What To Look for In a 
Texas Real Estate Agent

Many of these items are specific to Texas agents.

___ Did your agent give you the "Information About Brokerage Services" notice that is legally required by the Texas Real Estate Commission beforeshowing you houses? Can your agent effectively explain it?

___ Did your agent provide all the other necessary disclosures, notices, and the Buyer's Representation Agreement to you before showing you houses? Be careful! You don't want to find out after-the-fact that your agent actually represents the Seller.

___ Does your agent provide a detailed 18+ page house report on a home (see my sample), before you make the offer, to ensure that you know what you are buying before you make the purchase? This report should include information on the home's price history, comparable sales numbers, school ratings, flood plain, tax info, environmental hazards (if any), near-by sex offenders (if any) at a minimum.

___ Can your agent effectively explain the HOA maintenance fees, MUD and LID taxes, compliance certificate requirements, amenities, property tax rates, school performance ratings, and other important information for the neighborhoods you are looking at?

___ Does your agent know how to provide you with an accurate CMA (price analysis) on a home before you make an offer? Is he or she committed to helping you get the right price or does the agent just want you to buy the highest priced home you can afford?

___ Does your agent point out possible defects of homes when you tour them or does your agent always seem to overlook the obvious problems of a home and try to convince you that they don't matter? (Check my client satisfaction rating.)

___ Does your agent actually show you homes or does he or she expect you to drive the neighborhood on your own and then contact the listing agent directly to let you see the house? A dedicated agent wants to be with you every step of the way.

___ Has your agent set up a customized automatic home search for you that is pulled directly form the local MLS? Or are you still trying to find homes on your own using the limited online search Websites available in your area? These programs (such as Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and Homes.com) can be outdated very quickly showing contract-pending homes as "active."

___ Does your agent offer a price protection guarantee? If they are known at effective price negotiation, then they should be able to guarantee their ability to negotiate at least $5,000 off the list price. (Of course, even a great negotiator may not be able to do this in a really hot, Seller's market...but you should try to get this guarantee if you can.)

___ Does your agent use an online paperwork system where you can e-sign documents instead of having to fax and scan them (which is sometimes challenging and time-consuming)? What if your spouse is still back home in another state or country? You need to be able to e-sign!

___ Does your agent offer at least an 18-month "peace of mind" guarantee in which he or she will greatly reduce the sales commission if they have to relist your home within 18 months of purchase (due to job transfer, for example)?

___ Does your agent guarantee he or she will negotiate a residential service contract (aka, home warranty) in the deal or provide one for you to protect you from too many future home repairs?

___ Does your agent have at least a 4.5 star client satisfaction rating with the local board of area Realtors? Has he or she been awarded the Five-Star Real Estate Agent award by a third-party company who surveys local real estate agents and chooses the top 7 percent (or less) based on client satisfaction? What's your agent's YELP rating, Homes.com endorsements, Angie's List reviews, and so on?

___ Does your agent have 20 years experience? (Trick question.) IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATTER! I have worked with terrible agents with 20+ years of experience who even have a broker's license. And I have also worked with outstanding agents with only a couple of years experience. Time does not equal quality in this business. Time cannot guarantee attitude, dedication, integrity, intelligence, or commitment to customer service. Check their satisfaction rating...this is a free service for all members of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). If your agent hasn't signed up, maybe they have something to hide.