Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Real Estate Agent For Your First Home Purchase

Buying your first home is such a milestone experience. But before you start seriously shopping and actually touring homes, you'll need to find a realtor. No one realtor is the right choice for everyone. It's all about finding someone whose services and personality suit your unique needs. For this reason, it's a good idea to interview a few different realtors before choosing one to represent you. Here are some important questions to ask during this process.

What is the average price of the homes you sell?

Don't worry — this is not a rude question. Real estate agents are usually happy to share this information as it tells you a lot about the type of homes they sell. You want an agent who sells homes in the price range similar to your own budget. For example, if you plan on spending about $150,000 on a home, you're better off hiring an agent whose average sale price is $160,000 than one whose average price is about $500,000. They'll simply have a better idea of what's available in your price range and what kind of amenities you should be looking for.

How do you communicate with clients?

These days, there are so many different ways to communicate. Some people prefer phone calls, others like email, and still others prefer text. Video chat is also becoming more common. You want a realtor who is content with communicating in your preferred fashion. For instance, if you hate talking on the phone or are not able to chat on the phone during work hours, you want to hire a realtor who is comfortable conversing via text or email, not someone who prefer to talk on the phone. 

What hours are you available?

Realtor don't typically work a standard, 9 - 5 schedule since they have to be available to work with clients when the clients are available (which is often on the weekends and in the evenings.) Make sure the realtor is available when you are also available. For instance, if you work late into the evenings and you are only really available on Sundays, you don't want to hire a realtor who takes every Sunday off.

In addition to asking the questions above, pay attention to the report you build with the realtor. You want to hire someone you feel comfortable and confident around, and who understands what you value in a home. Meet with a realtor or two before making your choice.