Do buyers need a real estate agent? Absolutely! Homebuying is a big deal with many unfamiliar processes, and it’s smart to have someone on your side. Guidance throughout the process with someone answering your questions and advising you of your next move is essential to staying focused and reducing the stress of closing on a home.

Deciding which real estate agent to work with can be a hard choice, and one that demands significant consideration. Should you go with a big, franchise-type firm, or put your trust in a smaller, independent company? Take some time to think about your choice. Here are some points to ponder to help determine which one is right for you.

What Are Your Needs?

Are you a first-time homebuyer who needs a lot of guidance about everything from how much home you can afford to negotiating the price? Or have you bought one or more homes and know the ropes well? If you need a real estate agent to be hands-on and attentive, you may want to work with a smaller, more intimate agency. If you prefer to handle the process with less interaction with the realtor, a larger firm might be your best decision.

Do You Need Lots of Education?

Do you understand the basics of credit scoring, how your debt affects your ability to purchase a home, and feel confident in hiring the additional professionals that you will need during the process? In this case, your best bet may be a smaller agency. However, if you want a good deal of in-depth education provided to you, larger companies tend to have more resources available to thoroughly train their real estate agents on every point of the process. In this scenario, a larger firm may be the right decision.

How Do You Like to Communicate?

Are you the type of person who wants a daily update, wants to hear about every single detail, and expects someone to be there every time you call? Then a smaller firm may be able to cater to your needs better. If you prefer a more hands-off approach and only want to hear from your agent when there’s important information to convey, a larger company may be a better option for you. Either way, you should expect your real estate agent to be helpful and informative about where you are in the process, prepare you for the next step, and answer all of your questions thoroughly.

Where Are The Places You Shop?

This question may seem unrelated to homebuying, but it will give you insight into the type of transaction that you prefer. Think about the last few things you’ve bought recently. Did you purchase them at large, big-box retailers, or small, individually owned stores? Weigh the purchases in your mind and figure out which were the most satisfying. Buying a home and working with a real estate agent is a highly personally journey. If your past purchases with large companies left you satisfied and pleased, chances are good that a large real estate firm will do the same. However, if you typically opt to do business with smaller retailers and family-owned companies, a smaller agency is most likely the best choice for you.

What Do Your Friends and Family Say?

If you have people in your life who have recently bought or sold a house, talk to them! They can offer unique insight into the realtor they used, the process, and what they liked and didn’t. Ask them which agency they used, and what they would change if they could. Compare your needs to theirs and decide if you need a similar experience to theirs. If they were happy with their choice, strongly consider using the same real estate agent. A first-hand recommendation is one of the best predictions that you will also have a positive experience.

Ready to Begin?

Tackling the homebuying process means you will be making many decisions, and some of them will be difficult. Knowing how to choose a real estate firm assists you in making the journey easier all the way around. By thinking carefully about your preferences, needs, and how you like to communicate, along with talking to friends and family who have been through the process, you will be able to reach the best decision for you. When you are ready to start the process, look no further than our agents at The Real Estate Firm. Whether you are buying or selling, we make the process easier.