Guest Author - Kathy Clark

Once you’ve secured financing for the purchase of a home, it’s time to find a realtor. The big question now becomes how to find one that is qualified, personable, and blends well with your personality. This match is crucial in order to feel confident about the homes you’ll be shown and more importantly, to feel a great level of trust with this person as you go through the buying process.

Begin on your own. Yes, it sounds frightening, but in the end you’ll hire a realtor that you not only like, but also trust and may even become friends with. Browse through sale listings either online or in local publications that advertise homes for sale. Call the realtors of the homes you’re interested in and set up an appointment for a showing. As you view each home, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with and get to know the realtor. If you love the home but don’t particularly like the realtor, don’t fret. Through process of elimination, you’ll eventually meet a realtor who satisfies your particular needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Some of the questions you might ask are:

How long have they been a realtor?
Have they assisted in sales or purchases in this particular neighborhood?
How many homes have they closed on in the past year?
And if you’re using a gift program, ask if they are familiar with them.

After meeting with the agent, jot down notes about them if you would like to consider that agent. This is an important task because as you view homes and talk with various people, it’s difficult later on to distinguish what happened where and with whom.

When you do finally discover that person you feel will work in your best interest, research them through the company they’re employed by. Usually their business card has valuable information that you can easily verify. If the information you gather is satisfactory, then call the realtor and explain that you’d been searching for both a home and realtor you felt you could work with. Tell them that you like them, and then ask if they will show you homes and go through the entire home buying process. Flattery, when it’s genuine brings great rewards.