Selecting a real estate agent to represent you in a home purchase can be one of the most important decisions you make. There are obvious considerations, such as choosing a reputable agent with experience in the area where you want to buy. Here are a few not-so obvious questions to ask before you select an agent.

Do You Represent Sellers? If the answer if yes, run as fast as you can. If he or she tells you they can represent you as a dual agent which is”legal” but can easily lead to a conflict of interest, run, run,run.

Will You Work With Your Agent Or An Assistant? Before signing a contract, find out who will  be working with you. Some buyers  are disappointed  when they discover that they won’t be working with the agent  they selected. Instead, they might be working with an assistant. Many busy agents use assistants to help them do their job but if their too busy to deal  with you directly, maybe their too busy and you need to get an agent that will give you their undivided attention. At KDR, you will be working not only with the agent but the broker and owner, the same person.

What Is Your Agent’s Schedule? When you commit to working with an agent, it’s reasonable to expect that your agent will attended to your real estate needs. Imagine how outraged you would  be if you found a home on the internet and you wanted to see it tomorrow and called your agent and was told that he had gone fishing for two weeks. Everyone is entitled to time off. But, a real estate agent has a fiduciary duty to their client. This means-among other things-making sure that his client’s business is adequately covered while he is away. Some agents try to cover their business long-distance, which is rarely effective. He should ensure that there is a substitute agent to take care of  the client before he leaves and the client is happy with the substitute agent before the contract is signed.

How Will You And Your Agent Communicate? One of the biggest complaints made about real estate agents is that they don’t communicate often enough. Make sure before you commit to working with an agent that you know how often you can expect updates. If you prefer communicating by e-mail, find an agent who will accommodate you. If you find that your agent is not communicating often enough, let your agent know what you need.