Buying Your First Home: Choosing a Realtor

Not everyone is lucky enough to have an uncle that's a realtor. But before you go looking in the phonebook or calling a number off a city bench, think about what type of person you'd like to work with. You can interview a realtor like you would anyone else who's applying for a job. Don't get stuck with someone you don't trust or can't stand to be around.

Personal friend. It's always a good idea to use a personal friend that is a realtor. A friend or family member is always going to work for you and has your best interests in mind. Definitely take advantage of knowing someone.

Personality. If your personality clashes with your realtor's, chances are you aren't going to have a very pleasant home buying experience. You need someone who you can talk to when there's a problem. Someone who just clashes with you is going to be a handful to work with.

Pressure. If a realtor puts pressure on you, find a new realtor. You should never be pressured into buying a home you aren't completely comfortable with. They shouldn't be just in the business of selling houses, they should be in the business of keeping their clients happy.

Time. Ask about how much time the realtor is going to have to spend with you. A realtor of course won't be working exclusively with you, but you don't want one that only returns calls every 3 weeks. They should want to make time to return your calls and show you houses.

Your wants. If the realtor isn't showing you homes that meet your specifics or are out of your price range, time for a new one. There's nothing more frustrating than having someone push you towards something you don't want or can't afford.

Realtors come in 2 types, those who will do everything they can to make it a happy and enjoyable experience. The there's those that just want to sell you a house. Before you begin working with a realtor, get to know them before they even show you the first house. If they aren't a good fit, there's no reason to look at any houses.

In working with a realtor, they should be showing you the houses that meet your specifics and are affordable for you. If they want your comission, they should be willing to put in the work for you. A lot of first time home buyers feel they're stuck working with whoever they meet at the real estate office. You're not, you just need to ask the right questions and get to know who you're working with.