| If you are buying a home, choosing a real estate | | | | your personalities do not match, you may feel |
| agent may be the most important decision you | | | | that your real estate agent is not doing enough |
| make. A good real estate agent can help ensure | | | | for you and your real estate agent may get |
| that you are notified of homes that meet all your | | | | frustrated that you are not placing any bids. Find |
| criteria. A good agent will also answer your | | | | someone that registers a high comfort level with |
| questions and will walk you through the buying | | | | you and you can avoid these problems. |
| process, which is an invaluable service for | | | | 4) Making sure that your real estate agent is |
| first-time homebuyers. Despite all this, most | | | | creative. Your agent will use the Multiple Listing |
| buyers choose their agent in a completely | | | | Service (M.L.S.) to find homes, but he or she |
| haphazard way, simply falling into a relationship | | | | should also use their knowledge, contacts and |
| with the first real estate agent they encounter. A | | | | experience to find homes that match your needs. |
| much better strategy is to do some sleuthing to | | | | You don't want someone who can simply run |
| uncover the agent who will truly help you find that | | | | simplistic searches you can run yourself from |
| perfect property. You can find the right | | | | home. |
| professional by: | | | | 5) Ensuring that your agent knows the area. A |
| 1) Interviewing candidates. It may seem like a lot | | | | real estate agent who knows the area where you |
| of work, but comparing different real estate | | | | hope to buy can help you understand what is |
| agents from different agencies can quickly show | | | | available and at what prices. |
| you which agents you respond best to and which | | | | 6) Checking customer service before you enter |
| ones seem to offer the best service. Interviews | | | | into a relationship. Real estate agents are busy |
| also allow you to assess experience, education, | | | | people, but they should still be able to offer you |
| and other factors important in a good real estate | | | | good care. Your phone calls should be returned, |
| agent. | | | | your concerns should be addressed and you |
| 2) Checking qualifications and sales. Look for a real | | | | should be able to contact your real estate agent |
| estate agent who has some experience and has | | | | when you need to. If your agent uses an |
| been on the job long enough to have expertise in | | | | assistant, you need to ensure that it is the real |
| the area. Ideally, you want someone who has | | | | estate agent themselves who will handle all work |
| worked as an agent for years in the same area | | | | with contracts as well as the closing. That is what |
| and has an impressive sales record. In every | | | | you are paying your real estate agent for. Stay |
| community, you will generally find a few agents | | | | away from agents who seem distracted, |
| who perform very well because they know what | | | | disorganized, and are not able to interact with you |
| they are doing and are good at what they do. | | | | personally. You may find that your home buying |
| Look for these agents and check to make sure | | | | experience suffers with these sort of agents. |
| that no complaints have been filed about them | | | | The good news is that there are plenty of terrific, |
| with the State Board of Realtors. | | | | highly qualified real estate agents out there. Now |
| 3) Lining up personalities. Buying real estate is | | | | that you know what to look for, you can hunt |
| highly emotional, so it is important to find | | | | them up and have superlative help when it is time |
| someone you are compatible with. Look for a real | | | | for you to buy property. |
| estate agent you can really communicate with. If | | | | |