Knowing whether or not your Realtor practices real estate on a full-time basis can give you a piece of the puzzle in foreseeing scheduling conflicts and, overall, his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion.

It is not uncommon for agents to hire people to work for them or with them. But it is very important for you to know who you are working with. If you have a problem, do you talk to the assistant handling that part of your transaction, or can you contact your agent directly? How knowledgeable is the assistant(s)? Are they licensed agents as well? You will want to know just who is really working for you when you decide whether or not to hire an agent to assist you in purchasing a home. If there is a problem, who will be ultimately be there to help you solve it? Will you be able to get ahold of your agent if you have a problem with their assistant?

Many homebuyers prefer to search online for homes and home buying information. There are certain privacy and comfort levels that you might appreciate in starting a preliminary search this way, and often it is just a matter of convenience, having 24-hour access to information. By searching the Realtor's and the company's websites, you will get a clear picture of how much work you would be able to accomplish online, and whether or not that suits your preferences. It also gives many buyers a little better sense of control over their own situation. When I have a question, how quickly do you respond to e-mails?

Some real estate companies do offer their buyers' agents a higher commission if they are able to sell "in-house" listings. In such circumstances, there can be added incentive to show you a more limited range of homes than you might consider. If this is the case with your Realtor, you should be very clear on how this will impact your home search. You also should feel comfortable asking your agent to show you other listings that you may be interested in. You will also want to fully understand what "dual-agency" is and how it may affect you.

The goal here is to ascertain to whom the Relator has legal fiduciary obligation, which may very from state to state or even locale to locale. In the past, Realtors always worked for sellers. Then the listing broker was responsible for paying the agent or sub-agent that brought a suitable buyer for the home. And even though the buyer worked 'with' an agent, the agent still represented and owed their fiduciary duty to the seller.

An additional situation in some states is 'dual-agency.' This is legal in Arizona. It is where the buyer decides to have the listing agent preparte the offer for him. A knowledgeable buyer may elect this situation which must be fully disclosed, in writing, to all parties. This affects the broker's/agent's fiduciary responsibilities to both the seller and the buyer. If you are asked to sign a dual-agency agreement, be sure to have your Realtor fully explain the effect that it may have on your transaction and their ability to represent you.

Although Realtors today almost always have a sense of moral obligation to buyers, this original type of seller agency still exists in certain areas. In other areas, a formal method of buyer representation called 'Buyer Agent' exists to protect buyers. Find out what is available in your area and make yourself comfortable with the extent to which you will be represented. This is especially true when purchasing a new home. The agent representing the Builder does not represent the buyer in any way in the transaction, and your best interests are not protected by the agent, unless you have a buyer's agent.

This is an issue that can also be related to agency. In many areas, the seller still customarily pays all Realtor commissions through the listing broker. Sometimes, Realtors will have other small fees, such as administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless of whether they are buying or selling. Be aware of the big picture before you sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of buyer costs from any agent you contemplate employing.

Interviewing a Realtor to help you buy a home can be very similar to interviewing someone to work in your office. contacting a Realtor's references can be a reliable way for you to understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with your own. How much of their business comes from referrals is a big question to ask them. If most of their business comes from referrals, they must be doing something right to get past clients to trust them enough to send them their family and friends.

Understand that, especially in the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be increasingly difficult for a Realtor to offer a performance guarantee. Your Realtor may be willing to guarantee that if you are dissatisfied in any way with their service they will terminate your Buyer Agency Agreement. Be careful if you have signed a 'Buyer-Broker' agreement. This is a binding contract that binds you to work only with that particular agent. If you decide later that you are not happy with your agent, and purchase a home through another agent, you may legally owe the first agent a commission. Be sure to fully read any agreements that you sign with your agent, and know how they will affect you later. I understand the importance of a win-win situation with my clients. If you are not satisfied with me, you will not refer your friends or family to me to buy or sell their next home.

It's a good idea for you to set your expectations reasonably in accordance with how your Realtor conducts business. You may be looking for an agent to call, fax, or e-mail you every evening to tell you about properties that meet your criteria which are new on the market. Or you may not want to be bothered as often. Ask this extra question ahead of time so that you are on the same page as your agent, which makes for a far more satistying relationship.