through advertising, as mentioned above (public spaces, direct mail, online, etc.). So, you need to start out by contacting one. Don’t worry, even if you are, real estate agents are not shy and do not hide their lights under bushels. One way to find a good local agent is to simply drive around your areas of choice looking at the “for sale” signs. Who is the agent selling them? Better yet, which agents have the most “Sold” signs in the neighborhood? Once you’ve got a decent list in hand, you are ready to start contacting them. You can start by simply mentioning you are looking to buy your first home, and you’d like to retain the services of a qualified and experienced real estate agent. Of course, their responses are probably going to be similar, such as “I’m glad you called; I’m just the person who can help you with your needs!” or “You called the right number! I’m happy to help you find the perfect home for you and snag you a fantastic deal!” This is when you mention that you’re happy to interview them, as you are considering various prospects (which you are). Conducting an interview with locally available real estate agents will most certainly help you find the one that’s right for you. The purpose of the interview is to check the qualities of the agent and see if they’re the right fit. This includes everything from personality, behavior, work ethic, and reliability to professional credentials, experience, housing market knowledge, and positive feedback from clients. One simple way to review everything before officially hiring an agent is checking these things: • Previous deals (portfolio) • Working hours, capabilities, skills, motivation, ideas, and 27
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