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Guest post by Gerard McDaniel

A good realtor can make the difference between a wonderful and a terrible home buying experience. When I decided to buy my first place, I was excited and ready, but any new experience can always be a little intimidating.

I went into the process with extreme caution, questioning everything along the way. I asked my realtor everything from what certain acronyms and legal jargon meant to whether I should have ADT San Antonio install an alarm system. The area in which I was buying was technically still considered a transitional neighborhood, so I definitely wanted to feel safe.

My realtor even took note of my strange bit of excitement every time I saw “As Seen On TV” tomato planters on the back patios of several properties that he showed me. His housewarming gift to me was the aforementioned planter, along with gardening gloves and pruning shears. I had never had to deal with any outdoor space before owning, so I did not have these yet.

He also continues to be available to me when I have questions about refinancing or renting, should I move.

Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.