Mobius shows exactly why you need an agent...that's completely off base and a great answer to the question.

Appraisers (I have 20+ years as one) ascertain value - and only value. For sales we ensure that the home is worth at least what the mortgage is. We don't inspect for defects or issues - if they're apparent we note it and leave it to the lender to handle. We are not inspectors - not our job. Inspections are not required, nor are termite letters, surveys, mold tests......

Agents expidite the search process by focusing your search and weeding out the inventory. You don't need an agent to find a home, you need an agent to ensure that your best interests are constantly maintained and accounted for. The list is extensive and the easiest way to see how extensive is after the fact when/if something pops up. Of course when issues of value or negotiation or something happens a year out.....then you'll see if an agent brings value.

Remember as well that buyers typically don't pay for representation - sellers pay the fee. As far as finding a good agent - tell them to give you a copy of their last year's track record - takes 2 minutes to print. You might find this informative - so might you Mobius - as I feel many agents need to leave this business, I'm not a big fan of the ineffective agents - http://www.trulia.com/blog/hank_miller_-_associate_broker/20…

Hank

Well, I do not want to insult any agents, but I want to answer your question truthfully. I would say that you do not need an agent to help you find a house. Understand, Real Estate Agents are there to protect you. But the question is, what are they protecting you from? Are they protecting you from buying a house that is not safe? Yep, but the bank requires an appraisal, which would determine the value, including defects, before the loan would be made. I submit that everything a Realtor claims to protect you from, your bank would protect you from when they evaluate if the property is appropriate to finance. You don't need a realtor.

Hi Georgia,

I'm sort of a data geek, so please bear with me. First most of my colleagues have provided valuable insights as responses to your question. But leave it to me to have interview questions and other information for you.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the top ten expectations of agents among buyers are (in order of importance)

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Knowledge of the purchase process
3. Responsiveness
4. Knowledge of the market
5. Communication skills
6. Negotiation skills
7. People skills
8. Technology skills
9. Full service (mortgage, inspection, closing home warranty and other service resources)
10. Help with closing quickly, conveniently and efficiently with the fewest missteps

Obviously, the list is not all inclusive, but, please read the flyer at the link below (Adobe Reader required) for suggestions of interview questions that should help you arrive at finding the ideal agent for you.

One more comment. This market does require patience, perseverance, and persistence from both you and your chosen agent in order to find the right home because of the amount of competition for highly desirable properties. Therefore, please don't expect low ball offers to always be considered or for your first offer to be accepted despite what you've read in the news.

Solomon Greene
REALTOR® / HUD-Certified Affordable Housing Counselor - Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners
(678) 775-2677

I would start by contacting the brokers at 2 or 3 of the major brokerages in the area that interests you. Those brokers will want to keep their good name and they will refer you to a buyer agent who has few (or none) complaints or "issues" in their transactions, is hard working and successful. You can take the route that some people think is better - hire a seemingly "hungry" agent who is at one of the smaller firms and may even work at real estate part time. Some of them are really great agents and some of them are not. Training and continuing education, coupled with a variety of experiences and number of years in the business all come together for the makings of a great agent and you just aren't likely to find that combination at anything less than one of the more successful brokerages. Statistics for metro Atlanta sales can be found in the Atlanta Business Chronicle if you are looking for a unbiased overview of who does the most busniess here.
Having said all of that - the BEST way to find a really good agent is to get a referral from a friend or family member. Look at agent sites and read their client testimonials on their sites and on some of the "service" sites where they have profiles posted.
Good luck. I grew up in Snellville and still live in the area. I think you will enjoy the area.

Georgia:

Expect a good or great agent to take the time to ask you detailed questions about the next home you desire. These questions will run the gamut from the size of your master bedroom, kitchen likes/dislikes, how you actually live in and around your home, uses of your yard, location and types of schools, how you feel about traffic patterns around your next home, etc. etc.. If you are not getting this kind of service go to the next agent. A great agent thinks about your needs, wants, and desires, along with making sure that you don't over extend yourrself and become house poor. By house poor I mean that the next home you purchase meets your needs and still allows you to enjoy your lifestyle, such as going out to dinner, catching a movie, or taking well needed vacations with out over extending yourself financially.

Your gut feeling about a potential realtor will speak volumes. Be sure there is a level of trust that you are comfortable with as this is a major financial decision thjat you will live with for some time to come over the next many years.
If I can be of further help don't hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience at 678-578-2788 as I have worked the area you are interested in since 1984.

Chuck Green, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
chuckgreen@kw.com

Michael

Thank-you and yes you may add that. ; ) You can also get a thanks from me at least and a TU for adding it...

I would think one of the things that would help determine a good Agent is seeing if they have enough respect for their Profession to be Professional.

Check around Georgia, their are many Professionals that contribute to the Forum and some may be from your area of interest. It would be worth your time and theirs to interview them. A good Agent will care about you, your goals and their Profession.

That weird guy, Dunes

Another good thread, Dunes. May I add that the agents who either do not completely read the question(s) or clearly and concisely answer them would not make a very good partner, in all liklihood?

PS...The good Agents do not need to SPAM Questions asked by consumers in this Forum.

If they can't read or understand the Community Guidelines do you really want them to handle your paperwork?

Spam is lame, Dunes

Interesting queston. I believe your question may be a little vague. You may want to define what characteristics you consider to be good and that may help you find the agent you are looking for. Some agents are aggressive and some aren't. Some are honest, hardworking, been in the business for many years, experienced, know the area well, and good negiators. Others may be more knowledgeble and experienced in financing, foreclosures, short sales, buyer agent, ready to show you every home on the market. Some agents may be very internet savy while others are not. Many realtors are specializing in specific areas or types of homes and defining what is important to you will go a long way in helping you find the right agent for you. Know what you want in an agent and then ask them specific questions. Hope that helps.

Well said Dunes, well said.

The good ones wear the White Hats!

Georgia,

You are going to be making decisions (Like choosing an agent) that influence a large Financial
Commitment YOU are responsible for. They are YOUR decisions and YOUR Financial commitment.

You owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about the Market area you are interested in, the process you will be participating in and consider exactly what your goals are. The selection of an Agent is an extremely important decision and you need to know enough to be able to interview those you may consider Hiring.

You are Hiring services and those Services can end up having a huge impact one way or the other so you must choose wisely and to do that you must be informed.

What other commitment are you going to make that can have such a large Financial impact on you?

That's my opinion, Dunes

The number of homes a Realtor has closed on doesn't always necessarily indicate that they are "bad". Maybe they just got their license...or have recently gotten it in the last year or so. With this market, it's not always easy to get a lot of closings...especially just starting out. The ones that are "hungry" for the work are going to be the ones that work the hardest. A lot of times those are the agents that are "newer". They are eager to do a good job and work hard for you to earn your trust...and possibly a referral. Sometimes the bigger teams aren't always your best option. You get lost in the shuffle of their other clients. They don't always get back to you as quickly as you would like. Remember, make sure when you sign the Buyer's Brokerage agreement that it is clear that you can walk away if you don't feel as though the agent is doing a good job, at any time with no fees or monies due to them. A Realtor works for YOU and should be there when you need them for questions or concerns. I work in Marietta, but know a great Buyers Agent in the Snellville area that would take great care of you! Let me know if you'd like to call her and see what you think. I definitely recommend calling several agents and seeing who fits YOU best! :)

Good Luck!

Jodi Smith
Atlanta Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Consultants – Roswell, Georgia
678-763-6025
jodismith@kw.com
Tweet Me: http://twitter.com/JodiRSmith

Hey Georgia,
I'm sure you have a friend or family member, who can refer a hard working, and trusting realtor to you. Most Realtors businesses is built by referrals. Ask somebody you trust. You can also contact one of the reputable Real Estate offices in your area. Meet with one or two agents, trust your gut feeling and go house shopping. Enjoy!!!

They answer your question on Trulia with a shameless self promoting blog post.

Here's the criteria (I actually won't qualify!)

1. You feel comfortable with them. They respond quickly to your inquiry.
2. Ask them how many homes they have closed in the area you are looking... ASK FOR PROOF (checking honesty here). Checking to see if they deflect too, "well, I have closed 20 deals in Gwinnett..." What about Snellville. The snellville market is different than Lawrenceville or Grayson. Etc.
3. MUST BE FULL TIME, PERIOD... ESPECIALLY IN THIS MARKET!

Good Evening Georgia,

There are great answers here. Let me add that you need to work with a full time agent, not part time. It is important to consult and interview with a few different agents so that you learn their level of expertise in todays market. You want to know how they work and how they negotiate.

There are some great agents to interview (many on t his forum) but not every great agent is going to be the best agent for you. Personality is also important. You are going to be working closely with this person... you need to trust and feel comfortable with them. And if you do not like them the relationship will never work!

Most Realtors would likely agree that full time, ethically trained agents who are excellent negotiators and familiar with all recent and current buyer programs, including tax credits, down payment assistance and USDA, FHA & VA requirements, some as vague as seasoning would be best able to assist you. Having had listings and sales in the target market area would also be of importance, Georgia, and as Abraham said in his initial post, a person with whom you feel comfortable rates highly. Good Luck!

Michael Hammond
SellsRealty@gmail.com
404-538-5499

I would ask family members and friends who did they use to purchase their home and if they would use this agent again. I would also call some of the listing agents in the area that I am looking to purchase my home.

Some questions you might want to ask while interviewing the agents are:
1)How many properties have they closed in the area where you want to purchase your home?
2)What type of support staff do they have in place to meet your home buying?

Most agents will have a presentation that will go over the services that they provide. You can then determine who you would like to work with after the interviewing process.

Good Luck,
Dena Hill
Linear Realty, LLC http://www.linear-realty.com

Interview agents and check out there office. Ask for refrences. Ask for summation of their office Policies and Procedures on handling your listing ex advertisment, open houses, 24 hour notice to show. Do they advertise and how. Ask for samples of listings (can they represent your property). Then review the answers. Instinct will tell you if this is someone you can trust and work with. Do you want this person to represent you and your prperty.

You can tell pretty quickly - rather than rehash it all I would point you to three very direct blogs I just wrote. These are the Trulia featured blogs and they are getting a lot of response because they highlight what a disaster many agents are - particularly the part time and between job agents -

http://www.trulia.com/blog/hank_miller_-_associate_broker/

Hank

You should interview the Agent. Your next Agent should know about the area you are considering the purchase. Ask questions. The best advice is to see f you connect with the agent. Does the Agent listen to your needs and wants. Does the Agent work full or part time. Just ask questions and you will know if you and the Agent are a good fit.

Georgia,
Interview them, and don't be afraid to ask for "recent" references. Someone who has had a recent transaction will usually gladly tell you about their experience. Also, go with your gut feelings!

Good Luck!