If you're considering buying a home, you may have a number of things on your mind such as finding a nice home within your budget, locating a house in a good area for schools, deciding on the right floor plan, staying within a certain distance of work, etc. While all of these things are important, the single most critical decision you have to make when home shopping is which Realtor you will work with. It's true, you could do it alone, but without proper representation, you'll be at a distinct disadvantage, not only in negotiating a deal, but also in finding the right house.

For your sake and the sake of your family, it's best if you work with an experienced Austin Realtor. An experienced Realtor can help you locate properties for sale in the areas you want to live and may even be able to recommend some areas you haven’t considered yet. He or she can also provide valuable insight during the initial looking stage. Your agent is also likely to notice things that you don't and therefore could end up saving you a great deal of money. In addition, since chances are the seller will be represented by an agent, you'll want an agent there to look out for your best interests too.

Once you make the decision to work with an agent, the next decision you'll have to make is which agent to choose. This is not as easy as it might appear. You'll want to do more than just flip through a phone book to find a name. You'll need to do some homework to make sure you select an agent who's right for you.

Find out how long the agent has been in the business. A more experienced agent is likely to give you better service and greater attention to detail. Also, ask how much of the agent's work involves representing buyers. This will give you a clue about whether the agent is likely to ask the right questions throughout the buying process.

Ask for references of buyers the agent has represented in the last 6 months. If the agent is readily willing to give you this information, it shows his or her confidence and provides some indication of trustworthiness. Once you have contact information in hand, be sure to follow up by making calls or sending an email. You can find out whether the agent was responsive, helpful, and knowledgeable. And who would know better than the clients he or she has represented?

In addition, ask the agent about credentials. Has the agent had specific training related to the unique needs of buyers? Does he or she hold special accreditation? Any agent who is not willing to share this information with you is probably not worth dealing with.

Another important question is whether the agent has a list of lenders, home inspectors, and contractors that he or she likes to work with. It will certainly save you time, and probably money, if you can rely on your agent to supply this information rather than trying to hunt it down yourself. The answer to this question will also give you an idea as to whether the agent is knowledgeable about the community.