A home buyer must be thorough when choosing which agent to hire in order to aid them with the purchase of a home. For many people, this will be one of the biggest investments of their lives, so putting forth diligence and research and feeling comfortable with the right real estate agent is a key step in starting the home buying process. There are four key questions a buyer must ask their potential agent before they hire him or her.
Number of Sales
The first question a buyer must ask is “How many homes has the agent sold this year?” The number of sales is a very good indicator of the amount of experience the potential agent has in today’s market. The market changes quickly; this year’s market is different than even last years, so knowledge of the hot button issues of today’s market is a significant factor in the negotiation process.
Years of Experience
The second question a buyer must ask is “How many years of experience does the agent have?” The real estate industry is an industry that has low barriers of entry because it does not take much for a person to get a real estate license. Because of this low barrier of entry, many people achieve their real estate license and work as an agent only part-time. To find the most qualified individual, make sure that they have good experience as a full-time agent.
Administrative Support
The third question a buyer must ask is “What kind of administrative support does the agent have?” Any championship sports team or Oscar winning film crew will tell you that a good supporting cast is paramount to success. The agent you are working with may have great people skills and negotiating skills, but may partly struggle with paper work. This is why it is imperative that the agent has a dedicated and skilled administrative staff.
Find a Specialist
The fourth question a buyer must ask is “Is the agent a buyer’s specialist or a jack-of-all-trades?” A serious buyer will be much more successful with an agent that is focused on specifically helping buyers. Many real estate teams have members who have distinct functions and skill sets. Find the agent that is a true expert in their field.
For any home buyer, asking these four questions is critical to making the decision on which agent to hire to help find the best home and best deal for the buyer. Having the best buyer can relieve a great deal of stress for any home buyer and make the home buying experience an enjoyable one.
