- Ask friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers who've recently bought or sold homes in your area. Which company and agent did they work with, and what kind of service did they receive? Would they work with the same agent again?
- Check out FOR SALE signs in your area and note which ones have SOLD stickers on them. You want to be sure you're choosing a company and agent that have successfully sold homes in the area.
- Attend open houses in your area. At open houses, you can watch agents in action and judge their expertise while at the same time collect information on properties that are competing with yours.
- Target agents who are located in your community. If an agent lives in the area, he or she is far more likely to have more information about area schools, businesses, and places of worship.
- Interview the agent. In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask:
- How long have you been in the real-estate business?
- Is real estate your full-time career?
- Do you have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
- Will you represent just me or the seller as well?
- How long have you been working in this neighborhood?
- Can you supply me with references?
- How many homes have you sold to date this year?
| When it’s time to buy a home, you need to shop as carefully for a real estate agent as you do for your new home. Choosing an agent should be something you do only after you have done some research. It’s important to do some research upfront since this person is going to help you make one of the most important decisions of your life, so take some time to make the best decision you can. Tips for finding a real estate agent | |