Undoubtedly, buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. When you are ready to buy, you should find a Real Estate Agency with experience guiding you through the process.

There’s no shortage of Real Estate Agencies to choose from, with newspaper ads, online listings, and yard signs. Choosing the right professional can be challenging, though, since there are many to choose from. You can hire the most suitable real estate agency by following these tips on how to find one.

Finding a Realtor: Step-by-step instructions

1. It would be best if you first got mortgage preapproval.

Some home shoppers hire a Real Estate Agent and search for a home before speaking with a lender. It would be best if you spoke with a lender to find out how much you can afford.

Getting prequalified for a mortgage lets, you know how much you can borrow and what issues need to be resolved. You will be able to find homes in your price range. Furthermore, it will demonstrate to potential real estate agents (and sellers) that you’re serious about buying. For sellers to consider your offer in today’s competitive markets, you’ll need a preapproval letter.

2. Ask your friends and family for referrals.

Get recommendations from people who have had good experiences with real estate agents. It would be ideal if the person you hire had experience working with clients like yours. First-time buyers, for example, have different needs than repeat buyers or homeowners downsizing.

Make sure your Real Estate Agent is a Realtor – with a capital R. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and abide by its code of ethics. Real estate professionals may also be certified in specific fields after completing training. These are some of the designations:

• CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Knowledge of residential real estate
• ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): Has completed additional training in representing buyers in transactions
• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Has completed training aimed at helping seniors buy and sell homes

Selling agents vs. buyer’s agents.

It would be best if you also learned how to distinguish between a buyer’s and seller’s agents. A buyer’s agent represents a buyer in a real estate transaction. In contrast, a seller’s agent is responsible for marketing and pricing the seller’s home and negotiating the sale terms.

Real estate agents sometimes act as agents for both parties. Practice is known as dual agency. If you’re considering accepting dual agency, keep in mind that some states do not allow it, which can come with inherent risks.

Referral agents are also common, meaning they provide leads for a fee to other agents.

3. Candidate research

Examine an agent’s online presence to understand how they operate. Make sure you check out the agent’s website and social media accounts. Also, check their online reviews. That could be a red flag if there are more than a few negative reviews.

If you’re considering hiring an agent, check with your state’s real estate regulator to see if they’re licensed or have any disciplinary actions. Ensure candidates you’re interviewing haven’t received any complaints on the Better Business.

While looking for the right agent, it’s also a good time to create a list of what you’re looking for in a home.

4. A minimum of three realtors should be interviewed.

An interview lets you learn more about the agent’s style and experience. It would be best if you had someone who understands your needs and is familiar with the area in which you live.

A Real Estate Realtor should be asked how long they’ve been in the business, how many clients they currently have, and how long they typically take to close a home. As well as asking about their commission fees and how they help buyers stay competitive in this market, it’s a good idea to find out the typical price range and neighborhoods they help their buyers locate.

You can also learn about the agent’s preferred method of communication and availability during an interview. You may prefer to text and visit homes after work hours during the week, so you need an agent who is happy to do so as well.

5. Check references

It would be best if you asked prospective agents to provide contact information for at least a few recent clients forwhom they have listed and sold homes in the past year. You may want to contact those clients and ask them about their experiences and the level of support they received from the agent throughout the process, including during the negotiation phase. When it comes to their next Real Estate transaction, ask if they would hire the same agent again.