A Real Estate Agent’s goal is to help their buyers find the perfect home. So if you are ready to buy a house, you should definitely find one that fits your needs. All Realtors are different and typically interviewing a few of them is not a bad idea. To help you figure out which Realtor to use, here are 10 questions to ask your potential Real Estate Agents to see who fits best.
How long have you been a real estate agent?
You want a professional who knows the ins and outs of the business, and that level of knowledge comes with experience. Look for someone with at least a few years in the business, however, hiring a rookie is not a bad idea either. Simply ask them if they will receive hands-on guidance from a Real Estate Broker in the office. All S&D Rookie Agents are “sponsored” by a seasoned Realtor who is there to help and guide them throughout the transaction as needed.
What neighborhoods do you specialize in?
Your agent should be well-acquainted with the areas you’re interested in, so search for someone who can rattle off key info about your desired neighborhood, including home prices, schools, safety, public transportation, and cultural amenities.
What’s your schedule and availability?
Many Real Estate Agents work only part-time, which could be a problem for some buyers. Ideally, many buyers work with agents who are full-time or part-time agents that make it clear that urgent matters will be addressed if necessary.
Do you work independently or with a team?
Some people think that Real Estate is a solo sport, but many agents work on a Real Estate Team with other agents, an administrative assistant, and a team leader. As you may have guessed there are benefits to working with an agent who’s apart of a team. If your agent is tied up and you need to see a property ASAP, someone else on the team can step in and show you the home, or handle last-minute problems.
What percentage of your business is working with home buyers?
While most agents help both home buyers and sellers, the very best tend to specialize in one or the other, since the specialties are quite different. To buy a home, you should team up with a buyer’s agent, which is someone who specializes in working with buyers. Look for an agent with a buyer-to-seller client ratio of at least 7 to 3 or higher.
How many homes did you help buyers close in the past year?
This question is specific because you want someone who successfully helps people buy home. There is a big difference between working with home buyers an actually selling people homes.
How long does it typically take buyers you’ve worked with to find and purchase a home?
Buying a house takes time. In general, it takes an average of 30 to 60 days to shop for a house, and 14 to 60 days to go from contract to closing. However, this number varies widely from area to area, and it’s crucial that you have a handle on how long it will take you. Yet you also don’t want an agent who drags their feet.
How will you determine what homes may my wants and needs?
A good buyer’s agent provides clients with a comprehensive questionnaire to help them pinpoint their home-buying criteria. Also, your agent should be able to tell you whether your list of needs is realistically affordable in your area.
How many clients are you currently working with?
You want an agent who’s busy but not too busy. Anyone juggling more than 10 clients might be too busy to provide you with high-quality, one-on-one service.
How will you keep in contact with me during the buying process, and how often?
Generally, it is best if your agent’s preferred method of communication aligns with your own. If you agent’s a texter while you prefer an actual conversation on the phone, that could drive you both bananas. You should also ask how often you two will be touching base. Navigating the home buying process requires good communication between you and your agent, so you want an agent who will stay in touch and check in with you on at least a weekly basis. In a fast-moving market, your agent should be touching base with you daily.
All of S&D’s Realtors are well trained and supported by the Broker and staff. You can check out our amazing S&D Real Estate Agents at sanddrealestate.com/our-team/.
