Because a realtor represents the buyer in the process of finding and purchasing a home, making sure you have competent representation is always at the top of any buyer’s mind. Or at least it should be. Your home is likely the most expensive purchase you will make in your lifetime, and a mistake in the process can lead to financial ruin. Because the real estate agent works for the buyer, it is important to interview them to make sure they will actually earn their commission in the process of representing you. Here are some questions to ask a potential agent during the interview:

How long have you been a real estate agent? This question is important because a brand new agent may spend more time with you as you search for a home since they have the time. But he or she may not be very resourceful because of lack of experience. A well seasoned agent on the other hand may ask you to do some work on your own keeping you engaged in the process. He or she may ask you to drive around on your own and look at the neighborhoods. The real test comes during the presentation of the offer and negotiations after you’ve found the home your dream home.

Finding a home is the easy but writing a contract, negotiating, the buyer and performing all the required legal documentation is requires experience, knowledge and knowledge. A mistake can cost the buyer headache and sometimes thousands of dollars. Ask the realtor about their background , education and experience.

What is your strategy of searching for and finding a home? A good real estate agent will have a plan in place on how to go about helping you find the home you want to buy. Your realtor should arrange to meet with a lender, if you don’t have your own lender, to determine how much house you can afford before he or she begins to show you homes. It is important to know what your realtor’s job duties are and what he or she expects of you as the buyer.

How do you negotiate the best deals for your buyers? Ask your agent if he or she will help you decide on a price to offer after you’ve found the home you like. The negotiation is a give and take situation between you and the seller but will your real estate agent be involved? Is your agent knowledgeable and creative enough to make the deal work?

One example is if the buyer wants the seller to pay closing costs and as well as some repair costs. In this situation, the seller may agree to pay one and deny the other. Instead of walking away from the deal completely or agreeing to both, a creative realtor may suggest an alternative option. This option might include the buyer paying for an alternative cost not previously considered, like new appliances etc or increasing the offer price to include that cost. A real estate agents ability to be composed and creative in the hot seat of a negotiation can’t be overstated.

Can they provide you with a list of references? A realtors ability to deliver on their promise of helping you buy or sell your home is the most important skill they have. If they can’t show you a track record of happy clients, you may need to look elsewhere. Good references should say more than just, “great job” or that “Tom is a wonderful real estate agent”. You should look for concrete examples of things the agent did that contribution a to a successful purchase or sale.

Grace Ojuka is a real estate agent focusing on Provo homes for sale. She has been helping home buyers for in the Provo and Orem Utah real estate market for over 11 years. Check out the list of provo foreclosures currently available.