The most effective, tried and true manner to select a real estate agent is to:
1. Go to a reputable site - like hotpads.com - and see who is active in your areas of interest (it need not remain that way - agents can be good at many areas);
2. Visit the agent at an open house (unannounced) to see how they deal with you - are they your style? Helpful? Knowledgeable? Interested in you as a potential client?
3. Ask them to do a preliminary search for you ("I'm looking in the $300K range in zip codes A and B, want 2 bedrooms 2 baths, a patio and off-street parking) and see how fast they get back to you and how good they are;
4. Repeat with 2 other agents (3 total is enough, usually).

Then, begin the process - if things don't work out, the relationship is generally easy to terminate.

Good question and one that I struggled with as well.

First, I asked my friends for recommendations on good agents, as well as those that they had bad experiences with. This was a great way to narrow it down quickly.

A couple of my friends used the same agent and were very happy with her results, so I thought I found the one. However, while they were my dear friends, I just didn't "click" with the agent after the first few meetings like they had.

Finally, a coworker of mine who had a great experience SELLING her house, asked her agent for a referal, and I eventually ended up going with him.

I think it's all about being aware of who is out there, asking for referals, but ultimately finding an agent who understands you and what you are looking for.

Good luck with everything!!

Hello! I just bought a home in the area as well. What I didn't realize until I sunk a lot of time in with one realtor was that sometimes you just don't click, like Carol said.

You should treat selecting an agent like an interview. Don't be afraid to talk to more than one and then choose the one who "gets" what you are looking for.

Also, some agents specialize, or at least have experience dealing with, first time home buyers. The first time I bought a house was a whole different game... I didn't know what I was looking for really or what I could afford. You might want to consider how much experience each agent has with first timers as well!

Laurie

ask around to people you know. Set up some meetings. You will generally know.

I guess in a certain sense what mattered to me was that certain agents covered certain neighborhoods with more expertise than others. Definitely look up the area where you might potentially want to live on Nabewise.com and then check out the agents who really have sold houses in this nabe in the past and zoom in from there!

Hello Martha,
did you find an agent?
If not,I would like to recommend you myself:
my name is Maya and I am in the real estate business and my clients usually are very satisfied with my service. I just love to see people happy and is trying my best to make it happen.My clients speaks different languages:English,Russian,Spanish,Tagalo...,but what makes them similar-is a big happy smile when they are ready to move to the new home.I've being in the same life situation as you are right now and think that buying a new house is a great idea in starting a new life!
Good luck to you! If you would like to contact me,my phone number is 415-722-1037 and my e-mail address: mayabrusil@yahoo.com

Please feel free to take a look at my current inventory to see available properties in around San Francisco. Please feel free to give me a call and I will answer any questions you might have about Real Estate. www.JesseFowler.com