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Here's a common question that commonly crosses a home buyer's mind.  "If one Realtor can find 5-10 homes that I might be interested in, wouldn't using 2 or 3 agents be more effective?  That way, I'll have 3 people working for me instead of just one."

In reality, this theory is more than just a little flawed.  Here's why.

Have you hired anyone to accomplish your tasks?

While you're busy dedicating yourself to the Realtor selection process, finding just the right Realtor or Realtor(s) to work with, guess what?  They're doing the same thing.  The real estate Realtor is busy dedicating their time to finding just the right clients to work with.  Now, keep in mind that I didn't say "customer," I said "client."  A customer is someone who does not have an agency relationship with the Realtor.  A client has officially hired the Realtor in writing to perform a specific task or group of tasks.  Until you hire a real estate Realtor in writing, THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU.  There are a few exceptions to that statement, but for the most part, it's absolutely true.

Why doesn't my Realtor think like I do?

With that said, here's another startling take on reality.  If you hire no Realtor to work for you, which one actually does?  None.  No one is dedicated to spending the time, resources, and ability of their team on  your behalf -- which is why you receive less than optimal results from your home search.  Ever wonder why your Realtor may not keep in contact routinely?  Why the homes you're receiving information on aren't quite right?  It could very well be because you haven't committed yourself to one particular person or agency to accomplish your real estate-related goals.  By not hiring one Realtor to represent you, you're only hindering your chances of finding the right home or property.

Who loves who?

It's a marriage of sorts, but in this particular situation, no one really loves you until you're committed to them and no one likes to invest themselves in you if you can't do the same for them.  The real estate world is a very small community too.  Agents often find themselves talking with other people that you may be considering working with and they generally know if you're working with another Realtor during the home search process.

Choosing the right Realtor

Choosing the right Realtor isn't all that difficult if you take the time to interview them up front.  Really.  Take your time and dedicate at least a few days to contacting, interviewing, and reviewing their qualifications up front.  Get to know their philosophy, ask them how long they've been in business.  What types of properties do they specialize in?  Are these the types of properties you're interested in?  Could someone else be more proficient in accomplishing your specific goals?  Choose your Realtor like you choose your home -- decide what it is you want, what it is that you need, then go out and find the best.

No matter what, choose one Realtor.  Invest your time in getting to know this person well ahead of time and you'll be much more successful with your home search.  You're going to need the services and assistance of someone who is a specialist, someone who's highly trained, and someone with the experience to get your goals accomplished.  Dedicate yourself to one Realtor and you'll have a friend in the business for life.

From the Front Lines

Throughout my career, one thing I've noticed about home buyers in general is that they don't like to be "sold."  No one does.  They do like to be offered as many choices as possible, but they don't necessarily appreciate the question and answer process when engaged by real estate professionals.

As a home buyer, you really need to invest some time in getting to know the person who may eventually handle the purchase of your new home or property.  Trust is a key factor, as is the willingness to express just what it is that's eventually going to make your and your family happy.

Realtors generally like to make people happy.  After all, that's why they're in the business.  They love people and they love to make them happy.  We all do.  Take a few minutes today to write down the qualities that you require find absolutely essential in the real estate professional that you'd like to work with.  Match each professional with your list of qualities to determine the best match.