Whether you are investing in a property or selling your lifetime home, finding and choosing a real estate agent is a tough job. Rapport is all important when it comes to your real estate agent and your agent needs to be able to safeguard your financial securities.

You need someone who is reliable and listen carefully to your priorities and won’t waste time on properties that don’t fit the bill.
Most real estate agents are in business because happy customers refer them to friends, family, neighbours, and coworkers. Ask the individuals around you who they have used and ask them to recite their experiences with this real estate agent. Popular and successful agents make customer satisfaction as their number one priority. Try to find an agent who goes above and beyond his duties.

Most experts recommend five or more years’ experience—which does not mean that someone with less cannot do a good job. Make sure the real estate agent you choose is licensed by the state and does the job full-time; about half of all real estate agents are designated Realtors, which means they belong to the National Association of Realtors and agree to accept by NAR’s stringent code of ethics.

Real estate agents run real estate advertisement for two purposes. The first is to sell specific real estate. The second is to endorse the real estate agent. Go through your local community newspaper for house ads in your targeted locality. Then have a look at the websites of the agents who are advertising. These agents could be professionals in your locality. Call and check with them about their understanding and knowledge.

Real estate is a local game, and to win you need somebody who knows every nook and corner of the areas where you are looking to buy a property. The agent should be able to give you a thorough snapshot of the market in your area and surrounding areas. They should know about demographics, transport, schools and the sorts of buyers looking for homes in the area.

Inquire about what is currently available on the market in your budget range; they should be able to rattle off a few properties. Look at the agent’s track records, making sure you look at properties the agent has sold newly. Ask for the hard facts, sale prices, time on market etc.