By ,
Published February 01, 2017
If you've been following our weekly, step-by-step 2016 Home-Buying Guide, you know that purchasing a new home takes some serious prep work -- from cleaning up your credit score to amassing a down payment.
But, hey, we're just getting started! You also need a comrade in arms: a close ally to help steer you toward homes you'll love more than life itself, find the best possible mortgage, and all in all help you through this emotionally and financially taxing process. That's where a good real estate agent can make a world of difference.
Here's how to find one who's got your back. And your front. Every side, actually.
Know what different titles mean
The first thing you might notice while trying to find home-buying help is all the different titles: agent, broker, Realtor, etc. Are they all the same thing? Not exactly.
A real estate agent is anyone who's earned a license to sell property, which typically entails taking 100+ hours of course work and then passing a state exam. A broker is someone who's continued his studies and can hire agents to work under him. A Realtor is either an agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors adhere to a detailed code of ethics to treat their clients honestly and fairly. Consider it added insurance that they're committed to your cause.
Conduct a preliminary search online
We shop online for everything these days, and finding a real estate agent is no different. To locate ones in your area, use online tools such as realtor.com's Find a Realtor search, which will give you useful info such as the Realtor's number of years of job experience, number of homes sold, and the price of homes typically dealt with. Take note of a Realtor's track record, because this can tip you off to superstar agents nearby and whether they're a fit for your needs.
Don't settle for 'good enough'
According to the NAR, 52% of first-time buyers found their Realtor through a friend -- and two-thirds contacted only one agent before moving forward. That's kind of like having your friends set you up on a blind date, then marrying that person by Date No. 2. (Hello, ugly future divorce!) After all, how can you be sure you made the right choice without looking around? Simple: You can't.
"One of the things I always tell my prospects is, 'I'm flattered if I'm the only Realtor you are speaking to, but I think it's best if you speak with two or more so you can draw comparisons and make a powerful decision,'" says Brett West, an agent with McEnearney Associates. Trust us, there can be a huge difference between an agent who's "good enough" and one who's stellar -- the difference between finding your dream home or not, and saving or wasting tens of thousands of dollars.
So the extra legwork you do now could really pay off in the (not so) long term. Be sure to explore at least a few options and grill them thoroughly before settling down with one (more on that next).
Ask questions
Ask all of these questions. This is no time for being shy:
Found that special someone? It's time to move to the next step of our 2016 Home-Buying Guide. Finally, the fun part: Shopping around and finding your fantasy, dream home -- but in the real world! We can hardly wait.
https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/so-you-wanna-buy-a-house-step-4-find-the-right-realtor