Meet David Haydym<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n First-time buyers often picture an agent as a person with a key to the lockbox. The real work is mostly invisible. Connecticut\u2019s Department of Consumer Protection lists the tasks of a buyer\u2019s agent<\/a>: arranging showings, providing property and community information, disclosing known material facts, preparing market analysis, counseling on price, helping write and negotiate offers, keeping your objectives confidential, assisting with loan applications, monitoring deadlines and attending closing.<\/p>\n California\u2019s Department of Real Estate describes the same job in its own terms. An agent should locate and show homes that match your needs and price range<\/a>, help negotiate the purchase, explain disclosures and paperwork and give you copies of the purchase agreement and other documents. State rules differ, but the core duties are consistent.<\/p>\n For a first-timer, three of those tasks matter most.<\/p>\n You have never watched a sale from the inside. A good agent pulls recent comparable sales, tells you whether a list price is realistic and helps you decide how far to go. In a competitive town that judgment can be the difference between a winning offer and an overpayment. If you are shopping Maine, our look at how multiple offers work in Maine<\/a> shows what that conversation sounds like.<\/p>\n A purchase contract has deadlines for inspections, financing and disclosures. Miss one and you can lose leverage or your deposit. Your agent tracks those dates and tells you what each one means before you sign. In Maine, for example, the timing of seller disclosures can open a short window to back out, which we cover in our guide to mapping Maine disclosures to Title 33<\/a>.<\/p>\n Agents see the same inspectors, lenders, title companies and attorneys every week and know who answers the phone. NAR suggests asking prospective agents whether they can refer you to mortgage, repair and closing providers<\/a>. You are never required to use the first name you are given, but a short vetted list saves a week of cold calls.<\/p>\n No law says a buyer must use an agent, and some experienced buyers skip one. As a first-timer, you would be taking on the tasks above yourself: researching values, drafting or having an attorney draft the offer, tracking contingency deadlines, coordinating the inspection and handling the closing. You would also be negotiating directly with a seller\u2019s agent whose job is to get the seller the best result.<\/p>\n The practical question is not whether you can, but whether you want to learn those skills while spending the largest amount of money of your life. If you choose to go without, hire a real estate attorney or a reputable title company to handle the contract and closing. Our comparison of how to vet a title company or attorney<\/a> lists the questions that matter.<\/p>\n Most first-time buyers are better served by a good agent, because that agent\u2019s incentive is to see the deal closed correctly and to protect your interests along the way. The rest of this guide is about finding a good one.<\/p>\n Talk to an agent before you start touring open houses. The order that works best for most first-time buyers:<\/p>\n If you are earlier in the process, a conversation six months out is still worthwhile. A good agent will tell you what to fix first, whether that is a down payment, a debt balance or a timeline.<\/p>\n The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<\/a> says buyers can find agents through referrals or real estate websites, and reminds them that many of those websites earn advertising revenue from agents. Treat a website\u2019s ranking as an ad, not a review.<\/p>\n California\u2019s Department of Real Estate recommends<\/a> asking trusted people for recommendations, verifying the license, interviewing more than one agent, requesting past-client references, asking for proof of any specialization and choosing someone familiar with the area where you want to buy.<\/p>\n The CFPB advises choosing an agent with experience in your preferred neighborhoods, price range and home type<\/a>. That sounds obvious, but it eliminates a lot of candidates. An agent who mostly sells luxury waterfront homes may not be the best fit for a $280,000 starter house inland, and the reverse is true too.<\/p>\n For a first-time buyer, add four practical filters:<\/p>\n The CFPB recommends asking prospective agents for references and checking your state licensing agency for disciplinary actions<\/a>. Most states let you search a license number online in a minute or two. A license tells you the agent met the state\u2019s requirements. The REALTOR\u00ae designation additionally means membership in the National Association of Realtors and adherence to its Code of Ethics, which is why NAR\u2019s own list suggests asking whether the agent is a REALTOR\u00ae<\/a>.<\/p>\n Use the same list with every candidate so you can compare answers side by side. NAR\u2019s consumer guide suggests asking about the agent\u2019s services, knowledge of your search markets, experience with buyers in your situation, scouting methods, agreement terms and compensation, provider referrals and references<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fannie Mae adds that you should speak with several agents rather than feeling obligated to choose the first one<\/a>, and suggests comparing expertise, career background, process, availability, references, contracts and costs. Its checklist also covers whether the agent mainly represents buyers or sellers, how many clients they handle at once, whether they work full time, what hours you can reach them, whether a contract is required and whether you can cancel.<\/p>\n Condensed into a form you can bring to the meeting:<\/p>\nTL;DR<\/h2>\n
\n
Table of Contents<\/h2>\n
\n
What a realtor actually does for a first-time buyer<\/h2>\n
Pricing and comparable sales<\/h3>\n
Contracts and contingencies<\/h3>\n
Your team<\/h3>\n
Do you need a realtor at all?<\/h2>\n
When to contact an agent<\/h2>\n
\n
How to find and compare candidates<\/h2>\n
What to look for<\/h3>\n
\n
Check the credentials<\/h3>\n
Questions to ask in the interview<\/h2>\n
![\"Perspective:](\"https:\/\/realtormaine.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1793211996601_Perspective-what-we-tell-first-time-buyers-overview-diagram.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"RealtorMaine\"](\"https:\/\/realtormaine.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788094251885_realtormaine.jpg\")
<\/p>\n