When choosing an agent to represent you what should you be looking for? Professionalism, integrity, skill yes they should exhibit all of these but what else?

Is your agent working at this full-time? Do they know the market and the price bracket you are budgeting? What I mean by this is that one township can have very different markets at different price points. For example in our own township the statistics show that homes priced below $400,000 are in short supply and the market is still a seller's market as there is a shortage of homes in this price range. But homes priced over $1 million are in over supply which means that it is a buyers market. In fact if you examine each township around us in different price brackets you will get different results. Does your agent know this or are they just telling you that it is a buyers market because that is what the national press says? How many homes do you need to loose before you realize they do not know the market. Do they even know how to put this information together for you and explain it to you?

Can your agent recommend a selection of mortgage brokers and bankers, home inspectors, plumbers, electricians and contractors? Can they recommend a good restaurant for a special occassion? Do they know interior designers or stagers? What about if you need some one to plow snow? In other words are they a local expert or just an order taker having no real interest in providing a high level of service to their clients.

How experienced is your agent, are they comfortable explaining the paperwork and the process to you? Do they have support if needed? What happens if they or a family member get sick? Will someone else cover for them or will you get dropped and forgotten?

How good is your agent at listening and answering your questions? Do they talk and never ask you questions? Are they interested in what you like and dislike about a house? Do they show you different houses or do they just show you the same thing over and over, even when you have said this is not what you are looking for?

How good are they at communicating with you? Do they even ask what is the best method or do they presume how they will communicate with you?

What diffentiates your agent from everyone else? Do they have testimonials? Can you talk to previous customers of theirs?

These are just some of what you should be considering when choosing an agent? What is important to you?