As a first-time home buyer, you probably have a lot of questions about buying a house. Every first-time home buyer feels this way, so don’t think you’re alone.
In fact, 38% of all home sales in 2019 were to people buying their first homes.
As you begin searching for your dream home, you may have questions about the steps of buying a house and your responsibilities in the deal. You might have a lot of other questions, too.
It’s always a smart idea to ask the right questions when buying your first home, and here are the top questions you should ask your agent as you begin working on the process of buying a house.
How Long Have You Worked as a Real Estate Agent?
One of the top questions to ask a real estate agent is how long he or she has worked as a full-time agent. Finding out the answer to this question will reveal the experience the agent has.
When you are a first-time home buyer, you will have a lot of questions. You may feel confused about the process, and you might feel uncertain about what happens next. Because of this, you need an agent with a lot of experience.
While there is no set time frame to stick with, it might be wise to choose a realtor with at least two or three years of experience. Working a couple of years as a full-time agent provides the realtor with plenty of real-world experience with real estate.
How Long Have You Lived in This Area?
Another question to ask a realtor is low long he or she has lived in this area. If a real estate agent recently moved to the area and is now working in real estate, the agent might not know a lot about the community.
Even if you know a lot about the area, you should still find a real estate agent who also knows a lot about it. An agent who knows the community can provide you with more insight about the location of homes you might be interested in seeing.
Choosing the right home is vital, but selecting a home in the right location is even more essential. The location of your house affects many things, including the resale value and your commute time.
Can You Give Me Some References?
When you’re interviewing realtors, it’s also a good idea to ask him or her for references. A reference is a past client that the agent worked with, either buying or selling.
To get the most out of the references, ask for references of clients who bought homes. If you can talk to a few people who bought homes through this agent, you will learn more about the agent.
You should create a list of questions to ask the references when you call them. Here are a few examples of good questions to ask:
- How was your overall experience working with this agent?
- Did the agent respond to you quickly with details of your transaction?
- What did you like most about this agent?
- What did you dislike about him or her?
- Would you hire this agent again if you ever decided to buy or sell in the future?
You can add additional questions to your list, but these are a few good ones to include.
What Percentage of Your Clients Are Buyers vs. Sellers?
Next, you should talk to the agent about the types of clients he or she works with. Does the agent typically help buyers or sellers? What is the percentage of clients that were buyers versus sellers?
If you notice that the agent works primarily with home sellers, you may want to select a different one. You should look for an agent who specializes in helping buyers purchase houses. Choosing an agent like this will offer the most help to you.
What Steps Do You Recommend for Inspecting a Property?
Going through the home-buying process for the first time will be a brand-new experience for you. Because this is all new to you, it might be helpful to ask questions about the process of buying a house.
For example, you may want to ask the agent what steps he or she recommends for choosing a house. You could also ask what steps the agent suggests for inspecting a property.
Feel free to come up with other things to inquire about, too, relating to the steps of buying a house.
Why Should I Hire You for Help Finding My Dream Home?
When you’re buying a house, especially your first home, it’s vital to have a realtor you feel comfortable with and who has a lot of experience. Therefore, your last question should be, “why should I hire you?”
This question may seem rather blunt, but agents are used to hearing it and may even have an answer prepared for you.
The agent may explain all the organizations he or she is part of through the agency. The agent may tell you about the certifications he or she has. The agent may also talk about the satisfaction rate of previous clients.
You can take all the information the agent provides during this interview, and you can analyze it and compare it to the details other agents offer. Then, you can decide who to hire for help with buying a home.
How to Learn More About the Home-Buying Process
Buying your dream home is an exciting event that you won’t want to rush through. Instead, take your time when choosing an agent and a house to buy.
Would you like to learn more about buying a house? If so, check out the rest of our blog for helpful and insightful articles on the home-buying process.
