When I first started out in the business, I was primarily a buyer's agent, and in some ways, it was a default choice. It was the way to learn the business. Fast forward to today, I still enjoy working with buyers, except it is a conscious decision since early 2011 that I work primarily with first time home buyers in San Jose. There are number of reasons for this, but mainly, I just love the smiles when the first time buyers purchase their first home. I'm grateful and honored to be part of that process.
In today's more competitive San Jose real estate market where market is projected to stabilize and return to the normal 2-3% annual appreciation (best cities for home values, San Jose #1), it's EXTREMELY important for buyers to choose the right buyer's agent to represent you!
There are different school of thoughts on this topic; however, I believe there are few factors that are most relevant, especially for first time buyers in San Jose, CA:
1. How well does the agent understand and appreciate your needs?
In today's confusing market, where different types of sales can have different implications for individual buyers, it's very important that your agent understands what your goals and needs are. So many times, I see buyer's agents just rush to get prospects in the car and drive around the town; and the end of the day, it may turn out to be waste of everyone's time. For example, I'm currently working with a client whose lease is up soon, together we determine that it's best to stay away from short sales for the first few weeks of searching, because short sales generally take 60-90 days for approval.
2. What kind of system and methodology does the agent have in place that will help you achieve your goals?
In today's San Jose real estate market, homes in decent condition in the entry level pricing may get sold quickly. A competent buyer's agent needs to have system and methodology to assist clients getting to see homes in a timely fashion. Again, the traditional "let's get in the car and go see the home" may work haphazardly, but it does not work consistently. For instance, at our very first consultation with my buyer-clients, I explain how I work and the systems in place that will make home search an organized and efficient manner. Together, we are a team to get you where want be.
3. How is this agent going to negotiate and protect your best interests?
Every agent is different, however, as a buyer's agent, I firmly believe that my job is to protect my client's best interests. By understanding their goals in our initial consultation, I understand what their priorities are and can better negotiate the best price, terms, and conditions for my clients. There is a buyer's myth that working directly with a listing agent who starts out representing sellers can save money and time. The issue is that listing agent by default represent the sellers and there are only handful of experienced and ethical agents who can represent both sides well without compromising each side's interests. Generally speaking, it's wise to have a buyre's agent who understands your needs to represent you, as opposed to a random listing agent who may still has the seller's best interst at heart.
4. Is your agent more interested in the commission earned or placing your interest first?
Sadly, the general public has this image of agents being greedy and only cares about commission. Unfortunately, there are agents I encounter fit that profile, although I'm grateful that most agents in the Silicon Valley are professionals who do place their clients' interests first. Nevertheless, it's important to keep in mind of some red flags. For example, I often meet buyers who came to me after being disappointed with previous agents and the number one complaint I got was "he (she) just keeps telling me that this home is the right one for me, you know, almost like pressuring me to sign the offer right there!" Another classic one is "it seems like she (he) only shows me the homes that are higher priced"
5. Does your agent communicate? And how does the agent communicate? 
This is a surprising one for me when I start noticing patterns when disgruntled buyers came to me. I get this comment repeatedly: "well, I don't know if I have an agent, because I don't hear from him/her" Communication is so important in this business, especially, when it comes to negotiation time. When interviewing for a buyer's agent, be sure to ask what is the communication channel and how often. By no means, I'm not suggesting go find an agent who is on call 24/7. In fact, my experience shows that proficient agents work effectively and therefore have time for family and other obligations. As an example, I share how I communicate. Generally, I do not work every evenings & weekends; however, I understand that clients may see a home at an open house. So I do check phone messages on regular basis. I return phone calls 12-24 hours and e-mail messages 24-36 hours, usually sooner in both cases.
Lastly, when choosing a buyer's agent, a lot of times, your intuition will tell you much faster than any "logical analysis" can. This means, if an agent gives you a weird vibe, well, it does not hurt to interview another person. You're making probably the biggest financial investment of your life, you want to be sure your agent can represent you well and help you achieve the goals of home ownership with least amount of time and hassle and hopefully with a lot of positive experience!
By the way, if you're looking in San Jose or the greater Santa Clara County area, be sure to interview me!
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