Selecting a Real Estate Agent

Whether you're in the market for a primary residence, an investment property or a second home, purchasing real estate involves many important considerations and decisions. A real estate agent can provide the focus, due diligence and expertise needed to help you find the home of your dreams.

A real estate professional will assist in determining how much house you can afford and help you get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan. They simplify your search by helping you define home and neighborhood criteria, screen new listings, keep you abreast of local market conditions and gather in-depth detail on each home. They schedule tours of homes, point out the advantages and possible drawbacks of each property. They will work with you in drafting an appropriate offer and serve as your representative when presenting it to the seller and negotiate a contract that considers your goals and leads to a successful closing.

When selecting an agent you should make sure you are working with a full-time professional REALTOR®, find out how long they have been in real estate, what geographic areas are their specialties. Inquire how you will work together during your home search, do they have a staff or team and what roles they will play in your search. Make certain you understand how they will represent you, how they will be paid, and will they be showing you properties from other companies' listings. (Some real estate companies do offer their buyers' agents a higher commission if they are able to sell "in-house" listings. In those instances, there can be added incentive to limit the range of homes you are shown. This may affect your home search and how much your agent's fee will be.) 

Working With Your Agent
Allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings pique your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email ? sometimes as often as daily, depending on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you'd like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.

You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it's important to note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections. That means it's more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on the weekends.