How to Select the Best Buyer's Agent
Choosing the RIGHT agent is the most important aspect of buying a home. Hiring the wrong real estate agent can cost you a lot of money in the long run. You should interview any prospective Realtor to be sure you are comfortable with them. Here are a few questions you may want to ask:
- How do you find your buyers the best home for their money? This is a great open-ended question to see what the agent's process is...everyone is different, pick the one you feel will be most aggressive in finding you the right home and taking care of your needs. It is important that the agent you select gives you access to the newest listings as soon as they hit the market, as this is where you will find most of the best values - those "great deals" don't last long. The nicest homes in any particular price range often sell within a few days (or even hours) of hitting the listing service.
- How many multiple offer situations have you dealt with in the past year? Out of those, how many times did you get your client the house? Those "hot" new listings often generate multiple offers - which can be very competitive. Find an agent experienced in handling these situations so you don't lose out on getting the home you want.
- Do you hold any designations? Designations such as ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) indicate that a Realtor has additional education and experience in working as an exclusive buyer's agent. Holding this designation can be a good indicator of a Realtor's commitment to representing the needs of buyers.
- How familiar are you with home construction? An agent who is knowledgeable about various aspects of home construction can save you a lot of time, money and stress by helping you to choose a home free from many potentially serious and/or expensive defects before spending the time to negotiate a contract and pay for a professional inspection.
- How much do you know about home renovations? Hands-on experience with minor and major renovations can help an agent advise you on the likely costs and level of complication of changes you may wish to consider making to a home.
- What is your availability for meeting with clients and showing homes? Look for a real estate agent who is available when YOU are available and who can easily work within your busy schedule. And of course, if the agent doesn't return your calls promptly, this will give you a good idea of the level of service to expect from them.
