Finding the right real estate agent can make all the difference in your home buying process, especially if you're buying a home for the first time. It is essential to enjoying a painless real estate transaction. The common saying is  that "10% of the agents do 90% of the business," and it is true in my opinion. A good real estate agent can steer you through the home buying process and help you avoid costly mistakes. 

Most real estate agents stay in business because satisfied clients refer them to friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Ask the people around you who they have used and ask them to describe their experiences with this real estate agent. Successful agents make customer satisfaction their number one priority and put their customers' needs before their own. Try to find an agent who goes above and beyond her or his responsibilities. They will be the agent whose praises your friends sing loudest.

There are plenty of Web sites that will refer agents to you but that is no assurance of quality. The agents they refer are those who have paid the Web site owners a fee to be listed in their directory. A better bet is to Google the top real estate companies in your area, go to those Web sites and look up profiles of individual agents at offices near you. Agents who are experienced will tell you but newer agents might have more time to spend with you. Look for customer testimonials.

Ask other real estate agents for referrals. Agents are happy to refer buyers and sellers to associates, especially if the service you need is not a specialty of the agent who is referring you. Some agents specialize in residential resales while others work exclusively with new home builders. Other agents sell only commercial or investment property. Mortgage bankers are also a resource for agent referrals as many mortgage professionals have firsthand knowledge of exceptional agents. Pros tend to refer pros.

You can find great local Mount Pleasant, South Carolina real estate information on Localism.com Chip Lake is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.