Shop around for the perfect agent

If you’re in the market to buy a home, you’re holding all the cards. There’s a plentiful assortment of homes for sale to choose from, sellers are eager to unload, interest rates remain enticingly low, and Uncle Sam is dangling juicy carrots like an $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. The only ace in the hole you’re missing to complete the perfect hand is the right agent.

But experts say to not risk all your chips on the first card you pick up from the deck. It’s important to interview an agent carefully and determine if this person has the experience, skills and personality to meet your needs.

The first step, of course, is finding a worthy candidate. Word-of-mouth referrals from friends, co-workers and relatives continue to be the best method for buyers to find successful real-estate sales professionals, says Doug Burnett, broker/owner, Burnett Realty, Des Moines, Iowa.

“Word of mouth is usually the best way, but I would want the referring person to have actual knowledge of the referred agent’s abilities,” says Darrell Parsons, managing broker at Long & Foster Georgetown, Washington D.C. “One can also go to public open houses and meet the agents who are holding the open house. Also, you can call the manager of any sizeable real estate office and ask for a recommendation.”

Rhonda Duffy, broker at Duffy Realty of Atlanta, recommends checking out Realtor.com to locate an agent who has listings in the area or town that you’re interested in living.

“You should also Google that agent to see how much Internet marketing they do. Internet marketers understand the specifics of what makes an area the area that it is,” says Duffy.

When it’s time to meet with a candidate, there are several questions you should be prepared to ask, says Burnett, including:

• Can you provide me a list of your last six transactions and the names and contact information for each buyer or seller? If not, Burnett says, ask why; if so, contact these clients to gauge their feedback and satisfaction level.

• Why do you want to help me buy a home? The agent’s answers can provide insight into their motivation and focus, Burnett says.

• What is your plan to meet my needs? This answer will provide you with a road map to the process and what to expect, says Burnett.

• Do you belong to the Multiple Listing Service, and how will you enlist the aid of other real-estate professionals? Keep in mind that some real-estate sales professionals may or may not belong to the MLS or cooperate with other agents.

• Can you put all of your fees and an estimate of the home sales proceeds in writing prior to signing a contract? If not, says Burnett, show them the door.

• Are you a Realtor, and do you hold any other professional designations? Realtor is a trade name for a member of the National Association of Realtors and designates an expert who is trained, properly licensed to assist a client in the sale or purchase of a property, governed by a strict code of ethics. A real-estate sales professional or Realtor can be a broker, associate broker or salesperson, but it doesn’t matter which designation the person has, says Parsons.

“Buyers must choose agents carefully in any market. The agent they use should be a sounding board with the only motive being finding the best house for the buyer,” Duffy says. “They should appear to be a consultant, not a sales person, and they should be willing to point out specific problems with the home, with very little emphasis on how beautiful the home is.”

Parsons says that it’s vital to choose an agent who is based in the area you’re interested in “because they have a higher stake in that community. The agents in that office are likely to be knowledgeable about that area.”

Ultimately, bear in mind that real-estate buying and selling continues to be an increasingly complex and challenging proposition, Burnett says, “so take time to do your homework and due diligence. Trust your gut.”