How to choose a real estate agent

You can’t spend a day in New Orleans (or any other town across the country) without tripping over at least one REALTOR. So, when it’s time to buy a home how do you learn how to choose a real estate agent to help you in your quest for a property?

If you can get a personal recommendation from a friend or family member, that’s like gold, but dig a little deeper and be sure to ask how happy they were with the service. If there’s anything they were not thrilled with and the general recommendation is only “they got the deal closed”, keep looking.

Here are some questions to ask your potential REALTOR®

How many buyers are you working with right now? Agents that are working with a big number of people at one time may not be able to give you all of the time you need from them.

Do you have a network of lenders and inspectors to help me through the process? Good agents have a support team that can help you get through any challenges you might be faced with when purchasing a home.

Do you have a website that will allow me to do my own home search? Finding a home is exciting – it’s like a treasure hunt, trying to get everything on your list in one property. Being able to comfortably search a website without being bothered by other agents? Priceless.

Are you familiar with the neighborhoods I’m interested in? Choosing an agent that is familiar with the area is crucial. Knowing the normal bumps you may run into can help them prepare you for what you’ll find in the homes. For example, some New Orleans neighborhoods don’t have a lot of off-street parking. If having a garage is important, your agent can help guide you to areas that offer that amenity.

More in our series:
NOLA Home Buying Tip 1: Choose a Lender and Get Preapproved