Do your homework when finding a real estate agent

Choosing a real estate agent is the same as selecting any other professional to work with, be it a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant. You want to deal with someone you can trust, who is knowledgeable and who will listen to you.

Finding the right agent to represent you is never an easy task. Most of us rely on word-of-mouth referrals, while others find their agents in a more random fashion, be it at an open house or by responding to an advertisement.

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A lot of people have a "friend" who is in real estate. This can be a good or a bad thing. Just because someone is a friend doesn't mean he or she will be the best person to represent you. (I have a lot of friends who are great people, but I would never do business with them!)

You are not dealing with a nominal transaction here. Business is business, and if your friend isn't the one for the job, then say so. A professional will understand.

I asked members of my Mortgages In Canada Discussion Group how they selected their realtors. Here are some of the responses:

Regardless of how you find a realtor you should interview the person, ideally face-to-face, before you agree to do business. Just because your friend said she or he is fantastic doesn't mean you will have the same opinion. Don't be afraid to meet with a few different people to see who would be the best fit for you.

During your meeting, you want to pay close attention to your first impressions of this person. Trust your instincts; they will usually be right.

You want to ask yourself the following questions during your interview:

The Ontario Real Estate Association Web site recommends that you get a résumé from your prospective realtor and that you check references. Be careful not to choose the agent who is just telling you what you want to hear. These folks are in "sales", so don't be afraid to be a little sceptical about what they tell you.

If you do your homework and trust your instincts, chances are you will choose the right person for the job!

Andy MacDonald (BA Econ.) is president of MortgageBroker Inc. He has more than two decades of financial services experience and has long been an advocate for consumers within the mortgage industry. Visit his Web site at MortgagesInCanada.com.