How to Pick the Best Agent for You

Looking to buy or sell? Start by looking for your agent and getting the best one to help you. 

There are a lot of real estate agents out there, and also a lot of very good ones – so it is important to find the right one for you and your situation. But how do you even start?

As with any big and considered purchase, do your research, and do not be afraid to interview a few agents to get the right feel for them and how you will work together.

After all, it is literally a job interview for the agent, and it is a highly competitive market – not just between agencies but among agents in the agencies who are usually self-employed.

Start with the basics – what is the agent going to do for you? A good agent is not only technically competent in the details of property transactions, but good at relationships and has a good network of people to assist you, be it a mortgage referral, a title agent, insurance experts, home inspectors, or contractors.

Does your prospective agent have a strong network and are they good at explaining the process of buying and selling to you? Do they seem to understand the local market, and have they taken the time to listen to you to discover what it is you are looking to achieve?

Are they a buyer’s agent or a listing agent? Naturally, most agents can do both and if you are selling one house to buy another, you may well want to just work with one person. You may, however, want to be careful about using the same agent as the other party, as you want to ensure they have your best interests solely as their concern.

Check to see if they are a real estate agent or a Realtor. A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent who is both a member of and bound by the ethics and standards of the National Association of Realtors. Check to ensure your prospective agent has the license and credentials they claim – each state has a website where it is easy to verify qualifications.

Wondering where to get your short list of agents from? Ask around – many friends and colleagues will know people they have used and be happy to recommend people they felt did a good job for them. Check out websites, reviews, and local Facebook groups for recommendations – people are keen to highlight the positive and negative.

Ask the prospective agents about how they work with their clients – you may have a great person but if they only text and you prefer speaking on the phone, they may not be for you.

Look into their experience – how long have they been in the industry and what is their track record like? Do they have clients willing to give testimonials? Will it be the agent themselves that will work with you or an assistant? 

Naturally, you will be paying for their services - so be upfront about their rates and ask them how they will be paid. Most agents work on a commission paid by the seller, which is split with the buyer’s agent and five or six percent is common, but it may be negotiable, so it is worth asking.

How realistic does the agent seem? Be wary of one promising the world – are they being upfront and honest about any likely difficulties? Are they setting appropriate expectations about the availability of houses, pricing, competition, etc? Are their suggestions backed by evidence they can show you from your marketplace?

Ultimately, ask yourself if you feel comfortable in the agent representing your best interests and whether you believe you will have a good and professional working relationship with them.