Looking to Buy? Find the Right Real Estate Agent to Help You.

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent to Work With

Whether you are looking to buy a home or sell your home, finding the right real estate agent to work with is important. Buying and selling a home involve complicated transaction that most homeowners or those looking to purchase a home don't completely understand, and in most cases, the bulk of your assets are represented either in the home you are selling or the home you plan to buy. Finding a knowledgeable and well-trained real estate agent can help the entire process go more smoothly and can ensure that your interests are protected.

What to Look For

When "shopping" for a real estate agent, you want to find an agent that is familiar with the neighborhood that you are looking to buy into, or is familiar with the neighborhood where your existing home is located. You also want an agent that has been formally trained. Real estate agents may go by the terms Realtor® or real estate broker, although basically they are interchangeable and mean the same thing. Real estate agents have a license from the state in which they are doing business, and the best ones will have a further certification from the National Association of Realtors®. Look for these certifications before considering a real estate agent. In general, the title of the professional that you will work with is not as important as the energy, enthusiasm and commitment that the agent has to helping you. When deciding on a Realtor® or real estate agent, keep these tips in mind:

• What type of representation are you looking for? For instance, if you are in the market to buy a home and you work with the homeowner's agent, the agent will have the best interest of their client (the seller) in mind. After all, real estate agents typically earn their living from selling houses, so the buyer is not going to be foremost in their thoughts. On the other hand, if you're selling, a "seller's agent" is the right type of agent for you.
• Never pick a real estate agent at random from the telephone directory or online directory of Realtors®, although these are good "jumping off" points. Better yet, get out in the neighborhood where you want to buy a home and look around for real estate agents nearby. These agents will have the most relevant information about the area.
• Experience matters when it comes to choosing a Realtor®, so be sure to look for an agent that has been around the "block" a time or two. Ask potential agents how long they have been in the industry. If they answer "less than five years", keep searching.
• Interview the real estate agent. Sitting down with at least two or three potential real estate agents can give you a good idea of whether or not your personalities click and if you feel like you can work with the person. The relationship that will develop between you and your Realtor® will be an informal one, so you want to be able to get along with them and communicate with them as well.
• Make sure that the agent you choose is willing to work around your schedule, not theirs. For example, if you will only be available to view homes on the weekends or afternoons, the Realtor® should be willing and able to accommodate that need.
• Find out what a potential real estate agent that you are considering will do to sell your home, if you are putting your home on the market. Will they advertise the property in the local newspaper or host an open house, etc.? Remember, if you are eager to sell, you want a Realtor® that is just as eager as or even more eager than you are.
• Ask friends, relatives and coworkers if they have a real estate agent that they feel comfortable referring you to. If they have had a good experience, chances are you will, too.
• Check with the National Association of Realtors® website for listings of real estate agents that have passed their certification and are doing business in your location.