How to Choose a Buyer’s Broker

Congratulations. You know what a qualified buyer's agent can do for you, and now you're looking for the best one.

What to look for:

Chemistry

The most important factor is chemistry. You have to trust the agent -- their integrity, their understanding of your needs, and their ability to find you the property that meets your criteria. You have to feel like this buyer's agent is listening to you, and that he or she "gets" you.

As you interview an agent, they'll be interviewing you. Note what questions they ask as they try to find out what you're looking for. Are they responsive? Do your answers seem to generate ideas and suggestions from them? Do you feel like they understand your priorities?

Ideally, you should come away from a meeting with a buyer's agent knowing more about what you want than you did before.

Expertise

Part of trusting a buyer's agent is understanding their expertise. Ask them about their real estate experience. Ask them about their experience as a buyer's agent vs. as a seller's. Ask them about the difference. (Armed with the information on this site, you'll be able to tell if they know what they're talking about!)

The best buyer's agents, though, know a lot more than just real estate.  Look for someone who knows:

• Law. Knowledge of the law concerning zoning, environmental regulations, Fair Housing and real estate transactions should be a given. But the more areas of legal knowledge your buyer agent has, the better. The most improbable legal problems can arise. It is important to note that real estate agents are prohibited from practicing law or advising you on legal matters that are clearly the domain of attorneys. Your buyer's agent can really only point out issues you'll want your attorney to advise you on.
• Construction. Knowledge of construction can be invaluable. Sure, inspectors will get called ultimately, but a buyer agent who knows about structural matters can be very helpful and save you time and grief.
• Culture and History. These are integral to quality of life. The better versed in these areas your agent is, the more detailed the information they can give you about the community you are considering.
• Development. Knowing what developers in the area are up to -- and having the contacts to find out -- can save you from buying an unstable property.
• Geology. An agent who is knowledgeable about area soil types and topography as it relates to building, septic and well drilling can be very helpful.
• Local politics. Knowing the inner workings of local government -- and the personalities involved--can prove a tremendous advantage. Which brings us to:
• Sources of information. These can include web or print resources they can share with you. But, even more importantly, it includes the contacts -- experts and insiders -- they've cultivated over the years that allow them to find out things you can't.

Additionally, and probably most importantly, you want a buyer's agent intimately familiar with the area.

Important note: Licensed real estate agents in New York state are not allowed to advise their clients or customers outside their area of licensed expertise. They may know many things about construction, legal matters etc, however; there job is to help you find the necessary professionals that maybe needed to properly advise you on matters that may arise in any given real estate transaction. They essentially need to be the source of the source of information and the professionals that can properly advise you in within their specific area of expertise.

Think Global, Agent Local

The buyer's agent who is a life-long (or, at least, long-term) resident is of inestimable value. Someone who moved to your region five years ago and set up shop can't possibly give you the same depth and quality of information about various communities -- their general character, their pluses and minuses -- and their history.

In short, go with someone local and knowledgeable, whom you instinctively trust.

Ready to find a buyer's broker? For Ulster County, New York, click here. For a buyer's broker anywhere in the United States,  click here.

This web resource will help you better understand what a buyer's broker (or buyer's agent) is -- and how they can save you time and money.

Note: The terms "buyer's broker," "buyer's agent," and "buyer representative" are used interchangeably on this site. Different locales use different terminology for the same idea: a real estate professional who represents you -- the buyer.