You will meet agents by answering advertisements, calling the phone numbers on lawn signs, and visiting open houses. You will see advertising for them on bus stop benches, in real estate Web sites and by direct mail campaigns. Best of all, perhaps, is a name suggested by a relative or a friend who has had a good experience—but only if the agent in question specializes in the area and type of house you want. In a strange town, you can write or e-mail queries to the local chamber of commerce asking for maps and information; you will probably then hear from several local real estate brokers interested in working with out-of-towners. If you study the local newspapers and the Internet, you will discover which agents are active in the areas you like. If you are relocating with your company, chances are they will put you in touch with agents who are part of their relocation network and probably already have a proven track record with their relocation department in your target area.
If you don’t hire a buyer’s broker and you deal with sellers’ agents, you might be tempted to play the field, thinking that you’ll get many people out there looking for your dream house. In reality, though, the buyer who works with many brokers is working with no one. The first time an agent calls to tell you about a house that just came on the market and hears, “As a matter of fact, we saw that with someone else this morning,” your name is crossed off the to-do list. If you plan to use sellers’ brokers and find a good one, stick with him or her. |
