How to Find a Buyer's Agent

It is hard to go through the lists of all agents that are seen on the internet and pick one by saying they look professional, so I will use them to help me buy a home. When buying a car, this strategy is not used, and this technique should not be used with someone that is going to help you find your dream home or an investment property. What are the things to be aware of when search for that right buyers agent to fulfill your needs as a client.

1. The first is surface level information that everyone looking for a home should get when reaching out to an agent they think will be a great fit. Why is it surface level, it’s because it can be seen on the surface within a very short amount of time with the agent. This is examining how this person does business within the first couple of minutes when you meet them. A quick checklist for you as you meet them, professional, on time, direct eye contact, great communication, and great knowledge of their business.

2. As a second test for this real estate agent that you are talking with or meeting the first time, the first test is done and now you’ll need to get more information on that knowledge that this agent has within his business of helping buyers. The one item that will help you decide if they are a good choice is that they know the depths of the lending process. When buying a property you’ll need to have a second person to bounce a loan question off while going through the process. That being said, the lender may not be available and while asking the lender a question there should be a discussion with the real estate agent on your decision. If the agent does not have this information on hand, then the buyer will not be as confident to proceed. Also, some communities in condo and townhome communities are not approved for an FHA or VA loan which could slow the process down on submitting an offer or getting to submit an offer at all.

3. Third check, is that the agent has a good team behind them that they would be able to assist in the buying process to make sure it is streamlined and not cumbersome. A solid team that is truly helping in the process is going to be better to help a buyer find a home due to the channels that a team has verse a solo agent. It’s tough to get excellent service when someone is working with other clients and now has another client that is placed on their plate to help. Be sure they are efficient and responsive.

4. The Forth confirmation that this real estate agent is professional, they can get offers accepted and into escrow with less hassle than other agents. This is a hard task to do in a competitive market, and working as an FHA or VA buyer can be even harder, so be sure the agent works quickly to get an offer accepted. How do you ask this, get the data from the agent on how many buyers they have recently worked with and the days on market till they got their offer accepted for their clients. This gives an indication that the house was sitting for a long time or a short time, and that if it was sitting for a short time and they got the offer accepted the agent was able to capture the listing agents attention enough to get the offer accepted. That is what you want as a buyer, the listing agent gives advice to the seller and helps to guide them to accepting the best offer. If you find an agent that can do this in a tight inventory market you made the right Realtor connection.

5. Firth, detailed information and walkthrough information of the property and surrounding areas of the property. Why is it key, as a new home buyer or experienced buyer it is critical because you miss a lot of things or maybe focused on a lot of different things while the agent can see items that are pivotal for that home to be functional for a buyer. If these agents that you sit down with do not have a good inspector, or process to get through the inspection period I would suggest to find someone new to help you search for a property. The inspection and due diligence of the home is what can make or break your budget, and without someone knowledgable in this arena then you are not in good hands.

These are key to your success as a home buyer and investor. Make sure these are on the top of your list to look out for while searching around for a home that you want. There should not be a sacrifice on an agent to meet your expectations.