Choosing an agent is like NFL draft

Question: I am looking to find a real-estate agent who can help me locate my first home. What should I consider in choosing someone?

Answer: Choosing a real-estate agent is a lot like the NFL draft. This month, NFL teams will pour over game film, statistics and test scores about hundreds of available college players. Be like Coach Bill Belichick: Be diligent with your research:

: Research statistics. Every agent has a history of home-listing successes and failures. Online resources like the MLS and Realtor.com provide tools to identify an agent’s number of current listings, homes sold, average days on market, etc. Sort through this information to identify the high-value performers in your region.

: Choose an agent who is ready for game time. Whether you want to view a home, research towns, or simply want questions answered, you need your agent’s time and availability. Choosing the busiest agent in town may leave you waiting in line for their services.

On the other hand, the agent at your beck and call may have no other customers for a reason.

: Interview former customers. Get references and call them. Ask about the agent’s professionalism, attention, ability to negotiate, etc.

: Test their intelligence. NFL scouts differ over the usefulness of the infamous Wunderlik test – a written intelligence test administered to all players.

Verify your agent’s education, both past and continuing. Whether your agent is board-certified or Ivy League-educated, you will not pay extra.

Attorney James Haroutunian practices real-estate law, estate planning and smallbusiness formation at 790 Boston Road, Billerica. Contact him with questions at 978-671-0711 or email him at james@hlawoffice.com.