To find the right REALTOR® or real estate agent, you have to take a little time to do some research. Just like hiring a new employee, interviewing potential agents can help you pick the most qualified professional with compatible experience for your home search.
In order to interview potential REALTORS® (who are members of the National Assocation of REALTORS®), first you have to track them down. Try getting personal referrals from friends and family members who have recently bought or sold a home, or perusing your local paper's real estate listings to see which REALTORS® are listed and what kind of properties they are selling.
You can also meet REALTORS® in person by attending open houses. Just remember that while the REALTOR® you meet at an open house can both buy and sell any home, he is currently representing the seller of that particular property. If you like a house you have recently seen, try to seek out another REALTOR® who can represent your interests during the transaction.
The only way to truly know if a REALTOR® is right for you is to ask pointed questions about his experience, abilities and areas of expertise. Some important questions to ask include:
Make sure you raise any other questions or concerns you have at the initial interview. This way, you can reduce the chance of making a bad hire and save yourself from repeating the process all over again.
Evaluating the potential costs of a REALTOR® can also help you narrow your search as you look to buy and sell a home. The average commission that a REALTOR® earns is 6 percent of the total sale, but this sum is usually cut in half between the REALTORS® who represent you and the other party. After that, a REALTOR® must share some of the commission with his real estate company.