What should I look for in a real estate agent?

Question

I am newer to Bigger Pockets and brand new to investing.  I have watched several of the webinars and have been reading 2-5 blogs on the site per day.  Great information.  Thank you to all who post!

As a newbie, I have been unable to find discussions/blogs on what questions I should be asking to find the best real estate agent.  For those of you who have been doing this for a while, how did you find your real estate agent?  What questions did you ask them?  What skills are most important when looking for investment properties vs. a formal residence?

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Anthony Micklus · Answer

You definitely want to interview them first. Here are a few questions I have asked my realtors.

Do you invest yourself?

Do you have a specialty?

How long have you been doing this?

How many properties did you sell last year?

How many properties are you listing right now?

Travis Boyer · Answer

Welcome @Kristin Cooke I found the agent I work with through networking with others. You will probably have to work with several different agents before you find the "right" one for you. You will learn that many agents do not enjoy working with investors, especially the new ones because they feel you will be wasting their time. In my experience, you need to find an agent that has invested in real estate or is a current investor as they will be more understanding of what you are trying to do.