13 Questions A Buyer Should Ask A Realtor Before Contract

Last week we discussed important questions that sellers should ask Realtors. This week, we have created a list of important questions for buyers to ask their agents. Let's take a half step back, as a buyer you absolutely want a Realtor advocating on your behalf. There are great resources online to help you find listings and HGTV shows may give you a glimpse into the process. But, you truly need an experienced, licensed, professional who knows the market inside and out and can navigate you through the sometimes challenging process of a real estate transaction. Choosing not to have representation is essentially forfeiting a service that is free to you (buyer's agents are paid through sellers' proceeds) and enabling the seller to have their agent facilitate the negotiations, handle your inspections requests and shepherd you to closing.

13 Questions Buyers Should Ask:

1. How long have you been in real estate?

2. Are you licensed? Agent or broker? Are you a Realtor? Are you full or part-time?

3. Are you predominantly a listing agent or buyers agent, or both?

4. How many buyers did you work with in the past year?

5. Who do you represent? If the listing is your company’s listing who do you represent?

6. What specific services do you provide for your buyers, customers, clients?

7. Do you have specific negotiation strategies for us?

8. How are you compensated? Who pays you?

9. How long should it take us to find a home? How many homes do you visit with potential buyers before they purchase?

10. Are you part of a team? Will you be my contact through the process?

11. Do you help us navigate the mortgage process? Do you or does your company earn any additional compensation from placing the mortgage, insurance or title?

12. Can you provide me with prior customers?

13. Do you respect privacy? Do you have a written privacy policy?