Ensure the right fit?and avoid any broker breakups?by heeding these expert tips Buying a home can be difficult, stressful, and unpredictable. But there?s relief in sight, and that comes in the form of a good real estate agent. Not just any agent, mind you, but one who?s knowledgeable about your local market, reliable, and responsive. Ultimately, the agent will consider your budget and visions of your ?dream home? to steer you in the right direction.
With the proliferation of online real estate marketplaces, there?s no shortage of agents to choose from. But one question looms large: How do you pick the right one"
?Consider it like dating,? says Sarah Staley, the consumer spokesperson for realtor.com. ?Don?t just move forward with the first agent you meet ? meet a few and see if the chemistry is there.? As she notes, ?Homebuying is a complex and emotional experience, so you want to be sure there?s a personality match.? That means you should begin ?agent dating? before embarking on a home search, to ensure you?ve got a partner from the very beginning of the process up until you sign a contract. An agent familiar with your needs, budget, and availability from the get-go will not only be worth the commission, but also make the complex homebuying process that much smoother. Ensure the right fit?and avoid any broker breakups?by heeding these tips from the experts.

Sunny Eckerle

Ask for references, then play the field
?One very typical route for f...