One of the most important things to do when looking for a house, is to find the right realtor. If you are lost and don’t know the area very well, a good realtor will be able to show you around and give you a good idea what kind of place you’ll be buying into. Here are some ways to ensure you find the right person to help you find your dream home.

Know the Neighborhood

One of the most important things to look for in a realtor is someone who has a familiarity with the neighborhood you are looking into. Someone familiar with the area will be able to tell you whether a particular house is priced right, and will have the inside track on listings before they become active.

Get Recommendations

It always helps to hear from friends, co-workers, and relatives about real estate agents they have had good experiences with. Since they aren’t likely to see their realtor again, most are willing to give an honest assessment of that person’s performance. If you are considering a certain real estate agent, ask for references from previous clients.

Investigate

Realtors are professionally licensed, and your state should have a real estate commission or board that handles complaints against them. You should check your agent’s history to see if they have been the subject of any complaints. You should also check the person out online, doing a Google search and checking social media to see what they have said, and what is being said about them.

Look at Current Listings

One way to know if a realtor really has the know-how and experience you are looking for, is to check their current listings. See if they are selling homes in the area you are looking into and in your price range. Also look for red flags, such as too many or too few listings. Too many listings could mean the person won’t be available as much as you might need, and too few could indicate the realtor isn’t too serious in the profession.

Look for Connections

A realtor with connections to home lenders, inspection companies, mortgage bankers, and title companies may be able to speed the buying process along and get you deals on a home loan and other services. A good realtor will be able to help you talk to mortgage lenders in Houston or your local area and give you good advice on which inspection companies are thorough. Be careful that you don’t get pushed into services you don’t want.

Buying a home is probably the biggest financial commitment you will ever make, so finding the right realtor is crucial. Use these tips to make sure you are getting someone who has the skills you need.