For most people, buying or selling a home is stressful, as it involves the single biggest financial investment they will ever make. As if this wasn’t enough, real estate transactions are complicated and can be unpredictable, leading to even more stress, especially without reliable support, guidance and preparation. Knowing what to expect and how to manage the stress is extremely important to maintaining peace of mind, physical health, and psycho-emotional balance.

The most important factor for reducing stress when buying or selling is selecting the right Realtor to work with. Here are some tips for beginning the journey.

• Interview at least two or three before making a decision about who to entrust with the biggest financial investment of your life.

• Leave a message, email or text requesting the appointment to see if they are reliable and respond quickly.

• Have a written list of any questions or concerns and make sure they are answered and addressed.

• Remember, good Realtors work for you, not the other way around. It’s your deal, money and life. Realtors are there to provide information and guidance, not to say what anyone “should” do.

• Make sure you know who will actually be working with you. If the Realtor or agent is on a team, they may never be seen or heard from again as the deal is passed on to a “transaction agent” or other staff person.

• Make sure the agent reviews anything they are asking you to sign (in person or digitally) and that they are reliably available to answer any questions. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.

Carol Nigut is a realtor at Your Home for Real Estate at Coldwell Banker Residential. Prior to becoming a Realtor, she had her own wholistic health and fitness business called Happy, Healthy, and Whole. Connect at 520-448-6033, [email protected] or YourHome4RealEstate.com. See ad, page 14.