How to Hire a Real Estate Agent & Be Their Best Client Ever
Being a good partner to the agent you pick will make you both happier house hunters .
When you buy a home , your agent is effectively a business partner . You are both working toward the same goal : Closing a real estate deal . That is why it is in your best interest to to know both how to hire a real estate agent and how to build a good relationship with them . Because the better an ally you are , the better an ally your agent will be . Here is how to pick a real estate agent and work well with them .
1 . KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
A lot of home buyers dive into the house hunt with no idea what they want , so the first and best way to be a good client is to know exactly what you are looking for in a house . Ask yourself a couple of basic questions . What is my budget ? What type of house do I want , single family or town home ? Is there a design style I must have ? A neighborhood I need to be in .
Knowing these specifics – and telling them to your agent – will help him find homes that match your criteria . Because neither you nor your agent wants to waste time looking at dozens of houses that aren ’ t even close to what you have in mind .
“ Over-communicating your intentions and goals is a really good idea ,” says Ashton Gustafson , an agent with the Bishop Group in Wichita Falls , Texas .
Knowing exactly what you want can help you know how to pick a real estate agent , too . Some agents specialize in certain neighborhoods , and some specialize in old houses or architectural styles .
2 . MEET AGENTS IN PERSON
It ’ s fine to start off your relationship with an agent via email , text , and phone , but before you hire him to work with you , set up a meeting . Yep , do a face-to-face interview . It is a good idea to interview three agents before picking one . Here are some questions you should ask :
• How long have they been an agent ?
• What neighborhoods do they specialize in ?
• How many homes they have helped people buy in the last year ?
• How many clients are they are currently working with ?
Meeting in person can help both sides determine compatibility and establish trust . To the agent , meeting them IRL is a sign you are serious about buying .