| This will be one of the most important decisions | | | | If it takes awhile to find your perfect house, you'll |
| you make in the house buying process. It's almost | | | | spend a lot of time with your realtor, and you |
| as important as selecting the right house. The | | | | want someone who is willing to work with you |
| right realtor can make buying a house seem | | | | until you are comfortably moved in to your new |
| simple. The wrong realtor...well, take my word, | | | | house! |
| and find the right realtor. | | | | Where can you find a good realtor? |
| You'll be making LOTS of contacts and spending | | | | The first step is to ask people you know who |
| lots of time with your realtors, so find someone | | | | have bought or sold a house recently about the |
| who is right for you. | | | | realtors they used. You can also look in your local |
| What makes a "good" realtor? | | | | newspaper, phonebook, or on the Internet. |
| - Knowledgeable...about real estate, about the area | | | | Make sure to ask lots of questions before hiring |
| you want to look in, and about your specific | | | | any realtor to represent you. There are a lot of |
| needs. | | | | details that go into buying a house. Once you get |
| - Accessible...responds to your phone calls or | | | | started, remembering all of those details will get |
| emails, is willing to work around your schedule. | | | | harder and harder. A good realtor will be |
| - Ready to help YOU first, make the sale | | | | organized, and help you remember what you can't |
| second...sure, realtors make their living on | | | | remember when the house buying process gets |
| commissions from the sale of houses, but if they | | | | complicated. |
| help you get what YOU want, they will then get | | | | Then, ask for references of former customers - |
| what THEY want. | | | | if you have the time, contact a few of them to |
| On the other hand, a poor realtor will bring you to | | | | find out first-hand about the realtors you are |
| houses that DON'T fit the criteria on your list. | | | | considering before you enter into an agreement. |
| WON'T work around your schedule. WON'T return | | | | There is no "exact science" to hiring a good |
| your phone calls promptly. And WON'T put your | | | | realtor. But it's not a decision to take lightly. |
| best interests at the very top of the list! | | | | And, if you end up making the wrong choice, feel |
| So don't think that ALL realtors are alike. | | | | free to walk away and find another realtor - its |
| Unfortunately, we learned the hard way. | | | | your choice! |