Finding a Realtor to Buy a Home
A house is a big investment, and if you are looking to buy, you will naturally be looking to pull off the buying process in a successful way – however, understanding the intricacies and details involved in the procedure can be difficult, and for this reason, it is recommended that you hire a realtor to help you buy a home.
Realtors are different from regular real estate agents in that they are licensed, and are members of the National Association of Realtors. They are required to undergo specific training, such as taking ethics courses and exams, and all this prepares them to be thorough professionals.
When looking to hire a realtor to help you purchase a house, you need to begin by looking for prospective realtors whom you can employ. Ask friends, family, and colleagues to recommend one, or look through advertisements or online searches. You can also visit a couple of open houses, where you are sure to encounter a couple of realtors. Draw up a list of prospective realtors, call them all up, and set up interviews, so you can judge their abilities – make sure you make notes on each realtor during the interviews.
Conduct the interview out in the realtor’s working environment as opposed to in his/her office – good realtors will spend more time out in the field and less time cooped up in their offices. Note whether the realtor appears to be busy – you’ll want a realtor who is hard-working go-getter, as s/he will help you nab the best house.
Ask the realtor how long s/he has been in the business, and how many properties s/he has closed – the more, the better, as this will mean the realtor is experienced. Inquire about what sort of property and area s/he specializes in, and ask how many properties s/he owns personally (realtors who own property have personal insights into the real estate business, and are bound to guide you better). You might also want to ask a couple of property related questions, to gauge the depth of the realtor’s knowledge.
During the interview, check to see if the realtor’s personality is compatible with yours, and make sure his/her working hours and methods for working are suited to you. It is also essential to check whether the realtor is web-savvy – finding a realtor who is active online is vital, as most home browsing is done online. You will also need to ensure that the realtor is a member of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).
Once you have interviewed a couple of realtors, look through the notes you made during the interviews, and compare the pros and cons of each. In addition, you should also check out the backgrounds of the realtors you are considering, to make sure none of them have any legal or ethics violations on their records. After deciding on the one that seems the best, you can move on to the process of signing a contract.
