“Buying a new home, especially if it’s your first home, is not an easy thing to do. There’s new terminology to learn, a whole process to follow, and a host of decisions to make. That’s why almost everyone who buys a home works with professionals in the field to make sure they get a good deal on a good home without too much headache. The most important person in the team of professionals you will want as a home buyer is your real estate agent. But how are you going to look for a good real estate agent?

Here are some of the top ways successful homebuyers find good real estate agents:

1) Word of mouth. Often the best way to get a good real estate agent is to start asking everyone you know if they know a good real estate agent. You’ve probably gotten other professional help this way (everyone always asks if you know a good dentist, right?) Of course, you shouldn’t jump into bed with the first real estate agent who recommends you: your Aunt Sally is blind. The elderly neighbor who talks to his cat can come with her referral, but he may not be able to meet his home buying needs. But good word of mouth referrals are a great starting point for finding a good real estate agent.

2) Look at the ads in real estate magazines. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? If someone invests enough to get a good professional image and takes the time to advertise in key locations, they probably care a lot about their real estate business. And that means you have a good chance of being a dedicated real estate agent. It doesn’t hurt to look through the ads to see who’s out there and make an appointment to meet some people.

3) Make use of your search engine. You can do a lot of research on local real estate agents by typing your information request into their search engine. Check out some real estate agent websites and look for positive reviews from real estate agents in your area to help you find a good real estate agent.

4) Prepare a list of interview questions and don’t be afraid to interview several different real estate agents until you find the one you want to work with. Yes, you may be seen as an annoying client, but if a real estate agent wants his business, he’ll work hard to get it, which means he’ll fully answer any questions you have. Things you’ll want to know include how long you’ve been in business, how well you know the area you’re interested in buying a home in, and what you’ll do to help you understand the home buying process.

If you find a good real estate agent, the rest of the home buying process should go relatively smoothly. Yes, you will still have decisions to make, but you will have a professional real estate agent there to help you with those decisions. And you can rest easy knowing that the difficult thing is over. Well, at least until it’s time to start moving!”