The best real estate agents in New Salem, IL have recent sales in your target neighborhood and experience with your specific property type and price range. Check how many transactions they've closed in the past 12 months and whether those deals reflect the area and price point you're focused on. If you're buying, you want a buyer's agent who knows the local inventory well. If you're selling, look for a listing agent who can clearly explain how they plan to market and price your home.

Real estate agent commissions are negotiable and typically range from 5% to 6% of the home's sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent and their respective brokerages. Following the 2024 NAR settlement, buyers and sellers are now each responsible for paying their own agent unless the seller agrees to cover the buyer's agent fee as well. Rates can vary based on the property value, services provided, and the agent's experience, so ask any New Salem, IL real estate agent you are considering about their commission rate and what it covers before signing anything.

Working with a Homes.com Member Agent in New Salem, IL means your listing gets more visibility. Member listings appear at the top of search results and are retargeted across thousands of websites and social platforms, meaning more buyers see your home for sale. Member listings are 25% more likely to go under contract within the first 10 days compared to non-Member listings, and includes a complimentary Matterport 3D virtual tour in eligible locations. For buyers, Homes.com guarantees your inquiry goes directly to the listing agent and is never redirected to a competing agent.

The right New Salem, IL real estate agent is one you feel genuinely comfortable with, beyond just credentials and sales history. Pay attention to how they communicate from the very first conversation. Do they listen, ask questions back, and give straight answers? Ask whether you will be working directly with them or handed off to someone else on their team, and follow up with references from past clients. Having a clear sense of the questions to ask an agent before hiring them will make those early conversations much more telling. Ultimately the decision comes down to trust.

Once you find a New Salem, IL real estate agent you're interested in, reaching out is simple. Click on their profile to view their full bio, recent sales, reviews, and contact details. From there you can send them a brief message directly through the Homes.com or call them using the phone number listed on their profile. When reaching out, a short note about what you're looking for goes a long way. Mention whether you're buying or selling, your target neighborhood, and your timeline.