siggraph 2023 was a poster by researchers from Meiji University in Japan who have managed to create edible lenticular lenses using a specially designed knife. A lenticular lens is a type of lens that allows different angles of an object to be viewed in such a way that it can appear to be three-dimensional. A friend of mine pointed out this poster, and when I went to check it out myself I saw firsthand how the researchers created an inverse structure of a lenticular lens and turned that into a knife of sorts that would then cut an edible jelly to create the desired lens shape.
While this is purely a research project without a real application, it is interesting to think about the types of applications that could utilize edible lenticular lens technology. Currently, lenticular lenses are usually made of plastic, but these researchers have used the edible lenticular lens to create color-shifting and vanishing effects, and there may be other applications in the future.
My disappointment with the organization of this year’s show
Unfortunately, in terms of overall coordination Siggraph 2023 felt like a step backwards from previous years. It seemed that the organizers rushed certain planning aspects, especially because some talks were staged in rooms that were far too small. Perhaps Siggraph underestimated how many people would actually attend in person this year—after the pandemic-induced uncertainties of the past few years—and simply didn’t have enough space for all of them. Whatever the case, I attended multiple talks where there were literally hundreds of people waiting in line outside the rooms, many of whom paid hundreds of dollars to attend arguably the graphics conference in the world.
In my opinion, Siggraph truly is the premier graphics conference because it encompasses researchers, artists, engineers, students and the software and hardware companies that drive so much innovation. Siggraph is a much more diverse event than GDC, which focuses primarily on gaming, and it encompasses so much of the graphics industry; it would be a shame for a conference that is usually so well-organized and -curated to take any more steps back. I have loved attending Siggraph in many prior years, but this year it felt like the show was simply not planned well enough in advance and that things were hastily put together. That’s the last thing I would want from one of my favorite conferences, especially one that has been around for decades and that was celebrating the organization’s 50th anniversary this year.
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Nutanix announces the new AI solution Nutantix GPT-in-a-box. The tool should make it easier for companies to introduce generative AI into the workplace.
Nutanix GPT-in-a-box is a new tool from Nutanix to help companies get started implementing AI and machine learning (ML). Notably, the tool allows companies to maintain full control over their data.
The new platform’s essential goal is to help define hardware and software infrastructure suitable for running AI and ML on. To do this, the platform can rely on the capabilities of open-source AI and MLOps frameworks from the Nutanix Cloud Platform.
The tool focuses on implementing generative AI in the workplace, but many enterprises are likely to ignore the tool. Indeed, generative AI was found to be banned in three-quarters of organizations, according to an earlier survey. There are two concerns about generative AI tools that trigger the ban. Many focus on the risk of using unsecured apps, while others fear that company secrets will leak.
Nutanix recognizes these fears. The tool, therefore, puts data management in the company’s hands but also adds (data)security capabilities to the platform.
According to the company, many organizations additionally struggle with questions about how best to support ML administrators and data scientists. To that end, Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box provides turnkey AI infrastructure for the edge or core data center.
Also read: Nutanix wants to be infrastructure for all workloads, including Kubernetes
A buyer's agent will find potential homes, communicate with sellers and their agents, and represent your interests when negotiating a home purchase.
A good buyer's agent can act as a guide on your homebuying journey. They'll show you properties that fit your criteria, help you craft a competitive offer, negotiate on your behalf and generally provide you with knowledge and support throughout the homebuying process. And P.S. As a buyer — you don't pay them.
Here's what you should know about working with a buyer's agent.
A buyer's agent is a real estate professional who represents the purchaser's interests in a real estate transaction. They play a different role from the listing agent, who represents the property's seller.
Most residential real estate agents work with both buyers and sellers. For example, when someone is selling their current home and buying a new one, they'll often use a single agent who will be their listing agent for the home sale and act as buyer's agent on their home purchase.
Some home shoppers might think they can take a shortcut to making an offer on a home by working with the home’s listing agent instead of hiring a buyer's agent. But home buyers and sellers have inherently distinct goals, especially when it comes to negotiating a purchase price. Having the listing agent represent you as a buyer is an example of dual agency, which is illegal in some states and at the very least creates a conflict of interest. You want your own buyer's agent who's firmly on your side.
A buyer's agent guides you through the homebuying process — from house hunting to closing. Among other things, a good buyer’s agent will:
Find homes for sale. A buyer's agent will help you understand the type of home you can afford in the current market, find listed homes that match your needs and price range, and then help you narrow the options to the properties worth considering. Additionally, a buyer's agent will dig up additional information on any listings that you find. With access to the Multiple Listing Service, agents can see more information than you can using real estate websites and apps.
Know the area inside and out. If you're not a local, a buyer's agent can provide you with the inside scoop on schools, neighborhoods and more. Even if you're from the area, they may know details about zoning or taxes that you don’t.
Set up tours. Scrolling through listing photos just isn't the same as viewing a property in person. Your agent will work with a home's listing agent or owners (if the property is for sale by owner) to schedule showings. They'll also fill you in on anything they learned about the sellers or the property from that communication.
Help you make offers. After you've found a home you want to buy, your agent will advise you on how much to offer and what contingencies to include in the contract, based on the property and an analysis of the market. A good agent will explain the contract terms, answer your questions and walk you through each step of the process.
Negotiate with the seller. The agent will inform you of the seller's response to your offer and advise you on the next steps, such as whether to accept a seller's counteroffer or negotiate on price and terms.
Refer you to other professionals. A buyer’s agent can refer you to other professionals, such as real estate attorneys and movers. The only pro you'll definitely want to find on your own is the home inspector, who you’ll want to be sure is completely impartial.
Last, a good buyer's agent will help you weather the highs and lows of the homebuying process. In addition to being a major financial transaction, buying a home often gets pretty emotional. If you're feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, you can lean on your agent. If there's an issue with the sellers or negotiations become frustrating, your agent can help you keep calm and get the best possible outcome.
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The seller usually pays the real estate agent commission, which is split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. But who pays will be made clear in the purchase agreement, which both buyer and seller have to sign once an offer is accepted. A typical real estate commission is 5% to 6% of the home's sale price.
Even though as a home buyer you don't pay the buyer's agent, you will sign a contract with them. The contract may outline the scope of their duties as well as stipulate how long you'll work exclusively with them. Check this time period before you sign; it's usually negotiable and can be as little as 30 days.
It's in the agent's interest to have you commit, since if you buy a home with a different buyer's agent, they won't get paid regardless of the work they may have put in. But you may want to confirm that your agreement includes a two-way guarantee, which basically allows you (or the agent) to leave the relationship if it's just not working.
First things first: Shop for a lender and get preapproved for a mortgage before you select a real estate agent. A mortgage preapproval is a letter from a lender showing the loan amount and terms you qualify for. Getting preapproved shows real estate agents and sellers that you're a serious buyer.
Once you have a preapproval letter, it's time to look for an agent. Here's how to find one.
Ask for agent referrals from people you trust. If you're moving to a new city, request referrals from any contacts you have there. Future colleagues may point you in the right direction if you're relocating for a new job, for example. Be sure to ask how they know the agent. You want a positive referral based on a accurate home sale, not a friend of a friend who's in the real estate business.
You can also look at real estate agents' online profiles and reviews. If you're looking for an agent who has a particular type of experience or who operates in a specific area, this criterion can help you narrow your search from just "buyer's agents near me."
Professional organizations can also help you find local agents. The National Association of Realtors is the largest in the U.S.; agents that are members get to call themselves Realtors. There are other trade associations that are more specific, too. The National Association of Real Estate Brokers places an emphasis on Black and minority groups' representation, as well as housing equality and social justice. NAREB members are designated as Realtists.
Whether or not they're affiliated with a national organization, all real estate agents must be licensed by the state where they operate. Make sure your potential buyer's agent holds an active license; in addition to passing an initial exam, agents must undergo continuing education to maintain licensure. You can verify licensing by searching any agent's name on your state government's website.
Looking up licensing information also allows you to see how long a buyer's agent has held a real estate license. Especially if you're a first-time home buyer, you probably want someone with some experience under their belt.
Once you've found a few agents who seem like a good fit, set up an informal interview. If an agent doesn't want to make time for this, or you don't get a great vibe from them in your one-on-one meeting, keep moving. Buying a home is a major transaction and can be a lengthy process, so you want an agent who you'll be comfortable working with for the long haul.
Here are some questions you can ask:
Availability and schedule. Are they a full-time agent, or is real estate a side hustle? Either one can get the job done, but consider how they manage their time and priorities. If you need to drop everything and see a house right away or if something comes up just before closing, your agent should be there to sort it out.
Communication and working style. Do they prefer phone or text? Will you work directly with the agent or with the agent's assistants? How often can you expect to hear from them? These details reveal a lot about working styles, so you can choose the agent with an approach that fits your needs.
House hunting. How will the agent find listed homes in your price range? What strategies do they use to guide buyers through a competitive market? What neighborhoods or towns do they work in the most? Ask how the agent helped other buyers like you find homes.
Making offers and negotiating. How will the agent help you make competitive offers and negotiate with sellers? What challenges could you face in your local market? A good agent will set realistic expectations.
Thoughts and feels. An agent may have all the qualifications on paper to be successful but might not be right for you. Does the agent's interpersonal style mesh with yours? Is this someone you could trust to look out for your interests? Good rapport can matter as much as the agent's experience and competence.
Last, don't be shy about asking for references. Request the names of a few clients who recently purchased a home with them, and contact those customers to ask about their experiences. Something could come up that will prompt you to keep looking — or confirm that you've found the right buyer's agent for you.
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Do I need a buyer’s agent?
It is possible to buy a house without an agent. However, a buyer’s agent provides many benefits and typically doesn’t cost the home buyer anything. A buyer’s agent provides experience, support and negotiating power to help people navigate the homebuying process. Working with an agent can save you time and money, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer.
What is the difference between a buyer’s agent and a real estate agent?
A buyer’s agent is a type of real estate agent who represents the purchaser's interests in a real estate transaction. On the other side of the transaction, the listing agent represents the interests of the property's seller.
Do I need a buyer’s agent?
It is possible to buy a house without an agent. However, a buyer’s agent provides many benefits and typically doesn’t cost the home buyer anything. A buyer’s agent provides experience, support and negotiating power to help people navigate the homebuying process. Working with an agent can save you time and money, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer.
What is the difference between a buyer’s agent and a real estate agent?
A buyer’s agent is a type of real estate agent who represents the purchaser's interests in a real estate transaction. On the other side of the transaction, the listing agent represents the interests of the property's seller.
Hiring a professional real estate agent when buying or selling a home can help you make smart decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
But not just any agent will fit the bill. Here's how to choose the right real estate agent for you.
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Real estate agents help people buy and sell homes. Agents educate their clients about current market conditions, guide them through each step of the process and make referrals to other professionals, such as home stagers and real estate attorneys. Most agents can represent buyers or sellers. Their particular titles in a transaction depend on whom they're representing in that sale.
A buyer's agent helps buyers find and shop for listed homes, make competitive offers and negotiate with sellers.
A listing agent helps sellers price, list and market their homes, and negotiate with buyers.
In some cases, an agent can represent both sides in a single transaction, but it's best to have someone who's solely in your corner.
All real estate agents must be licensed in the states where they work and abide by national and state laws. Realtors are licensed agents who belong to the National Association of Realtors, which has more than 1.5 million members. Members pledge to abide by the association's standards and code of ethics.
A real estate broker has received additional training, beyond what agents receive, to get a real estate broker license. Like agents, brokers must complete state-required coursework and pass an exam to get licensed. A broker can oversee other real estate agents, work under a managing broker or operate independently.
Ask friends and colleagues for referrals to find several prospective agents. Look up the agents' websites and online profiles, read about their specialties and experience, and check out customer reviews.
Choose at least three agents to interview and dig into specifics about how they would work with you.
You can also get matched with agents through a lender's real estate agent network or a standalone referral service. Before using one of these options, make sure you understand what they require of agents, how you'll be matched and what happens if you don't like the agent you're paired with.
Here are the key things to find out, whether you're buying or selling a home.
Licensure requires agents to complete a certain amount of coursework and pass an exam. Check your state's real estate commission website to find out if a particular agent is licensed.
You might assume any real estate agent you choose will represent your interests only. But in some cases, real estate agents aren't legally required to represent solely the buyer or the seller in a transaction. For example, a "dual agent" represents both the buyer and the seller in the same deal, and a "transactional agent" works with both sides, but has no fiduciary responsibility to either.
Understanding the nature of the agent's role when working with you is critical. Ask prospective agents if they will represent your interests only through the entire process, and request a written form that discloses the relationship, advises the Consumer Federation of America.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Real estate agents can complete educational programs to earn specialized credentials. There are designations and certifications for certain types of consumers, such as seniors and military members, and for dealing with certain types of properties, such as luxury homes. Ask agents what special training they've completed.
How long has the agent been working with clients, and what training or recognition does the agent have? Look for an agent with a good track record of serving clients like you.
Agents sometimes have assistants working for them on a team. Will you work more with the agent or with the assistants? An efficient team can serve your needs, but make sure you'll have enough direct access to the agent.
Do you prefer to communicate by text, phone calls or email? Most agents use all three channels. Make sure the agent will accommodate your preferred communication method.
Usually, the seller pays the real estate commission, which the listing agent splits with the buyer's agent. A typical real estate commission is 5% to 6% of the sales price.
As the seller, you may be able to negotiate a lower rate, particularly for a high-priced property, according to the Consumer Federation of America. As the buyer, you can ask for a rebate of a portion of the buyer agent's commission.
Agents may not be willing to budge on the commission, but it's worth asking.
Request references from clients who worked with the agent in the past year. Were they satisfied with the agent's work? What went smoothly, and what didn't go well? How did the agent deal with challenges? Conversations with accurate clients will deliver clues as to whether the agent is a good fit for you.
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Here are some things to think about when choosing an agent to help you buy a home.
What challenges will I face as a buyer in today's market? A good agent will set realistic expectations by explaining the availability of listed homes and the level of competition you'll face with other buyers.
How will you help me find listed homes in my price range? Ask for examples of how the agent has recently helped other buyers similar to you. This will deliver a sense of how well the agent will serve your needs.
How will you help me make competitive offers and negotiate with sellers? Look for an agent who will help you stay grounded within your budget and goals.
Here are some things to think about when choosing an agent to help you sell a home.
What are the comparable listings in my area? An agent should provide a comparative market analysis, showing homes similar to yours that were sold in the past six months.
What do you think my home is worth and why? An agent who recommends the highest price isn't always the best choice. Choose an agent who backs up the recommendation with market knowledge.
What should I do to Strengthen my home? You may need to fix things up to sell your home, depending on the local real estate market. Listen for solid reasoning about what your home needs and the return on investment for making those improvements.
How will you market my home? Agents will likely suggest putting your home on the Multiple Listing Service and real estate websites, such as Zillow. Get details about other promotional tools the agent will use, such as photos, video tours and advertising. The level of marketing required to sell a home depends on the market. Less marketing may be required when there are more buyers than homes for sale.
While you should compare agents' experience and approaches, it's just as important that the one you choose can establish rapport. Look for a competent agent who listens and responds to your needs and has a working style that clicks with yours. In buying or selling a home, people skills matter as much as real estate expertise.
