How to Pick a Real Estate Agent for Buying a Home

Today’s housing market looks very different from what we’ve experienced in the past few years. Higher interest rates and some sellers’ inability to adjust to a different demand have complicated market conditions. With this new landscape in mind, arguably the most important first step in your homebuying journey is knowing how to pick a real estate agent.

According to a National Association of Realtors report, 86% of buyers said their agent was a useful source of information when navigating the homebuying process.  When you choose well, your real estate agent will be your guide as you find your perfect home and make it to the closing table. They will walk you through everything you need to know and provide resources you can’t find anywhere else.

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Over the last few years, agents were necessary to submit quick offers and help buyers win bidding wars. As the market has changed, sellers are lagging behind the trends and expecting to get a premium price without doing much to their home. The days of shrewd negotiating are back. You need a buyer’s agent with the skills and experience to negotiate repairs and updates as well as price.

Choosing an agent who can fit the bill can be daunting, so with the help of a few veteran real estate professionals and some extensive research on our part, we created a handy 17-step guide for picking your agent, getting you that much closer to homeownership.

What does a buyer’s agent do?

A buyer’s agent acts as an advocate for the buyer throughout the homebuying process. Their duties include (but aren’t limited to):

• Understanding what you’re looking for in a home
• Matching your objectives with how much you can spend
• Leveraging their experience and connections to identify appropriate properties
• Scheduling home showings
• Walking through homes with you and gauging your interest
• Lending emotional support during the process
• Writing an offer and handling negotiations
• Overseeing the next steps once an offer is accepted — helping with financing approval, keeping track of timelines, explaining the inspection report
• Attending the closing and ensuring it goes smoothly

Steps 1-5: Put together a list of potential agents

1. Think about the communication style you prefer

The first step to choosing an agent is to decide what communication style works best for you. This includes how the agent actually contacts you as well as how they speak and relate to you.

Warren Barnes, a Fort Wayne, Indiana agent who works with over 76% more single-family homes than other agents in his area, says that buyer/agent compatibility is important, but not necessarily the primary goal. Above all, Barnes says, “you want to have someone who is ultimately looking out for your best interests. And then secondarily, I think it’s good to work with someone that you can have fun with and build a relationship with along the way.”

from HomeLight Blog https://www.homelight.com/blog/buyer-how-to-pick-a-real-estate-agent/