Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, choosing a real estate agent is an important first step. When you find a real estate agent you know you can work with, it will save you time and frustration, and maybe even a little money, too.

Here are some things to keep in mind that will make finding a real estate agent easier for you:

• Choose an agent with experience. Sure everyone had to start somewhere, but agents with more experience tend to know better how to handle any potential problems that might arise in trying to buy or sell your home.
  
• Choose an agent who is successful. If there is a particular neighborhood you know you want to buy in, drive around and see who seems to be selling the homes in that area. If you want to sell your home, keep an eye out when neighbors sell their homes. Which homes are selling quickly and who is the agent involved? Someone who has had success in an area once is likely to do so again.
  
• Choose an agent you like. Especially if you are looking to buy a new home, you'll be spending a lot of time with your real estate agent. You need to pick someone who has a compatible personality, someone you won't want to strangle every time you have to get in the car with them. If you know that you are impatient or will make snap judgments about homes, tell the prospective agent that up front. If he or she doesn't seem comfortable with that, pick someone else.
  
• Ask your friends for recommendations. If you know anyone who has bought or sold a house recently, ask them about their experience. They may be able to recommend someone great, or tell you someone you should avoid.

When you have narrowed down the list of prospective agents to work with, you will want to go visit each one in his or her office and ask a few questions that will help you find a real estate agent who you want to work with:

• Are you licensed? Is the license up to date?
  
• Do you work as an agent full-time or part-time?
  
• What kind of continuing education do you take part in? Are you Internet savvy?
  
• Will you show me comparable home sales in my neighborhood? (This is important if you're selling your home)
  
• What is your commission structure?
  
• How do you plan to market my house? (Get it in writing)

Once you have the answers to these questions and have chatted with the agents, you'll probably find that choosing a real estate agent is not that hard. Go with your gut, with the person who you think will work hardest for you and whose personality you like. And good luck buying or selling your home!