The best way to choose a real estate agent is to get a referral from someone you know. Most people know someone who has recently purchased a home. Ask them how their transaction went. Word of mouth is one of the best referrals.Some questions to ask in the interview process:
How Long Have you been in the business?
How much Volume did you do last year?
What percentage of listings sell?
What certifications and titles do you hold?
Can you share a list of past and current clients as references?
Do you work with Buyers, Sellers or Both?
Do you have a website? Whats the URL?
How do you separate yourself from the rest of the competition?
How many other buyers and/or sellers are you representing right now?
The answers to these questions will give you a better idea of the type of service you can expect to receive yourself. If the Realtor is representing many other buyers and sellers, and has a large database of past clients chances are that they will do a good job for you. If they fit this criteria however you may want to ask what they will do to ensure your needs are not overlooked.
Some Realtors are buyer's agents, some are seller's agents, and some Realtors dabble in each. A few select Realtors are Accredited Borrower's Agents (ABRs) and have special training and expertise in representing the buyer's best interest.
Take the time to call some of the reators past clients.
Ask your mortgage broker for a referral for a realtor. Most mortgage brokers have Realtors that they work with on a consistent basis and know that they can trust each other. Working with mortgage professionals that consistently work together can make your mortgage experience very pleasant and increase the quickness of the mortgage and real estate transaction for you. This can be extremely helpful, especially when time is of the essence.
