Purchasing a home could be overwhelming but Interviewing an Agent is very important place to start. The agent that you chose during the first stages of this process is pivotal. They will be your right hand person from the start of the process to the finish. Hopefully building a great report with the right agent will be in your life for future homes to purchase or as a great referral to family and friends.

But where do you start? There are over 97,000 active real estate brokers in California and over 5,000 in the San Diego County. Although the numbers seem scary, Interviewing an Agent will help you narrow down your options and get you on the path to purchasing and/or even selling your existing home.

Smart and Savvy consumers interview any potential service but Interviewing an Agent is most important, they will help you to make one of the biggest decisions of your life, at least for 30 years.

Here are some questions to ask when interviewing real estate agents.

• How much experience do you have as a Realtor?
• How much experience do you have selling in my neighborhood?
• What’s your marketing plan?
• How many open houses do you plan to have?
• Will it be on Broker Caravan?
• Will you get feedback from each showing?
• What kind of photography/videography will be taken of my home?
• What separates you from the competition?
• Can I have references and can I contact them?
• What are your hours and availability?
• Will you be holding the open houses or showings or will another agent be there in your place?
• What are your fees?

While you’re out there asking these questions, the agent will likely be interviewing you too and this is a good sign. The interview process is best done over the phone or meeting at the agent’s office for a first meeting. These questions will serve as a guideline so you can learn about the various agents to make the best decision to meet your real estate goals.