You Need To Find Out The Answers To These Questions Before You Hire A Buyer Agent 

Hiring a Buyer Agent to assist you in your home search is a big decision.  Your Buyer Agent is going to be your guide and advisor for a period of time.   You want to make sure the agent you select is experienced, knowledgable and subscribes to a code of ethical conduct. 

You also want to make sure they are going to be a good "fit" for you since the home search process and the steps-to-closing can take several months.  If you don't think you are going to enjoy their company (as well as benefit from thier advice and negotiating skills), it may not be a good relationship.

Below are some questions (and my answers) that the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) recommends that you ask potential agents as well as a few supplemental questions that clients have found helpful to ask when selecting a Buyer Agent. 

1. How long have you been licensed? - I have been licensed since October 2003 and have no disciplinary actions against my license.
2. Do you work in real estate full time? - Yes
3. What percentage of your business is working with buyers? - 100%
4. How familiar are you with the area? - I am considered an expert in the Greater Boston residential real estate market and a frequent expert source of information and insight for the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Kiplingers.
5. Do you have references from other buyers who have used your services? - Yes, references are available upon request.
6. Do you belong to an association that has a published code of ethics or standards of practice? - Yes, I am a member of the National Association of REALTORS and subscribe to their extensive code of ethics.
7. Do you think foreclosures, bank-owned properties or for-sale-by-owner properties are appropriate for me? - It all depends.  I have experience handling all of these transactions but their appropriateness depends upon an individuals unique situation.  They are not ideal for everyone.
8. How often will you supply me with properties that meet my criteria? - The pace depends upon the needs of each client.  As a rule, I provide all clients with daily e-mail alerts as well as access to the MLS system so they can explore the listings on their own.  I also provide a GPS HomeSearch application that clients can use on their SmartPhones. 
9. How will you communicate property information to me?- Typically information is communicated via e-mail, but this can be customized to meet a client's individual needs.
10. Will you point out negative aspects of each property as well as the positive? - Absolutely!  My clients hire me specifically to pick out the negatives of a property and make sure they don't get "emotionally swept-away" by a property that doesn't meet their needs.
11. How do you help buyers get the best price and terms?- I help buyers develop a customized negotiation strategy for each property.  No property is alike so we have to look at a myriad of factors that may impact the negotiations.  Purchase price is a huge factor in the negotiation, but often times there are other considerations that need to be incorporated into offers, counter-offers, and bidding situations to create a winning negotiation strategy.
12. Can you help me with the loan process? - Yes, I have great connections with the best lenders in the area.  I also assist the buyer and loan officer anticipate issues that may effect the financing.
13. Do you have a list of recommended lenders, home inspectors, insurance agents and other professionals? - Yes, I have a number of referrals for all of the professionals that a buyer may need during the process of buying a home.
14. How do you get paid?- In virtually all cases I get paid via the MLS co-broke.  In the case of a For Sale By Owner, the seller pays my fee.  To-date, I have never had a client need to pay additional fees for my services.
15. Do you have a written agreement?  Yes - I require each buyer to enter into a written contract with me after our first outing to view properties (I like clients to get a feel for what it is like to work with me before signing the agreement).  It is important for every consumer to have a written agreement with any type of service provider (i.e.: attorney, contractor, auto repair shop, etc) ensure that scope of services, responsibilities, fees, etc. are documented to avoid misunderstandings.
16. What is the duration of that agreement? The duration is negotiable, but most clients ask for a 3 or 4 month agreement which can be extended if the process takes longer.
17. What if I find a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) house on my own?  Just give me a call with the location, etc. and I can call and pre-screen the house to see if it meets the buyer's needs.   If it works out and an offer is accepted, we will have the seller pay my fee at closing.
18. How many clients do you typically work with at one time?  It varies a bit throughout the year because of the cyclical nature of the business.  I am very careful not to be working with too many clients at any given point so typically 5-6 clients at one time is my limit.
19. What special training or certifications do you currently hold?  I have earned the  Accredited Buyer Agent (ABR), Graduate - Realtor Institute (GRI), and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designations from the National Association of REALTORS.  These designations reflect extensive classroom education as well as real-life experience in the residential real estate profession.  Less than 4% of all REALTORS in the United States have earned the CRS designation and I am the only Exclusive Buyer Agent in Greater Boston to offer my clients this level of experience and education.
20. How does your firm handle “dual-agent” or “designated agent” situations?  Because I am an Exclusive Buyer Agent in an Exclusive Buyer Agent Real Estate firm, these conflicts never happen. 
21. What is the average percentage price reduction that you have been able to obtain for your clients?  A lot of factors impact the extent that I am able to negotiate price reductions from "asking price" to the ultimate "selling price", but in 2009 I was able to negotiate an average price reduction of $17,000.00.