Meeting with Real Estate Agents

Most agents assume they are your agent after they have spent a weekend of their time showing you houses. I know you want to find the right agent, which is understandable, but if you dont go with the lady that showed you houses all weekend, just remember, she worked all weekend for free. I suggest you find one you like and stick with that one. If it doesnt work out, or you just dont click then just be honest and move on. I know most people dont realize this, but agents DO talk, if they find out you have seen 5 different agents and have wasted their time, they may not even bother. Just being honest.

Check the agents out first - how long have they been in business, have they won any awards, what types of properties do they focus on, etc. You can usually find that out on their websites but if not, send an email asking for htat information. Then when you meet them - it could be in an office setting or at a house, if you click, then that's the one. If not, try out another agent. Just don't bounce back and forth between several or ask them to take you out all day looking at houses as part of an interview... you're wasting their time since every hour they spend with you not buying something is an hour they're not getting paid. You certainly don't need to test out three or four agents. They all have access to the same tools, research, and houses so it comes down to personality and style. Just find someone you like and go with him/her. For us, it's always been one conversation and we've signed an Exclusive. We've bought and sold about ten houses in all different parts of the country and never had a problem finding an agent we liked. Usually we talked to one or two buyers agents and settled on either the first or second we interviewed.

Well, since I am a realtor myself. I would appreciate my customer( you're not a client until you have committed to an agent) telling me that you are interviewing several agents. I don't understand the fact that they have taken you to see homes without an agency agreement first. They are on the edge of being leagal. Without an agency between you and them they are NOT to give you any information on lthe property other than FACTS. Also I would ask as many questions as possible about the process of the purchase. If they are not eager to teach you then you should move on and tell them that you will be selecting another agent. This has to feel comfortable for you and work with someone that you would like to have a long term relationship with, friends.
If you haven't found that agent, let me apply for the Job!
Wanda

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Watch out, if they have you sign an Exclusive agreement with them you could be violating the agreement by having other agents show you properties. As long as you have not signed any sort of agreement with them, you are not violating any laws.

We were lucky in that the first one we met with was the winner. She was referred to us by our realtor in another market. He had worked with her on the state board of realtors, so we knew she was really knowledgeable and experienced going into our first (and what ended up being our last) home tour with her. We were only curious what was available in this market, but she really toured us around the area, pointing out useful things about the area and what we should look for in our first home. We saw 13 homes that day and our house was #13.

You want a combination of a lot of experience, a real sense they know the market AND a personality you like. Ours was super chatty and that was great to us because she shared a lot of useful information and made a personal connection. She seemed to genuinely care, too. When we couldn't move into our house for a while after it closed, she came over with her husband and checked on the house for us. There was a big wind storm and they even picked up the pieces of a shed that blew apart.

With Mulitiple Listing agents you may find they all have the right to show you the same homes. So if one shows a house to you, and then later a different agent shows the same home and you decide to buy, they may split the commission. I wouldnt sign any exclusive papers, and would visit them in their offices to ask how they do what they do, and see if yor personalities click. I hated when 1 gal had 30 phone calls while we were sitting at her desk, and we felt she would never pay attention to us when it was our turn. Another time we saw a property on tv on one of those stations that shows stuff for sale, and when we called the number we got the gal assigned to that home. She was great and we used her, but we had the right to go to anyone else we wanted to see that same property. Im sure it causes some friction between agents, but, thats the way the cookie crumbles. We are friends with an agent, and go to dinner with her and her husband, but Im not sure Id do business with her. Shes fairly opinionated and somewhat cold to her clients.(Ive heard her on the phone enough times at dinner) Shes great to us as friends, but I wonder if it would change the relationship.