5 Ways to Find a Great Real Estate Agent

Searching for a real estate agent has never been easier. With the convenience of the Internet, you can search through hundreds of real estate agents without ever leaving the comfort of your home. But how do you narrow down all those agents and find the one that is right for you? Here are a few tips on separating the great real estate agents from the crowd:

1. Word of Mouth

Although the Internet is great for finding a wealth of real estate agent listings, nothing beats the word on the street. Talk to your friends and colleagues about real estate agents they have worked with. Be sure to ask the hard-to-please people, not the ones who love everybody. They may be more realistic when it comes to an agent's performance.

2. Search for the Top-Performing Agents in Your Area

Large agencies will often publish this information in the real estate section of local newspapers. If you don't subscribe to a newspaper, you may also be able to find this information online. Many communities have companies that publish free booklets that are totally devoted to real estate. You'll often see them at the entrance of grocery stores. Pick up a couple and look to see which agents have lots of listings.

3. Don't Overlook a New Agent

Just because an agent is new on the scene, doesn't mean he or she isn't worth considering. Very often, new agents are hungry for business and will go the extra mile for their clients. Also, since their client base is usually smaller, he or she should be able to devote more time to each one. Although they may be too new to have a track record in the industry, you may still be able to find information related to their qualifications. If the agent is just out of real estate school, you may be able to find information on his or her class ranking.

4. Online Presence

If you can easily find an agent online, so can potential buyers. These days, practically all real estate agents are listed online, but not all of them are as Internet savvy as they should be. If you come across an agent who has a great website, a blog and maybe even some advertisements on other real estate-related sites, it's a good sign. They either know their way around the web, or they have the tools and resources to make their presence known online.

5. Avoid the agent who is a friend-of-a-friend.

Let's face it - when you hire a "friend-of-a-friend," or someone's family member, you are taking a risk. It is best to avoid hiring an agent just because they are so-and-so's brother or the neighbor's nephew.

The sale of a home is a major transaction, with several legal issues involved. This is one thing you do not want to put in the hands of just anyone. Of course, there are always exceptions. Your neighbor's nephew who finished top of his class in real estate school might be a great agent. Your sister-in-law who does real estate on the side might be perfect since she is familiar with your home and your schedule.

Just remember to go with your instinct when it comes to hiring any real estate agent. Most agents will expect you to sign a contract committing to work with them for a period of time, such as 30, 60, or 90 days. If at the end of that time you have not found a house to purchase or a buyer for your property you may decide that you'd like to give another agent a try. If there are serious personality conflicts or differences of opinion you may want to ask to be released from the contract early.

About the Author:
Steph Medeiros is a marketing professional who helps mortgage companies promote their brands and products, such as 5/1 ARM loans and jumbo mortgage rates, online.