One of the first steps in buying a home is finding a realtor. The question is – where to start? You’ve probably had 3 people tell you they’ll connect you with the realtor they used, and maybe you’ve seen a couple realtors on Instagram.
Turns out it’s easy to find them. The hard part is finding the right realtor for your family, which is why it’s important to do realtor interviews before committing. Find 4-5 realtors who come highly recommended, do some background research on them (online, through connections, etc.) and meet with all of them to ensure you find the right fit.
Here are a few things to ask or keep in mind when you meet with a realtor:
- Chemistry. It’s important that you actually get along with your realtor. That chemistry will impact your communication and their motive and drive to work for you throughout the home-buying process. Go with your gut.
- Experience. Always ask about their experience and what makes this agent better than everyone else. (And even though it seems like a given, always double check to make sure your realtor specializes in residential real estate.)
- Bandwidth. How many people are they working with currently? Will they have the bandwidth to dedicate an appropriate amount of time to your family?
It will feel a bit like online dating, but realtors are used to those types of meetings! Buying a house is a huge decision. Take the time to make sure you have the right coach.