How To Find The Right Realtor

If you’re planning to purchase a home, finding a realtor is as easy as opening your phone book and contacting your nearest real estate office. The problem with this strategy is that it may not allow you to find the right realtor for you.

Here are some ways to find a top-notch realtor that will truly work in your best interests if you are buying a home:

Look for experience: Countless people try to make a living as a real estate agent. Many eventually end up going on to do something else. When you’re searching for a realtor, look for someone who has significant experience. It’s a good sign they interact well with their clients and know the business inside and out.

Ask around: One of the most important marketing tools for realtors is referrals. Ask everyone you know who recently purchased or sold a home which realtor they used, and whether they would personally recommend him or her.

Arrange for an initial meeting: Before you make a final decision, you should call the one or two realtors that are at the top of your list and ask them whether they would mind having a face to face meeting. During this time, you can ask them about their experience, their hours, how they typically communicate with buyers, whether they can provide references, and any other information you’d like to know. This will also give you a chance to get a first impression of the realtor and decide whether he or she is someone you think you’d like to work with.

Observe them in the field: In an office meeting, many realtors will simply tell you what you want to hear. They are essentially sales people, after all. Interacting with them in a few real world situations will tell you how they really perform at their job. You could attend a few open houses, for example, or simply request a few showings from different realtors. If they seem pushy or do anything that seems unethical, move on immediately until you find someone you are more comfortable with.