Now that you know what you qualify to buy, the fun begins…finding your dream home! Finding the right agent is critical in your search.

Interviewing agents on the phone or sitting down with at least two different agents to discuss what you are looking for and the time frame you have for looking at homes is a good way to decide who you feel most comfortable working with.

Availability
Do they work on weekends? If you are coming from out of town, you don’t want to be sitting in a motel room waiting for an agent who doesn’t work when you need to look at homes. If they aren’t available, do they have a team member or broker who will be available in their absence?

Willingness to listen to your needs is most important. Just as in chosing any other professional, you want to be sure this is someone you trust and feel will listen to you and your wants and needs.

Ask for references of buyers they have worked with in the past and call them!

Signing a buyer’s brokerage agreement will assure your agent will work for YOU. Many folks think working with many different agents is better as it’s more agents working for you, but in fact the opposite is true. None of them will work hard for you if they are not sure they will indeed be the one you write the contract with. And none will be committed to you either. It’s a two-way street.

Many factors should play into your decision of where you want to live, such as:

• price range
• commutes to work
• any special needs with schools
• size of neighborhood you’d like
• proximity to shopping, services
• Any desired amenities of the neighborhood or house
• age / design of home you’d like

Making a list of what is your most important needs/wants and prioritizing this list is a great exercise for your family and will help your agent tremendously.

Your agent can then use this list to set criteria for searches in the multiple listing service and find homes that match. The ability to look at homes online this way will then help you narrow down your choices.

Take a drive through some of the neighborhoods your agent has sent you if you live locally and get a feel for the areas.

If you are moving from out of town, the internet is a great source of information and a good agent can also direct you to websites that will help you compare school scores, communities and recreactional and social aminities you may desire based on the list you have provided.

The more information you give your agent about your wants/needs, the more help they can be.

When you have your choices narrowed down, it’s time to go see some homes.

Taking a camera with you is a great way to remember different features of different homes. Start each set with the mailbox or house numbers as well as the exterior of the home so you don’t get confused later. Take pictures of both positive and negative aspects.

Make written notes and communicate with your agent on what you like or dislike about each home. This will help them understand further what you like and don’t like and will save both of you time.

Choosing the right agent can help you along the process much more smoothly. They should be ready to refer you to professionals such as additional lenders to compare rates and programs and any inspectors needed once you decide on the right home for you.

Armed with your pre-approval letter and your offer, you are on your way to owning your dream. Once you have a binding agreement, your next step is getting your home inspector, which we’ll cover in part 3 of our series next week!