First, find an agent that knows your market
A good rule of thumb is to seek out a real estate agent early in your buying or selling process. Local agents are often aware of trends in your area that are hard to notice for someone not working in real estate.
If you have the "show me the numbers" mentality, RealTrends released the top real estate companies by closed transactions with eXp Realty and Compass leading the way. You can read the full report at RealTrends.
Now that you found a potential agent you would like to work with, have a few questions ready for them
How long have you been working in this area?
What is the average home price of your recent transactions?
Are you partnered with an agency?
Gauge how they respond and if their responses are in a timely manor. The real estate market moves quickly and you want to know they are on your team and you are a priority.
Agents scan listings that include your wish list items
You know you are off to a good start when your agent lets you talk more than they do. Successful agents will document your initial conversations and make sure to show you listings that align with your needs.
Sometimes the market makes hitting all the items impossible but if you are clear about the most important home attributes you can expect them to filter listings based on those criteria.
To summarize, expect your agent to help you find a property that meets your needs and budget. They will also help you negotiate the purchase price and terms of sale.
Don't forget to check their social media or website
Active agents typically have recent closings, sales, and resources to help you with the buying or selling process.
Current testimonials can also give you insight into how they help clients and if their previous customers would recommend them to others.