If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you’re probably looking for trusted information about today’s housing market. The best way to ensure you get the best guidance is to work with a real estate professional.

Research who you hire:

It is imperative that you do your research on the real estate agent you choose to work with. You want to be sure the realtor is actively working and will look out for your best interests. This is important because the market shifts quickly at times….one month you may have to give your firstborn 🙂 and a couple of months later you may be able to get the Seller to help with your closing costs. An active agent will have a good pulse on the current market you are in.

Communication is KEY:

Do you know that saying “you don’t know what you don’t know”? Unfortunately, as a homebuyer, you don’t know everything that goes on between each party. Pay close attention to the details with any realtor that you decide to interview. Are they at appointments when they said they would be? Do they return calls or messages promptly? Do they follow up on your questions? Do they have the answers to your questions or do they often have to check with their principal broker? Would you consider an agent that sells 3 homes a year for 20 years an expert? In most cases, no.

These things matter because they could be an indication of your stress levels while going through the homebuying process. Imagine your agent being late to every showing request you schedule or not being able to guide you on what pitfalls to look for on certain homes. You may get across the finish line but have pulled all your hair out doing it. Your goal as a homebuyer is to have the least amount of stress possible while making the biggest purchase of your life. It’s best to be educated/coached by a professional that is looking out for your best interests at all times and follows through on their commitments!

Research the neighborhood:

It’s in your best interest to do a little research on any prospective neighborhoods you are looking into. Is walkability important to you? Is proximity to work important to you? Is nearby shopping important to you? Are the schools rated highly? These are just a few things homebuyers place at the top of their home search list.

Agent vendor options:

Working with a well connected agent could save you a lot of grief and frustration. This is highly helpful when it comes to negotiations for repairs on any home. A well connected agent can get you solid bids from licensed professionals before the inspection deadline. Most realtors know a lot of people that know a lot of people from lending options, home maintenance services, insurance, repair services etc. An active, well connected agent will know approximate bids before they even call the vendor for an estimate. Being able to get accurate bids for specific homes before deadlines is a great advantage.

We help Buyers and Sellers but specialize in helping first time homebuyers. If you have any questions about the homebuying process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!