The advice typically comes from two kinds of sources: Advice from agents whose advice addresses their strengths, and; Advice from well meaning "authorities" with little real understanding of the business. One of the later group is posted on the Freddie Mac (acronym for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), a secondary mortgage market participant) Web site. Let's deconstruct their advice to see just how comprehensive it is:
- How long has the real estate agent been in the real estate business? —Most agents who cannot make a success of the real estate business spend less than two years in it. Most of the rest are at least successful enough to have stayed with it. Most real estate agents who make a success of the business are personable and have social networks that have sustained them, or work hard at prospecting. Neither of these makes their experience a measure of competence. In fact, many never learn more than the agents who got out of the business within their first two years. In example, in just the past year:
- My buyer's were able to renegotiate a contract when the inspection revealed that the seller, a licensed agent with 7 years experience, neglected to reveal having made repairs to the roof, and treating the property for termite infestation. In addition to a hefty price reduction and buyer incentives, my buyers got a new roof, termite treatment and repair to the foundation (there had been some settlement.)
- A listing agent for a short sale property with 14 years experience asked whether my client would like to purchase any of the furnishings in the home—after the seller had agreed to the offer, and the contract had been submitted to the lender for final approval. When my buyer expressed an interest in some of the items, the agent insisted on adding the furnishings to the contract. This position was potentially disastrous for both my buyer and her seller. The short sale period was to expire in under 30 days, and renegotiating the contract risked both my buyer's position and that of the seller. My buyer had the cash, but was buying up to her qualifying limit, and we risked having the loan disapproved. Also, adding the cost of the furnishings to the contract would likely have meant that the listing agent's seller would not receive any of the funds paid for the furnishings. The agent ignored my objections, and argued for a good five minutes—pointing out her vast experience several times.
- Another buyer was able to renegotiate a contract and get a new roof in addition to a significant seller contribution to her closing costs when the listing broker (with over 30 years in the business) revealed that the seller had had an inspection on the roof at the time it was listed—but had failed to disclose the inspection.
Experience matters, but it is not always a good measure of competence—virtually everyone knows someone with years of experience who still does everything wrong.
- Is this person a full-time agent?
This may be some of the best advice Freddie has to offer, but the experienced agents mentioned in the preceding remarks were full-time agents.
- Is the real estate agent familiar with your preferred community?
Agents who have been in the business will likely be familiar enough with the communities in their market area to serve buyer/clients well. It is far more important that the agent not be so complacent about their knowledge of a community that they not research a chosen community for each individual client.
- How many homes has the real estate agent sold in the past year?
An agent who has sold 20 homes in the past year, but never quite got it right will not serve a buyer any better than an agent who sold five homes and got it right. Many agents also specialize in listing homes for sale, but also take on buyers. Assume that one such agent sold 15 of their listings, helped three sellers find their next home and served two more buyers who had come to an open house. Should their "sales" count? See the remarks for the question, "Does the real estate agent usually work with sellers or buyers? "
- What's the average sale price of those homes?
This question is not likely to be helpful. Averages make interesting statistical measures, and can be useful for some applications, but not for selecting an agent. Consider the following scenario: An agent who sold 11 luxury homes priced over $500,000, and five investment properties priced between $35,000 and $80,000. How would this agent's average sales price of $533,000 disqualify them from any price bracket?
- Does the real estate agent specialize in homes in your price range?
This is a rephrasing of the last absurd question.
- Does the real estate agent usually work with sellers or buyers?
There is something to be said for specialization, but not as specialization relates to an agent's suitability to serve a buyer. Good agents will have learned something from both sides of the transaction that will be useful to serving the needs of buyers very well. The relevant exception is a listing agent. Listing agents need a special set of marketing skills that the majority of agents lack, which likely makes them better buyer's agents as well.
- How many buyers is the real estate agent presently working with?
This is another valid question, but, like the rest, needs context. The context would be the buyer's time-table. Out of town buyers shopping in advance or someone who has a lease expiring in a month or two would need an agent who can help them now.
- Is the real estate agent acting as an exclusive "buyer's agent, meaning that they work exclusively with people like you who are interested in purchasing a home, as opposed to property owners who are selling a home.
Here's another question that just rephrases the preceding question about whether the agent usually works with sellers or buyers.
- How many sellers is the real estate agent presently working with?
This question asks about the other side of a preceding question, and crosses over into two other questions. The author must really have been trying to compile an impressive list of questions. It also lacks context, and no valid context that would be helpful to a buyer comes to mind.
- What are the real estate agent's strengths?
This question really needs context, but also needs guidance about how to determine what those strengths may be. Buyers need an agent who is detail oriented enough to identify anything that might provide them with an advantage in the negotiations, and who has well honed negotiating skills.
- Will the real estate agent offer you 3 homebuyer references?
This question is not likely to be very helpful. Most of the testimonials an agent may receive from buyers address relatively superficial aspects of their relationship, and few buyers are qualified judges of an agent's expertise, or likely to be aware of any deficit in the agent's competence.
- For how long will the agent's contract with you be valid?
This question needs context, badly. For how long a term should it be valid? I'd suggest that buyers negotiate the term if they are not comfortable with what the agent offers.
Some online advice stresses the importance of personality on the premise that a buyer will be spending significant time with the agent. This is not bad advice, but it has limited value. Buyers should of coourse not select an agent with whom they form an immediate dislike, but factors related to competence are much more important.
What Questions Should A Buyer Ask?
The following questions address my strengths, like the online advice of other agents, will likely be more helpful in determining an agent's competence.
- Have you earned the Accredited Buyer Representative Designation (ABR®)?—The ABR® designation is among the most difficult to attain. It requires both coursework and proven performance, and is held by fewer than 10% of agents. The coursework includes procedural details and strategies not taught in other courses, and no other professional designation is a better indicator of competence as a buyer's agent.
- Do you provide an initial counseling session?—Whether a first time buyer or an old hand at buying and selling real estate, this is important. Well informed buyer make better decisions. The market is in constant flux or may differ in significant ways from markets with which an old hand is familiar. buyers should look for agents who recommend earmarking at least two hours for this initial counseling session. The session should cover routine and legally required advice and warnings, the market, financing, the buying process, buyer expectations, post-contract process and time-table, and the closing. This is also the time for buyers to ask any questions they want answered before looking for a home.
- Do you recommend a mortgage lender?—Most agents have a mortgage loan officer they like to work with. The lender is usually competitive, and the loan officer knows that any future referrals from the agent will hinge in the quality of service they provide for that agent's clients. The agent should however recommend that the buyer shop around for financing on their own.
- How has your attention to detail benefited your clients?—Like the examples in the comments about experience (above), an agent should be able to relate how they were able to leverage the negotiations in their client's favor.
- Do you specialize in serving buyers or sellers?—This is a trick question. If the agent answers, "buyers," without addressing how their experience with sellers has helped them become a better buyer agent, I'd hold the answer suspect. Specialization is generally more important to the agent's business development than to the interests of their clients.
- How many years have you been a real estate agent?—You should want to find an agent with at least two years experience and who has earned their ABR®, but not dismiss an agent with less experience who has earned their ABR®.
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