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Finding the right real estate agent is a lot like dating.<\/p>\n
You have to scope out the field, sometimes meet blindly to discuss your life and aspirations, ask a lot of questions to one another, and spend some time together. When you find a home, there\u2019s wine or champagne involved, and you stay in touch even when you go your separate ways.<\/p>\n
Essentially, your real estate agent plays a key role in your life, helping you make the largest purchase you\u2019ll ever make. (No pressure.)<\/p>\n
Your agent represents you in the buying and selling process to other agents and people, so you want to be sure you choose the right one. So, while your agent is asking you questions about you and your expectations, you should also be interviewing your agent.<\/p>\n
To do so, you need to ask the right questions. Here are some to consider:<\/p>\n
Is real estate your full-time career?<\/strong><\/p>\n While this isn\u2019t a necessity, it\u2019s a good indicator of how much time and effort your agent will be putting towards finding you a new home or selling your old one. A real estate agent who works full-time will typically have more experience, more buys and sells under their belt, and more connections than their part-time counterparts.<\/p>\n This question should be paired with some follow-ups like \u201cHow long have you been an agent\u201d and \u201cWhy are you working part-time,\u201d if they\u2019re not going at it 24\/7. (Sometimes an agent will be part-time for other reasons, but have substantial experience and networking from past work, so it\u2019s good to suss that out in the interview.)<\/p>\n How well do you know this area?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a home in a specific neighbourhood, or you\u2019re selling your home, it\u2019s extremely important that your agent knows the area inside and out.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re buying, your agent should be able to answer simple questions about nearby amenities, traffic, growth, and local events. If you\u2019re selling, your agent should be able to relay this information to potential buyers.<\/p>\n Any past deals in the neighbourhood is a good sign your agent is telling the truth. It also doesn\u2019t hurt if your agent lives in the neighbourhood, but it\u2019s definitely not necessary, so don\u2019t hold it against them.<\/p>\n