Did you know that 80% of homebuyers will work with the first agent they come in contact with? That’s an alarming number given the fact that not all agents are created equal.

You don’t want to take the easy route, though, and get stuck with an agent who is less than stellar. The best way to avoid this is to do some research on the agent and compare their credentials against some basic criteria.

Are they part-time or full-time? I work with plenty of part-time agents who are overtly scattered, disorganized, and make it very apparent that they work other jobs.

What kind of experience do they have? Maybe the agent has been in business for 20 years and sells five homes a year on average or it could be that they’ve worked in the business for five years but, on average, sell 20 to 30 homes yearly.

Also, regard certain team models with caution—some teams are made up of 30 agents and say they sell up to 300 homes a year but disguise individual productivity by adding their home sale totals into one.

“Asking yourself whether or not your agent is likable should precede all previous questions I’ve mentioned.”

Do they have systems built? Assess whether or not they have proven systems in place that will guide you through the buying process.

Are they tech-savvy? If the extent of an agent’s technological reach is using fax machines, and they’re what you’d consider “old school,” they’re probably lacking the tools necessary to serve you at the highest level in this digital age.

Are they detail-oriented? Your agent should be thorough and shouldn’t leave messes behind for other agents to clean up.

Are they flexible? Find out if you can cancel the buyer agency agreement if you’re not happy with the service.

Are they likable? Though this is coming in last, asking yourself whether or not your agent is likable should precede all previous questions I’ve mentioned. From there, you can begin to determine if the other factors fall into place.