There are few life decisions that are more important and stressful than deciding to move. Whether you’re heading to the next town or across the country, moving to a new home or apartment can be difficult. After all, if you’re relocating to a new area, you probably don’t know a lot about it and there are certain things about the neighborhoods and homes that you will need to be aware of. Luckily, you can hire someone to help! A qualified realtor could make the home search a lot easier and less worrisome. However, you don’t want just anyone helping you find a home (or sell your current one), so make sure to follow these tips to find the right realtor for your needs.

Find an agent who knows what you’re looking for

You’re hiring someone who will be the source of inside information on your next home, so they need to be familiar with the area that you’re actually moving to. Don’t hire someone a friend recommends because they helped them find a home a few towns or states over – they won’t know what the neighborhoods are like, where the good schools are, the direction the property values are going in, etc. Also, make sure to find an agent who is an expert in the kind of property you’re looking for; if you want to buy a home by the beach, you should look for an agent who specializes in coastal realty services and not urban areas.

Talk with recent clients

If your real estate agent is as good as they say they are, they will have a list of happy former clients to use as references. Contacting these people is one of the easiest ways to learn about a real estate agent’s suitability. They will be able to share the success they had finding a living situation, as well as any reservations that they may have had about the process.

But don’t just trust the references the agent gives you! Double-check by looking for independent online reviews from other people who used their services. If you find a lot of negative testimonials and unhappy people, steer clear!

Check the agent’s credentials

All real estate agents have different specialties, and even real estate agents who sell any property that comes their way will pick up a few certifications to make themselves more desirable to potential clients. If you’re serious about buying a home, check to see if the agents you’re interested in have any kind of certification. An agent with a CRS (certified residential specialist) completed extra training in selling residential real estate.

When looking for a new home, you need all the help you can get, and the right real estate agent can really make the difference. What else do you look for in a real estate agent?