Buying a home requires plenty of work from buyers, sellers, and agents alike. As a buyer, going through this journey can sometimes feel like you’re floating aimlessly at sea.
But with a good real estate agent to help you out, they can anchor you with a thorough knowledge of the local area and the ability to tailor recommendations according to your needs and expectations.
Do away with the stress of searching for the perfect Gulfport, MS real estate opportunity, and read this guide on picking a real estate agent you can trust to deliver great results.
Search for candidates offline and online
Ask friends, family, and colleagues if they know real estate agents who you can work with. Recommendations from people who have personally worked with the agents are valuable since you’ll be able to get more information on the agent’s working style, communication skills, and expertise.
Vet these referrals with your own research and don’t hesitate to turn to search engines if your social circle doesn’t turn up any ideal referrals. Many established agents and brokerages now manage their own websites. And these websites usually provide useful tidbits on their experience, the communities they work in, and their track record with previous clients.
Prep for the interaction
Before you call or email agents to request for interviews, brush up on your knowledge of real estate lingo. This will make talking to the agent and evaluating their qualifications easier.
Keep in mind that while real estate agents in Mississippi are all licensed to carry out property transactions on behalf of the buyer or seller, not all of them can be called Realtors. Realtors are official members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and as such, pledge to act according to a special code of ethics aimed at serving their clients’ best interests. Brokers are a tier higher. They undergo more extensive training and certification than Realtors and are allowed to manage other Realtors and agents under the umbrella of a brokerage.
Aside from getting familiar with these and other basic terms, prepare a list of questions to ask each agent you will be interviewing. This set of questions will serve as your personal yardstick when it’s time to compare one agent’s proposal against another’s.
Set interviews
To avoid limiting your options, contact at least three agents who are active in the area where you want to buy. Send an email or call to briefly state your needs and work out a common time. If an agent refuses your request, accept it and skip to the next candidate. Their refusal is a sign that they’re not a good fit and might be too busy to give proper attention.
Interviewing an agent is similar to watching a performer audition for a role. An agent will pitch themselves and highlight their knowledge and previous achievements. Pick out the information important to you and state your criteria regarding your desired property’s size, location, price range, and time frame. Ask questions to test the extent of their expertise. Good ones will touch on their:
- Years of experience in the local market;
- Memorable successes and obstacles;
- Personal credentials and designations;
- Strategy for the home search; and
- Contract requirements
Get references
Before you end the interview, ask if you can reach out to several of their recent clients. Contact them and get details about the agent’s communication style, level of attention, and proficiency at each step of the buying process. Finally, ask if the clients would hire the agent again. The answer and any reasons that follow should matter to you.
Make it official
Did your research, interview, and contact with previous clients lead to a positive conclusion? Make your relationship with that agent binding and sign a buyer agency agreement. This agreement details the agent’s duties and responsibilities to you, the terms for their commission, and the length of the agreement’s validity. (It’s typical for agreements to last no longer than six months, allowing the buyer to switch agents if issues or unforeseen obstacles arise.)
As with all contracts, ask for clarification on any clauses before you sign.
Start your home search right
Buying a home is a personal experience that can only be enhanced by working closely with an experienced real estate agent. Whether you’re searching for condos for sale in Gulfport, MS or houses for sale in Long Beach, MS, our professional Owen and Co., LLC Real Estate team will draw on more than 30 years of experience in the Mississippi Gulf Coast market to help you by providing the best and most consistent service. Contact us today for a consultation at 228.822.9870 or info(at)owenandco(dotted)com!
