Real Estate Column: Picking a Good Buyer's Agent

by Tim Gullicksen

Selling a house in the City is like shooting a fish in a barrel with a shotgun – pretty darn easy. Competition for listings, however, is fierce. In general, sellers benefit from a plethora of choices.
Buyers, on the other hand, are often stuck with which ever agent deigns to work with them. I have heard countless stories of buyers being treated poorly or ignored altogether by the agents who are supposed to be serving them. Don’t let that happen to you!
If you are a buyer and would like to avoid working with an inexperienced or disinterested real estate agent, then it’s important that you do your homework up front:
 
Step 1: Get referrals  
Ask friends, family members or co-workers who have bought real estate in the areas where you’re looking if they would recommend their agent. You might also consider checking online sites, such as yelp.com, for reviews of local agents. At your first meeting with the prospective agent, ask if they can provide you with referrals from recent clients.
 
Step 2: Make a list
At the beginning of this process you’ll be collecting basic information like telephone numbers, names and e-mail addresses.
You might make a note of where you got each referral and the date of your first attempt to contact each agent. Chances are, if an agent doesn’t get back to you in a timely manner they aren’t going to get any better at returning your messages in the future. Cross them off your list.
 
Step 3: Interview, Interview, Interview
At a minimum, you should interview two Realtors – three would be even better. Let them know you will be interviewing multiple agents up front. Good agents are confident in the service they provide so they will welcome the competition. If the agent balks at being interviewed, move along to the next one on your list.
 
Step 4: Remember, they work for you
When you choose a real estate agent you are essentially hiring an employee. Think of them as your own personal project manager. You will be relying on them and communicating with them a lot over the next several weeks or months so it’s important that you feel comfortable with them.
There are a lot of hardworking, capable and intelligent real estate agents who have completely different styles. Choose the one who is the best fit for your personality.
 
Step 5: Get specifics
When you sit down with an agent to discuss your potential working relationship ask them how they will guide you through the search process. (A hint: the correct answer is not “You find the property and I’ll write the offer for you.”)
Will they tour properties with you? Will they send you to tours of properties they have personally previewed for you? When it comes time to write an offer how will they help you determine the right price?
If you don’t like their approach, cross them off your list.
 
It is likely your real estate agent will have to teach you about the market: pricing, disclosures, contractual negotiation, etc. There’s a lot to learn. Just as important is what you have to teach them about you and your housing needs.
Make sure that your potential agents asks questions of you beyond the “How many bedrooms?” and “How much can you afford?”
They might inquire about your storage needs, access to public transportation or the freeway, preferred types of architecture and the like.
When an agent shows an interest in your search it’s more than politeness at work. Figuring out what you need in a home can help them suggest neighborhoods or types of properties you might not have considered on your own.
Working with a great agent will keep that conversation going throughout the purchase process and beyond. In fact, when you work with a terrific Realtor the process of buying can even be enjoyable.

Castro resident Tim Gullicksen is a Realtor and partner at Domicile Properties. He can be reached at 664-9000. For more information, visit domicileproperties.com.

If you are a local real estate professional interested in writing a column for the Courier, please e-mail castrocourier@gmail.com.

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