Deb,

It is not only appropriate, but also wise to interview several agents. Don't only interview them based upon commission and experience either. Make sure their character meets your standards as well.

I realize this is an older post, but if you have not yet found an agent, I would be privileged to be interviewed by you. Feel free to contact me at my site below.

Jenni

Absolutely not, buying and selling a home is a very important transaction and in many cases it is the single largest investment a person makes in their life. So, interview many and make sure you ask the right questions. "What is your marketing plan?" and "How are you gong to ensure that I get the best deal?" will give you better insight then, "How many years have you been in real estate?" or "How much do you think my house is worth?"

These last two questions are fine to ask but number of years in the business do not always correlate to quality of service, and although pricing a home is important to selling it you don't want to just choose the agent that gave you the highest price. The market determines the price range and the buyer determines the value their willing to put on it. The only thing the agent really controls is marketing.

I treat every meeting like it's an interview for another job because it is.

I would recommend that you let each agent know prior to the meeting that you are interviewing other agents. This will give each one a chance to bring their personal best and prepare for the situation.

Deb, you should interview several agents from different real estate companies to see how they differ in marketing strategy as well as their personality. If you have things in common you usually get along better and they will understand your feelings. Good luck to you in your search.

Is it bad taste to interview someone who is going to work for you in a financial business deal that may depend on their level of knowledge or their ability to communicate?

I Think Not.......There are many good honest agents who would consider it good business and appreciate working with someone who is honest and knows what their goals are.

Read Rockinblu's Blog it has very good information and INTERVIEW

IMHO, Dunes

If your interested in some interviewing and choosing an agent info, you might want to click on the link below. Good luck.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/rockinblu/2008/12/i_ve_got_my_fin…

Deb,

It is never a bad idea to interview a real estate agent before hiring one. It's actually not uncommon for real estate agents to be interviewed by potential consumers prior to the list/sell process. It's an absolute must to have a good working relationship with your agent as they are your voice when dealing with other agents/sellers or buyers on your behalf. I always recommend Googl'ing any potential agent, it can be a great way to find out who they are professionally and personally (online membership/groups, articles, blogs, etc.). You should also inquire about any potential agents stats including their Brokerage's stats, remember though.. an agent is not necessarily defined by the company they work for and vice versa. Lastly, your agent has got to be able to address your needs specifically answering the most important question.. whats in it for you.

I hope this bit of information helps you in your search for a real estate agent.

Regards,
Realty ONE Group, Inc.


Lisa Santacaterina
EcoBroker Certified, a New Kind of Realtor http://www.RealEstateCollective.com
(702) 540-2956

Hi Deb,

Absolutely Not! It would be extremely ill-advised to NOT interview multiple agents first. A good agent can save you many thousands of dollars via good negotiations and counsel. A good agent partners with you, understands YOUR needs and then works hard to find a good fit for those.

A bad agent wants only one thing - to sell you - period. Bad agents can also cost you a lot of money, even if they are "trying to do their job" - if they don't do it WELL - then YOU will be the one who pays (if you sign the contract).

Selling or Buying - it doesn't matter - a house is one of your largest investments. You need the best possible representation. Someone that you Like - but also someone that is a real pro at what they do.

Forget about hiring your friend Susie, cause she went to school with you and does real estate part-time while raising her kids. For that matter - a full time professional, with many years of experience and solid negotiating skills is what you need.