How To Select A Real Estate Agent

It is almost cliche' to say that purchasing a home will most likely be the biggest purchase anyone will ever make. Being cliche', it's entirely too easy to miss the point. With the home purchase being such a big event, how are people getting help making such a large purchase? Who knows? Unfortunately, serendipity or coincidence is most likely as large a deciding factor as research, references and compatibility. Let's look at some things to consider when deciding on a real estate agent to represent your needs.

Research sounds so boring. Research can be boring; but it can also save you some serious heartache and stress. When selecting a real estate agent, how much research should one do before deciding to hire this newly-found person? At the very, very least, some. I would stress more, but not everyone will listen to that advice. At the very least, look the person up online. Do they have a website? Are they a published author or a knowledgeable expert? Do they appear to be who they say they are? Snoop, can you find anything that makes you a little uneasy or scared? If not, good. If you do find yourself getting worried about something you have found, stop. Consider asking the person to explain what it is you found or consider finding someone else to represent you. You are the client, you have the right to be comfortable with your selected new hire. There's nothing wrong with looking a little harder and digging a little deeper. This person is, after all, helping you make a life-changing decision. Why let a complete stranger in your home and help make a life-changing decision without a little research?

References, what are they? Basically, it's asking around about the person in question. Do you know anyone that knows this real estate professional? If not, can you get names and phone numbers of people willing to speak to you about him/her? You may be surprised about what you can find out about real estate agents by asking around for information. Ask your family, friends and acquaintances about the agent or about the real estate professionals they have worked with previously. Does anyone happen to know this person? If so, ask about the agent's reputation, credentials, trustworthiness, knowledge, skills and abilities. If all else fails and you cannot get any information, ask the real estate agent directly about providing references. It also doesn't hurt to ask about business the real estate agent didn't get or business they lost because of errors or mistakes. If big companies ask all of their outside vendors to provide references (both good and bad references), why can't the little guy, namely, you? Well, you can and you should. There is something to be said about others putting their good reputation on the line to vouch for someone they believe in. Make that work to your benefit.

Compatibility is great. Incompatibility is a serious pain in the neck. Why would you want to spend countless hours with someone you really don't like? Well, you wouldn't, so don't do that. Find someone that you can see yourself spending a lot of time with in a very short period. There are successful real estate agents with very different personalities and backgrounds, so choose one that you can see yourself working with now and later. Consider this person someone you could hire and rely on for advice for years to come. For many, this won't be their last home purchase. Hire someone with longevity and a track record that will benefit you. And if you happen to meet someone that can add something positive to your life, why not do it? A good real estate professional may come in handy for years and years to come. Besides, would you want some random stranger selling to your family via the means of serendipity or coincidence? Probably not.

By: Sheila Hixon

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Sheila Hixon is a real estate professional with a background in investment properties and assisting first-time homebuyers. She has multiple years of experience in buying, selling and listing real estate properties. Sheila works primarily in and around Tacoma, Puyallup and Bonney Lake, Washington. For more information, visit www.hixonrealestate.com.