Are you looking for the best buyer’s agent to help you purchase your new home? With so many licensed real estate professionals in the Bay Area, it can be hard to figure out which agent is the best fit for you.
But we have seven insider tips for choosing the best buyer’s agent to help you get the best possible home buying experience.
1. Interview Multiple Candidates
You might already have a friend or relative in the real estate industry, but you owe it to yourself to interview more than one person for the job. You’re looking for someone who has the local market knowledge, skill, and experience to properly represent you. Here are a few questions to ask:
How is the real estate market? You want to see if your candidate can give you a detailed answer about the state of the market without looking up statistics.
What can you do better than the other buyer’s agents in the area? This will give your candidates a chance to tell you about their skills.
How many buyers have you represented? This is a better representation of experience than asking how long an agent has been in the industry since many agents go months between deals.
2. Check Online Reviews
Reviews aren’t everything, but they can be a good indicator of the general public’s experience with a buyer’s agent. Don’t let one or two bad reviews scare you off, but pay attention to what buyers generally liked and disliked about working with a particular agent.
3. Ask Your Candidates About Their Availability
Many agents work part-time around other family or business commitments. And that’s fine as long as you’re aware of their availability and are ok with it. But when you’re trying to buy a home in a fast-paced seller’s market, you might be more comfortable with a full-time agent who can be available during evenings and weekends to best suit your schedule.
4. Know the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and a REALTOR®
All real estate agents are licensed by the state to handle real estate transactions on behalf of buyers and sellers. An agent can only be called a REALTOR if they belong to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). The key difference is that REALTORS are held to the NAR Code of Ethics, which is more strict than the state regulations.
5. Get Familiar with the Relevant Designations and Certifications
Many agents choose to take additional courses to earn a designation or certification in a particular area of real estate. When you’re choosing the best buyer’s agent, you might look for things like CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), or the wide-reaching GRI (Graduate of the REALTOR Institute).
6. Choose Someone You Are Comfortable Spending Time With
You might find your dream home on your first day of house hunting. But it’s likely to take longer than that. You’ll probably spend a fair amount of time with your buyer’s agent as you tour homes, discuss your offer strategy, and work through the escrow process to close on your new home. So it’s important to choose someone you’re comfortable spending a little time with. After all, your house hunt should be enjoyable!
7. The Best Buyer’s Agent Is One Who Will Put Your Goals First
At the end of the day, the best buyer’s agent is one who will put your goals first. If you are budget-conscious, you need an agent who respects the budget and works to find you something affordable. Even if that means a lower commission for them. Take a little time to thoroughly explain your goals to your candidates and ask what they can do to help you meet your goals.
With homes selling so fast, it’s important to get a buyer’s agent in your corner early in the process. They can keep an eye on the market for new listings that meet your needs. And, even better, with their industry connections, they might even be able to give you a heads-up on new listings before they hit the market, which will give you an edge in this competitive market.
When you’re ready to start your home search, contact Sequoia Real Estate for an experienced, professional buyer’s agent who will always put your goals first.