RICH Property Solutions, Ahmedabad
How to choose a property broker
Check seven things before you sign with a property broker: experience with your kind of property, a record you can verify, who they act for, how they are paid, what they check, a written agreement, and local knowledge.
Seven checks before you sign
- Experience in your property type. Leasing an office, buying a flat and buying a pre-leased shop are different jobs.
- A track record you can verify. Ask for recent deals and for clients you can speak to. Read the Google reviews and look at the dates.
- Who they act for. Ask whether they work for the buyer, the seller, or both.
- How and when they are paid. Ask for the fee as a number or a percentage, and when it falls due.
- What they check. Ask what they verify about the owner, the title, the tenant and the lease before they show a property.
- A written agreement. Scope, how long it lasts, whether it is exclusive, and the fee, all on paper.
- Local knowledge. Ask which areas they work in most and what they know about the micro-market you care about.
Questions to ask on the first call
- Which properties like mine have you closed in the last year?
- Who will handle my case, and how do I reach them?
- How are you paid, and when?
- What documents will you check before I commit?
- What happens if the deal falls through?
Warning signs
- Asks for money before showing a single property
- Will not put the fee or terms in writing
- Pushes you to decide the same day
- Cannot say who the owner is or show documents
- Shows the same few properties whatever your brief
How do I choose a broker, step by step?
- Write your brief. Property type, area, budget, timeline.
- Make a shortlist of three. Use reviews, referrals and listings.
- Call each one with the same questions. Compare the answers.
- Check the evidence. Reviews, recent deals, written terms.
- Sign only what you have read. Keep a copy.
If you want to compare us against your list, our real estate broker page sets out what we handle. The difference between agent and broker is explained in this guide.
This page is general information. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. Check the documents of any property with your own lawyer and chartered accountant.
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