by Bill Biko

Created on: August 23, 2009

I am a huge proponent of owning your own home, especially with some of the great opportunities out there currently. As first time home buyers there are many challenges out there ranging from qualifying under the stricter current guidelines, to choosing the right area to buy, to understanding the whole process of home ownership and of course choosing a Real Estate agent.

A professional Realtor who has become successful in his or her field has never done this without having become very educated about the process, the area and even the pitfalls involved. An extra advantage of their experience is also the contacts they have developed over the years with mortgage brokers, Real Estate lawyers and possibly even contractors to further help you with your purchase.

As a current home owner interested in upgrading, downsizing or even changing neighbourhoods, choosing a Real Estate agent can be incredibly important. Now you will potentially be dealing with one individual as you are selling your home and possibly again after you have sold your property and are ready to purchase your new home. In today's buyer's market, I highly recommend you sell your property prior to putting any offers out on new properties!

Home purchases can be the single most expensive purchase most individuals ever make. Due to this, there are some important considerations you must be aware of when choosing your Realtor.

When choosing a Real Estate agent. don't choose a Realtor because they are a friend or relative. These qualifications alone do not ensure they are going to be the right person for you to work with. If your cousin in Airdrie is a Realtor, they usually have very little idea of what the Chestermere market is like. Do choose a Realtor familiar with your area. If they are already familiar with properties listed in the area and what is taking place in the local market, they will have an immediate advantage on a Realtor from outside the area.

When choosing a Real Estate agent, don't choose a Realtor who has the most listings. Just because they have generated a huge amount of listings doesn't mean they are able to sell properties. This may indicate their whole marketing program is based on acquiring listings and then having other Realtors sell for them. Do choose a Realtor who has a high ratio of sales versus listings. Wouldn't you rather have a Realtor who listed 15 properties and sold all 15 versus someone who listed 100 properties and sold 20?

When choosing a Real Estate agent,

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