Are you on the hunt for a realtor?

First things first, you’ve made a smart decision. Buying a home isn’t an easy process, yet some prospective buyers want to do everything on their own. A realtor will not only help you find your dream home in record time but also take care of the closing paperwork, which can be a headache for those who aren’t familiar.

There’s a problem, though. Realtors aren’t created equal. You need to find the right one for your needs.

In this home buying guide, we’re telling you how to choose your realtor.

Know Your Needs

A lot of people go into the realtor search process without adequate information on what they need. Yes, you’re looking to buy a home, but that’s not enough.

You need to know the kind of home you’re looking to buy as well. Do you want a condo? Beach house? Mountain home perhaps?

This is important because most realtors typically specialize in certain types of homes. For example, a realtor can specialize in buying and selling condos only. Another one can specialize in beach properties.

In addition to the type of house you need, know the state of your finances. You don’t want to be shooting for a luxury beach house when your finances are screaming for a single-family home in a suburban area.

With this information, it’s easy to zero in on a realtor who will meet your specific needs.

Ask Around/Look Online

About 65 percent of people in the U.S. are homeowners. This likely means you know at least one or two people who are homeowners. If you do, ask them if they know any good realtor worth recommending.

If they don’t, well and good. Just go online and look up “best realtor near me.”

Don’t settle for the first one you find, though. There’s still plenty of vetting to do.

Verify That They’re a Realtor

Here’s the thing: all realtors are real estate agents but not all real estate agents are realtors.

A realtor is a real estate agent by training and qualification; they’ve met all the state’s licensing requirements. But they’ve also done more. They’re members of the National Association of Realtors.

NAR membership isn’t a qualification for real estate agent licensing, but it’s a mark of professional excellence.

As such, it’s vital to ensure that the realtor you’re looking to hire is indeed a NAR member and not just a real estate agent who’s masquerading as a realtor.

Evaluate Their Experience and Reputation

When buying a house, you want to make the best investment. You’ll stand a good chance of doing just that when you have an experienced realtor on your team.

Consider the number of years a realtor has been in the practice and the number of similar deals they’ve completed. In addition to experience, go online and read their reviews. You want to work with a realtor with a good reputation.

Follow This Home Buying Guide

It’s no crime to buy a house without a realtor, but if you’re a first-time buyer, it’s not recommended. A realtor will help you in multiple ways. And with this home buying guide, you now know how to find the best realtor.

Keep tabs on our blog for more realty tips and advice.