My New Blog

I recently answered a perspective homebuyers' question of When (How Early) do I need to hire my Real Estate Agent in a web forum. Interesting question as each individual's situation may be somewhat different. All that said, you still have these common similarities regardless of their personal situation. Each person is relocating for some reason. Each person needs a new home for some reason. So when do you hire them?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What am I trying to accomplish?

2. How soon am I trying to accomplish it?

3. How long will this process take?

4. How knowledgeable and comfortable am I in achieving this task?

Your answers will reflect your comfort ability with the relocation endeavor and how much assistance you are going to need. I personally do not think you can begin preparing too soon. That said I do not think hiring an agent is as simple as picking up the phone, sending an email, or randomly finding someone's web site. Hiring an agent should be about establishing a relationship based on trust and comfortability. That takes time!

My recommendations are these: 10 KEY POINTS

1. Start now even if it is only preliminary.

2. Create on paper a time line for yourself based on your relocation calendar. Identify the milestones you want to accomplish by certain dates. Also identify the hurdles/obstacles that you may face in the transition. If you are considering building a new home prior to the actual move this is really critical.

3. Create a profile of the optimum agent you would/will desire to have work for you.

4. Begin with a broad approach. Research and/or talk to several (many) different companies. Include the mix- large, medium, and small companies to see where your level of comfortability may be.

5. Try to create a short list, i.e. 3-5 companies you want to focus in on.

6. Speak with several agents from each company you interview. Be candid, as specific as possible about your situation, needs, desires, requirements, etc. Note how each agent "stacks up” based on these criteria. Try to determine as best as possible their level of experience, their knowledge and skill level, their commitment to servicing their client, their availability and flexibility, their current workload, and overall professionalism. Don't hesitate to ask the hard questions and LISTEN carefully. Again, try to create a short list of 3-5 agents you want to focus on and or feel most comfortable with from each office. If an office yields just one agent that is fine- go with your feelings.

7. If you relocation schedule allows for it make a "prior to" trip to Austin specifically to meet face to face with your short list of agents. This task may be time consuming, a little expensive (depending) and maybe even a little inconvenient given your schedule BUT IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY AND OR OUNCE OF INCONVENIENCE. Nothing substitutes for a face to face interview.

8. Based on your interview results, your feelings and your level of comfortability make a decision and hire an agent.

9. Every good worker/employee deserves a good job description/expectation. Orient your newly hired agent on exactly where you are in the relocation process and go over with them your criteria timeline you created earlier on. Bring them up to speed and then make sure they understand the schedule and milestone dates moving forward. Make sure they know, understand, and embrace your plan and schedule going forward.

10. Remember! You are not choosing an agent. You are hiring an agent. Put them to work early on in the process. First, this gives you a chance to determine if you feel you have made the right decision. Second, this frees you up to concentrate on other aspects of the relocation endeavor that you need to be concetrating on associated with your family and the transition.

Stephen B. McClain is a licensed Real Estate Broker and owner of Cornerstone New Home Solutions located in Austin, Texas.  He also is a certified instructor for the Texas Real Estate Commission.  He has been active in Real Estate and New Home Construction for over 25 years.