People often use the referrals of loved ones or choose a family member/ friend as their buyer's agent...sometimes a good choice, other times the worst choice possible. Sellers will more often than not, interview a couple of agents- or at very least interview one and make him/her/them earn the position.
However, when it comes to a buyer's agent, people are all too often content to call the agent on the sign of the house their interested in or just call an office and use whoever picks up the phone. Not great choices. Purchasing a home is a major investment and you really should build a great team around you to make certain you proceed with cautious, wise decisions.....choosing your REALTOR is no less important that the right lender, attorney, home inspector, etc. an will often prove to be the most important step in the process.
WHY? Like men, not all REALTORS are created equally. A lot of the things you should be on the lookout for are covered in our Code of Ethics which I blogged about in a muti-part series a few weeks back. Others are covered in our Century 21 Buyer Services Pledge:
- Consult with you to determine your particular real estate wants and needs. This includes providing information as to the advantages and disadvantages of the choices available to you, in order to help you make informed decisions.
- Maintain your confidentiality and represent your best interests throughout your buying process.
- Help you define your financial ability to purchase, explain alternative methods of purchasing and financing, and assist in arranging mortgage financing.
- Provide an action plan for locating the right property, at the right price and terms, in an acceptable time frame.
- Search using available methods to locate the property that will best meet your needs and wants. This may include properties listed with our office, offered through other real estate companies, as well as unlisted properties.
- Show properties that meet your specifications, in accordance with Fair Housing Regulations and ethical real estate practices.
- Disclose material facts known about the property, and other relevant information that is likely to affect your ability to obtain the right price and terms.
- Assist you in evaluating the market value of properties that are of interest to you, and suggest negotiating strategies to help you obtain the most advantageous price and terms.
- As your advocate, advise and assist you in completing your purchase agreement, and present your offer in a light most favorable to you.
- Refer you to other professionals (attorneys, accountants, inspectors, mortgage lenders, etc.) for information or assistance as appropriate.
- Upon acceptance of an offer between you and the seller, monitor all pre-closing activities throughout the process as permitted by law or local practice.
- Consult and communicate with you on a regular basis throughout your entire real estate purchase process. Recommend a home warranty to protect you.
Basically you want someone who is going to be in your corner all the way, probably someone who's completed at least a few- hopefully many transactions (though great new agents need to start somewhere too), someone that will communicate with you and is able to be found (not always "out of town"). Bottom line is- you need someone you have a rapport with and that you trust with hundreds of thousands of your dollars.
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