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We always recommend having an experienced real estate agent or REALTOR by your side when buying or selling land. And if you’ve decided to go the real estate agent route, you may be wondering how listing agents differ from selling agents – and which one is right for your situation.&nbsp;
The biggest difference between listing agents and selling agents is who they represent. Listing agents market properties for sellers, while selling agents help buyers search for properties that meet their needs. Both are key to a smooth real estate transaction, and both have different strengths and skills they bring to the table.
So what can you expect when you hire one? Below, we’re taking a deeper look into what listing agents and selling agents do, and, more importantly, how they can help you close on your land deal.&nbsp;
<h2>Listing Agents: Purpose and Responsibilities</h2>
When you’re ready to sell your land, you want someone with experience by your side. That’s where listing agents come in, assisting sellers with all of the various aspects of marketing, listing, and selling properties to the highest bidders.&nbsp;
Some of the key tasks a listing agent will take on include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pricing guidance and comp research</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Optimizing land listings, including coordination of photos, videos, and text</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Overseeing marketing efforts</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Coordinating showings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Networking within real estate community</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Receiving offers and streamlining buyer-seller communications</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Organizing closing documents</li>
</ul>
To ensure a particular listing agent is a good fit for your needs, be sure to ask about their experience in the land market. Some agents are skilled in residential home sales but might be less comfortable (and less connected) when it comes to selling land. You want a listing agent who truly knows the land market and won’t just facilitate your sale but will help guide you through every step of the process.&nbsp;
<h2>Selling Agents: Purpose and Responsibilities</h2>
Selling agents, more commonly referred to as buyer’s agents, work with land buyers to find and purchase their perfect properties. If you’re on the land hunt, a strong selling agent will be able to provide you with careful guidance backed by market insight. They’ll also be able to assist you in facilitating all the necessary tasks that need to happen before you close.&nbsp;
Specific responsibilities of a selling agent may include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Helping buyers define their property must-haves in terms of price, location, and land usage</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Researching zoning laws and restrictions&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sorting through listings and providing buyers with a curated selection of properties that meet their preferences</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assisting with financing questions and pre-approvals</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scheduling showings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Writing offers and communicating with listing agents</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Helping arrange inspections, surveys, and other steps in the closing process</li>
</ul>
Just like with a listing agent, you want to do your due diligence to make sure a selling agent has land experience before hiring them on. Selling agents who primarily work in the housing market may not understand the nuances involved in buying land and, as a result, won’t be quite as helpful in coordinating the many ins-and-outs involved in the process.&nbsp;
<h2>Looking for Another Option? Consider a Land REALTOR</h2>
Land REALTORS are certified land experts with more training than traditional listing and selling agents. Whether you’re buying or selling, check out our <a href="https://www.landhub.com/land-news/5-questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-land-realtor/">five questions to ask before hiring a land REALTOR</a> to find someone who you can trust to get the job done right.&nbsp;

We always recommend having an experienced real estate agent or REALTOR by your side when buying or selling land. And if you’ve decided to go the real estate agent route, you may be wondering how listing agents differ from selling agents.

We always recommend having an experienced real estate agent or REALTOR by your side when buying or selling land.

What’s the Difference Between a Listing Agent and a Selling Agent?

Easements are an important tool in land ownership, as they allow an individual or entity to legally use the property of another. They’re a form of contractual agreement that allows for the legal use of land, without the individual or entity actually owning the property. The easement will typically define the types of activities that are allowed to take place on the property.
There are three types of easements: public, private, and prescriptive. A public easement is granted by the government and provides an individual or organization the right to use public land, such as parks, trails, or waterways. A private easement is one in which two parties privately agree on the right to use someone else’s property for their own private benefit. A prescriptive easement is established by continuous use and is the most difficult to enforce, as the individual or organization using the land must show that they have been using the property for an extended period of time and have established some sort of “right” to its use.
Easements are legally binding agreements that, if violated, can have serious consequences. It’s important to make sure both parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities in an easement agreement in order to ensure its continued validity. With an easement, an individual or organization can be assured of the right to use someone else’s land in a mutually beneficial way.
For example, one of the most common easements is a right-of-way, which gives someone access over someone else’s property. This could include allowing a road to run through your property, or allowing a power line to cross over your land. In many cases, an individual will receive payment for granting an easement to another party.
In other cases, a property owner can use an easement to preserve the land in a particular state or manner. This could involve protecting wildlife or preserving historical structures on the property. With a conservation easement, the owner relinquishes their development rights and grants permission for certain activities on their property.
In essence, an easement gives someone the ability to make limited use of a piece of property without actually owning it. The most common type of easement grants someone the right to travel through a piece of land. Other types of easements give someone the right to use the land for a specific purpose, such as connecting utilities or establishing drainage. In most cases, the holder of the easement must agree to not disturb the property of the owner and can be held responsible if they do. Easements are typically granted in exchange for some form of compensation and the owner still retains control of the property. All of the details of an easement agreement will be outlined in a contract which should be followed closely.
Once established, an easement is usually held by the same party indefinitely, unless it is sold or gifted. Additionally, easements may also expire or be terminated for certain reasons, such as when the purpose for which it was created is no longer needed. It is important to note that although an easement grants access to another party, the owner of the servient estate still maintains ownership of the land.
It’s important to understand the details of an easement agreement, including who owns the land, the scope of activities allowed, and the financial arrangements. An easement will always come with some sort of restrictions and limitations.
In any case, it’s essential to get a lawyer or legal advisor involved in the process of negotiating an easement. This will ensure that both parties involved understand the terms of the agreement and that the interests of all involved are protected. Easements are a powerful legal tool when it comes to land ownership, but it’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable professional involved in the process to make sure all of the details are handled correctly.

Easements are an important tool in land ownership, as they allow an individual or entity to legally use the property of another. They’re a form of contractual agreement that allows for the legal use of land, without the individual or entity actually owning the property.

Easements are an important tool in land ownership, as they allow an individual or entity to legally use the property of another.

How do Easements Work?

It’s always a good idea to have a qualified professional by your side when you’re buying land. And no one offers more experience or knowledge than an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC), also known as a land REALTOR®.&nbsp;
Unlike everyday real estate agents, ALCs are certified land experts who have completed a rigorous course load through the REALTORS® Land Institute’s LAND University (LANDU) program and have a proven record of excellence in helping clients manage land transactions. Not only can they help you navigate the process with ease, but their support can also be instrumental in ensuring you get the best possible property at the best possible price.&nbsp;
Any ALC can be a big help, but it’s worth it to take your time and choose a land REALTOR® who truly understands your goals and communication preferences. So how do you find them? Here are five of the top questions to ask before hiring a land REALTOR® and beginning the land search process.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>1. What Sorts of Land Deals Do You Specialize In?</h3>
Even an expert has certain areas where their skills are more useful than others. In the case of a land REALTOR®, it helps to know what sorts of land deals they’re most well-suited to offer support with, especially if you have complex transactional needs that require a bit of extra know-how.&nbsp;
<h3>2. What’s Your Familiarity with Local Zoning Laws?</h3>
A good land REALTOR® is willing to do heavy research to ensure a property is zoned and regulated for your needs. A great one, however, has this information on hand and can walk you through all of the relevant guidelines and restrictions as you search and tour various land options.&nbsp;
<h3>3. Can You Provide Referrals to Other Specialists?</h3>
Buying land is rarely a straightforward process. In addition to an attorney and inspector, you may also need access to specialists such as land surveyors, soil testers, engineers, contractors, and more, and it helps to work with a land REALTOR® who already has some trustworthy names in their pocket.&nbsp;
<h3>4. How Much Involvement Can I Expect?</h3>
Any land REALTOR® worth their salt will be doing more for their clients than simply sending over curated land listings. Comprehensive support on this front means offering hands-on guidance through every step of land buying, including financing, planning, and transactional paperwork. This is also a good question to help you learn about your REALTOR®’s communication style and just how responsive they’ll be on a day-to-day basis.&nbsp;
<h3>5. What’s Your Fee Structure?</h3>
There may be additional fees associated with the services your ALC offers. To mitigate any surprises later on, find out from the get-go what you can expect in terms of cost. Keep in mind that while you may end up spending more to work with a land REALTOR® than a standard real estate agent, it’s almost always going to be worth it for what they can bring to the table.&nbsp;
Ready to find a land REALTOR® that checks off all the right boxes? Use the REALTORS® Land Institute’s Find a Land Consultant tool and begin your search today.

It's always a good idea to have a qualified professional by your side when you're buying land. And no one offers more experience or knowledge than an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC), also known as a land REALTOR.

It's always a good idea to have a qualified professional by your side when you're buying land.

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Land REALTOR®

There’s a lot that goes into the land buying process before you ever actually take ownership of the property. And while getting your offer accepted is definitely one of the bigger hurdles to get past, it’s not until you’ve closed that you’re really in the clear.
Closing on land, like closing on other types of real estate, is a process with very clear steps and requirements. So how long does it take to go from an accepted offer to a closing? Here’s what to know about closing on land deals, including how long you’ll have to wait before you get the proverbial keys.
<h2>Average Land Closing Length</h2>
Assuming everything goes smoothly, you can expect to close on your land purchase within 30 to 90 days after an accepted offer.
Variables that may lengthen or shorten the amount of time you have to wait until closing include predetermined negotiations you’ve made with the seller (such as for a shortened or extended closing period), as well as any snags you hit along the way with inspections or financing. Your closing period may also be affected by whether or not you’re paying cash for the property or having to take out a loan.
<h2>Steps to Closing on Land</h2>
A traditional land sale goes through a number of steps between when you make an offer to buy and when you officially own the property.
These include:
<ul>
<li>Title search and examination</li>
<li>Property inspection(s) and surveys</li>
<li>Bank financing</li>
<li>Final walk-throughs</li>
</ul>
If you’ve bought land, or even a brick-and-mortar property, in the past, then this should all look very familiar. However, it’s not uncommon for certain challenges to arise during the land closing process that you won’t typically face with residential or commercial properties, such as issues related to title or easements. A good real estate agent and attorney will help you navigate these issues with ease so that you know when it’s worth moving forward and when you’re better off backing out of the sale.
<h2>How to Close Faster</h2>
In a hurry to close? There are a few things that you can do before and during the closing process to move things along.
<ul>
<li>Get pre-approved for financing. Get all of your financing ducks in a row prior to putting in an offer on a piece of land (or, better yet, prior to beginning your land search at all). This eliminates some time-intensive steps from the closing process and also ensures you’ll be able to get the money you need.</li>
<li>Pay in cash. If possible, pay in cash for your land purchase. This is another way to skip the financing aspect of closing, and may also make the seller more likely to negotiate with you on closing times.</li>
<li>Ask for a shortened closing period. Speaking of negotiations, if you’re looking to close quickly on your purchase then it’s worth making the request when you put in your offer. There’s a chance that the seller is just as eager to close as you are and is willing to part with the property sooner at your suggestion.</li>
</ul>
Keep in mind that even with a sped-up closing you still need to leave plenty of time for title and land inspections. Don’t rush through any step, and do your due diligence prior to closing so you can be sure you’re getting a great deal.

There's a lot that goes into the land buying process before you ever actually take ownership of the property. And while getting your offer accepted is definitely one of the bigger hurdles to get past, it's not until you've closed that you're really in the clear.

There's a lot that goes into the land buying process before you ever actually take ownership of the property.

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