“ When I ask a question of a buyer , if I can ’ t see their face ( then ) I can ’ t see their reaction , and I have no idea if I ’ m really getting the emotions that are behind their answers ,” says Jackie Leavenworth , an agent and real estate industry coach in Cleveland , Ohio .
3 . SET UP EXPECTATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION
Tell your agent how you would like to stay in t ouch during the buying process . Do you do prefer texts ? Facebook messenger ? Or do you like old-fashioned phone calls ( Telephone calls : Still a thing !)
Tell them how often you expect to hear from them , too . Daily ? Weekly ? And tell them the best times of day to reach you , too .
“ My successful buyers ask what kind of communication they ’ ll have with me ,” says Thai Hung Nguyen , an agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Premier in Washington , D . C . “ My answer to them is always , ‘ It ’ s totally up to you .’”
4 . BE RESPECTFUL
Be mindful of an agent ’ s time . Do not flake on showings . Be prompt . If you disagree with your agent , respectfully tell them why .
Resist the urge to freak out if the agent does not immediately respond to a text or phone call . “ People hire me because I jump through hoops , but I also need buyers to know that I have a life , too ,” says Leavenworth , the Cleveland agent .
5 . GET ORGANIZED
We told you communicating your wants to your agent was key . Here is a good way to do it : Write them down . We recommend filling out a first-time buyer ’ s worksheet .
Give a copy to the agent . He will be better able to find homes that match your criteria .
You should also have your financial records in order . This means getting pre-approved for a loan . Pre-approval for a mortgage says you are serious about buying a house and not just window shopping .
“ Anything we do without a loan approval letter is pure speculation ,” . 6 . ADMIT WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW
Real estate transactions are complicated . Do not be embarrassed if you do not know what all the terms mean , or what to expect from each step of the process .
If you do not know what escrow means , ask . If you are confused about the terms of an offer , say so . It is totally normal to ask an agent for a little hand-holding — that is what they are there for .
Part of knowing how to hire a real estate agent is finding one you trust enough to tell you things you do not know . 7 . DON ’ T PLAY THE FIELD WITH OTHER AGENTS
If you are working with an agent who is hustling for you , do not dally around with another agent . In real estate , just as in romance , that is cheating . It can backfire by damaging your relationship with your agent .
If your agent finds out you have got other agents showing you houses , he may prioritize other clients . So , a big part of knowing how to pick a real estate agent is knowing that you need to stand by your agent once you hire him .
In fact , it is in both your interest and the agents to sign a buyer ’ s broker agreement for a set period . The agreements spell out the rights and duties of both parties , including exclusivity .