Cinderella Story...Tips on finding the right agent for you.

​When searching for a home, most people think the difficulty lies in finding the perfect fit. Think of the Cinderella story. The prince searched to find the foot that would fit perfectly in the glass slipper.  While it can be challenging to find your "place in the world", making it through the escrow process can be even more difficult. You need an expert Realtor to help guide you through the process. 

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Through your searches, you find the one. That perfect place you want to call home. It may have some warts, or be the wrong color, but you can tell, this is it from the moment you walk up the to the front door. 
You want a real estate agent you can trust to put your interests first who will guide you through the next steps. What price to offer, pre-approval from a reputable lender, and drafting the terms of the contract. 
Will there be multiple offers? Having an experienced agent, respected in the real estate community can lend weight to your offer. 

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Your offer has been accepted, now the work really begins. Your future home is going to be inspected from top to bottom. Your realtor can refer specialists to you for the following.

• Sewer Lateral
• Roof Inspection
• Mold - Radon - Lead
• Water Intrusion, Geological
• Insurability
• Pest Inspection
• General Home Inspection
• Heating and Air Conditioning

Even the smallest houses can have big problems. Is the foundation cracking, does the house need a french drain for water intrusion, have the termites eaten too much? 

You need an agent who is not desperate to make a commission and will steer you into a house made of cards. You need an agent who will let you know you need to walk away. 

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How do you find the Real Estate agent that will work for you?

1. Ask your friends and colleagues, its's always good to get a personal recommendation.
2. Find someone local, don't work with someone that lives 20 miles away from your target area. Knowing the local market and having an established network of local contacts is essential.
3. You need someone with experience - Have they been selling real estate full-time and have been licensed for several years. You don't want a dabbler.
4. Find someone who is committed and has roots in the community.
5. Are they reputable — Ask around...you can even check on the California Association of Realtors website to see if they have had any complaints.
6. Successful in your area — Do they know the homes in the territory you are looking in. Knowing the neighborhoods is very important.
7. Knowing the inventory is important, they go on tour, and know the comps?

Most of all, interview a few agents to find your best fit. You will be spending a lot of time together through the home buying process. Make sure you will work well together.