If you are planning to buy or sell a home in Oakton or the surrounding Fairfax County, then choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. Your real estate agent should be knowledgeable about Fairfax County history, housing trends, neighborhood statistics, school performance records, home inspection results, mortgage lending trends, and even architectural styles.

There is a lot of work that goes into helping a family choose a new home. Your agent should be ready to ask you several questions so that he or she can determine the communities and price ranges that best fit your needs. Your agent should also encourage you to be pre-qualified for a mortgage so that you can expedite the purchasing process once you have found your dream house. It is important to keep homes viewed well within your financial means, and a mortgage pre-qualification will help you do so.

The best Fairfax County realtors will often be experts in particular home styles. For instance, if you’re looking for a condominium, it is always best to find a real estate agent that deals with condominium purchases on a regular basis. This real estate agent will be able to talk you through any rules and regulations, homeowner’s association fees, and parking situations that you wouldn’t run into with a traditional home purchase. Some agents deal only with home buyers that are planning to spend more than one million dollars, so if that is not in your budget, you’re better off finding another real estate agent.

Don’t be afraid to thoroughly interview several Fairfax County real estate agents before deciding on one. Be sure to avoid signing any documentation until you are perfectly sure that you have found the agent who can best suit your family’s needs. Conduct your own investigation into every real estate agent’s reputation, because it is, inevitably, your home on the line.

Also, it is not a bad idea to consider going with a fairly new agent. What the Realtor lacks in experience, he or she will make up for in spirit and determination. A recently licensed agent has completed the same real estate course as a seasoned agent, and therefore has the same knowledge base. He or she also will be sure to have greater amounts of time on their hands as they build a new client base, which means more time and attention for you.