Choosing a Real Estate Agent

By Murray Anderson

Buying or selling a home is likely the largest financial decision you will be faced with in your life. If you're like most people, you want some professional advice and guidance when making that decision. One source of that advice starts with a knowledgeable real estate agent. There are many agent options available:

• Franchise vs independent agency
• Large firm vs small firm
• Friends,
• Relations
• Relatives of co workers

So the question becomes - how do you find the right agent for you?

Start by educating yourself

• Talk to friends, relatives and co-workers about their experiences with real estate agents. Positive personal recommendations are usually a good indicator of a reliable agent.

• Drive around the area and make note of the agents' names on the For Sale signs. Good agents get more listings, so you'll notice some names appearing more often on the signs, and a popular agent makes a good candidate.

• After you've done your research, make a list of 5 to 10 agents you feel are good candidates. Give them a call and set up a meeting or at least talk to them on the phone. Here are things you want to find out about your agent:

Experience
•  Every agent has to start somewhere but an agent who has been in the business for at least two years will have experience that a new agent just won't have. You want your agent to be a source of knowledge and information, not to use your transaction as a learning session. Find out how long they've been an agent and ask for a list of recent clients. Contact them directly to discuss their experience with the agent.

Commitment
• The real estate business by nature attracts a number of part time people. Semi-retired folks, people looking to supplement their family income or people who only want to work seasonally are in the real estate business, and some of them undoubtedly are quite good at their jobs. However, when you're making one the largest financial decisions of your life, wouldn't you want to work with someone who works full time at their profession? Find out if the agent works full or part time.See how agents get paid.

Formal training
• In many states getting a real estate license requires a minimal commitment of time (40 or 50 hours of classes) and a short exam, so becoming a licensed real estate agent isn't overly difficult. However, there are a number of professional certifications such as CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate, Realtor Institute), CRP (Certified Relocation Professional), CRB (Certified Real Estate Broker) and CRE (Counselor of Real Estate) an agent works toward after getting a basic license.

Earning any of these designations requires a commitment of time and money. It indicates a realtor is dedicated to furthering their knowledge, improving their customer service and adhering to a set of ethical standards. An agent who has or is working toward one of these designations is likely a good candidate.

Personal Rapport
• Are you comfortable talking to the agent or does he give the impression he is doing you a favor by talking to you?
• Does the agent talk in understandable language or industry jargon? You need to be able to communicate with your agent. Someone who can't or won't communicate during an initial meeting isn't likely to improve as your relationship progresses.

Finally, what does your gut tell you about the agent? It's not easy to quantify, but some people's personalities just don't line up well. Buying or selling a house is often stressful and emotionally challenging. You need to feel comfortable on a personal level with your agent - no matter how experienced he or she is.

If you feel uneasy about an agent (or just don't like her), choose another one.

Is home shopping stressing you out? See our survival guide

Murray Anderson is an experienced freelance writer with over numerous articles published on the web as well as in print magazines and newspapers in both the United States and Canada. He writes on a wide range of topics, but specializes in home-related topics.