Step 1 to Buying a Home: Find a REALTOR
Buying a home is a significant life milestone, and finding the right REALTOR is an important step in the process. The purchase of a home is likely the largest purchase you will ever make, so enlisting the expertise of a knowledgeable and trustworthy REALTOR will make the journey smoother.
A lot of people start their home home search on sites like Zillow, Trulia and realtor.com. This is completely fine. These sites generally list what is available for sale. Keep in mind sometimes the information on these sites can be innacurate and some post homes that aren't truly for sale. Also, if you click on the button to get more information, you many times aren't being directed to the listing agent but rather a random agent that advertises with that site.
If you reach out to a REALTOR directly, we can set you up on an automatic home search through the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which is the system REALTORS upload listings to. Therefore, it is up to date and accurate. Once a REALTOR sets you up on a search, within 15 minutes of a home coming on the market that meets your search criteria, you will receive an email of the listing. In the current housing market in Minnesota where homes are selling within hours or days, it will be to your advantage to have accurate homes for sale sent to you right after they go on the market.
So, how do you find and choose a REALTOR? Hopefully you will contact our team, The Homefront Team-RE/MAX Results at (763)235-7016 or thehomefrontteam@results.net . Then we can meet on Zoom or in person for a buyer consultation to learn about the home buying process and see if we are a good fit for each other. Not all REALTORS are right for all people. You need to find a REALTOR that is good at their job and also someone you like and can talk to because you will be spending a lot of time with them throughout the home buying process.
Some other questions to ask when hiring a REALTOR are:
- What areas do you work in?
- What types of homes do you have experience selling?
- Are you a full time REALTOR?
- How long have you been in real estate?
- What qualities differentiate you from other REALTORS?
- Do you have reviews I can look at and references I can reach out to?
Once you have found your REALTOR, plan on signing an exclusive buyer representation agreement. Legally, before you disclose confidential information to your REALTOR, you should have a signed buyer representation agreement. This agreement means you are exclusively working with this REALTOR and it ensures your REALTOR will keep your information confidential and work in your best interest.
If you have any questions about finding a REALTOR, please reach out.
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