Finding a Great Real Estate Agent

When you enter the home-buying market, it’s important not to go it alone. Finding a trusted, professional real estate agent can mean the difference between finding the home of your dreams and settling for the next “nice house” you come across. A real estate agent is usually paid by the seller and is unlikely to add much, if anything, to the cost of the purchase, yet can save you an enormous amount of time, money and frustration.

Some people feel that using an agent to purchase a home is a waste of money. If you are an experienced property investor, this may be true for you, but the majority of home purchasers are first or second time buyers who don’t have the expertise that an agent can bring to the process.

While it’s easy enough to find a real estate agent, it’s a more difficult task to find one you can trust – one who’s looking out for your best interests. Just open the phonebook or search the Internet and you’ll find thousands of agents seeking your business. But which one is right for you?

You should try to find an agent who is local to the area in which you’re looking to live. The agent should be knowledgeable about the towns, their school systems, taxes, travel times and distances, area attractions and more. They should be willing to share this information freely and patiently without trying to steer the conversation away from your questions. Finding this type of agent can be a time-consuming process, but it will be worth it in the end.

You may need to interview several agents before you find the one who suits you. Find out how long they’ve been in the area, how long they’ve been in the business, even ask for referrals. Anyone who had a positive experience purchasing a home through this agent should be eager to sing his or her praises. Make sure they fully understand the entire purchasing process, including all the forms you’ll need to fill out, the meetings you’ll have to attend and all the financial options available to you. If you have any reservations about that agent, find another. There are plenty of real estate agents out there who are reputable, trustworthy people eager to help you into the home you’ve always wanted.

Agent policies vary greatly from company to company, so it’s important to discuss any fees or paperwork that may be involved with the purchase. You don’t want any surprises down the road, so be sure to have your agent lay his or her cards out on the table.

It’s easy to find a real estate agent, but tougher to find the right one for you. Do your homework, talk to people and ask questions. When it’s all said and done, you’ll be glad you made the extra effort.

Jim Miller is a full time full service licensed Realtor® in the Southern New Hampshire area with Bean Group and has many years of experience buying and selling New Hampshire Real Estate .

Contact Jim direct at 603-801-3987