Blog > Choosing a Real Estate Agent: 6 Things To Look For

Choosing a Real Estate Agent: 6 Things To Look For

by www-localnests-com

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest (and most stressful) events in life.

That’s why it’s so important to have a top-notch real estate agent by your side to walk you through the process. A great agent will help you make wise decisions, avoid expensive mistakes, and make your entire transaction go much more smoothly.

But it’s not always easy to find the right agent for you.

Finding an agent who knows the market and has a good reputation in the field is a great start. But you also want an agent who suits your personality, working style, and communication preferences…not to mention one who will represent your interests throughout the process, not their own.

In the process of choosing a real estate agent, here are six things to look for to make sure you find one that’s a good fit.

6 Things To Look for When Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Credentials

First of all, make sure any agent you’re considering has the appropriate state licensing. Your state should have a real estate license lookup website where you can find out if a potential agent’s license is up to date (view Minnesota’s license lookup site here).

Speaking of licensing, there are a few different terms you’ll notice in the real estate world: real estate agent, RealtorⓇ, and real estate broker. Here’s the difference:

Real estate agents are licensed to help people buy or sell residential or commercial real estate. Real estate agent licenses are issued by the state.
RealtorⓇ. A real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). To be considered a Realtor, an agent needs to:
- Be actively working in the field
- Have a good reputation (i.e., there are no formal actions against them)
- Have no recent or pending bankruptcy
- Pay an application fee plus yearly dues to the NAR
Real estate broker. A licensed real estate agent who has advanced education and licensing in the field and who typically owns or manages a real estate agency. A broker can work independently, but all real estate agents and Realtors must work under a broker.

Experience

Look not just for overall real estate experience, but experience helping clients with the specific buying or selling scenario you’re looking at. Certain situations require more specialized knowledge than others.

For example, if you’re a first-time homebuyer, you will need a different level of help than a long-time investor adding another property to their portfolio. Buying a foreclosure, buying or selling a mobile home, buying or selling a condo vs a single-family home, relocating to a new area (especially rural vs suburbs vs city)…all of these situations require different expertise.

Make sure the real estate agent you choose has the expertise you need for your transaction.

Reputation

You want an agent with a good reputation in the industry…both with their clients and with the other real estate agents and professionals they have worked with.

To determine a potential real estate agent’s reputation:

Read online reviews. What do past clients have to say about their responsiveness, connections, process, knowledge, and so on? Look on Google, Zillow, Trulia, and other similar sites for honest third-party reviews.
Look for awards or designations (especially local ones). These will tell you how the agent is perceived within their industry and their local community.
Ask them how they use their connections to find listings or make sales. Your agent should be well-connected. After all, many sales are made through networks of agents! When negotiation is required during the buying or selling process, it’s helpful if your agent is well-respected by their peers. Plus, if they have good relationships with lenders, title companies, and other industry experts, your transaction is likely to go much more smoothly.

Communication Style

It’s important to find an agent who responds to messages in a timely manner.

A responsive agent will be key to getting showings set up for new listings before they’re gone, helping you sort through the decisions you need to make when buying or selling real estate, and generally making your buying or selling experience a positive one.

If an agent you’re considering doesn’t seem responsive when you try to communicate with them, that’s a red flag…move on and find one who is!

In addition, look for an agent who is willing to communicate with you through your preferred communication channel. If you prefer text over email, for instance, you need an agent who will primarily communicate with you over text.

How Busy They Are

When you’re choosing a real estate agent, you want someone who has lots of experience and a reputation that gets them plenty of business…but who isn’t too busy to give you the time and attention you need.

The high level of competency that comes from being a busy, active real estate agent is obviously valuable. But you don’t want someone who is so busy that you end up talking with their assistant more than you do with them.

Also, keep in mind that some agents only work part time, and that will affect the number of transactions they can handle at a time. A part-time agent typically won’t have as much availability as a full-time agent.

Knowledge of the Market

A real estate agent is essentially your guide to the real estate market.

The agent you hire should have comprehensive insight into the local market, and they should be able to show you tangible evidence of that insight.

For example, an agent helping you determine a selling price for your home should provide market research to back up the price they recommend, including comparable sales, other homes on the market that will be your competition, and so on. And if they’re helping you buy, they should have knowledge about the neighborhoods you’re interested in, including school districts, crime rates, local amenities, etc.

Ultimately, your real estate agent should have a strategy—backed by their expertise—for selling your home or helping you find the home you want.

What Sets Me Apart From Other Real Estate Agents

If you’re searching for a real estate agent to help you with your next transaction, I’d love to be considered!

Here’s a little about me…

I’m an ‘80s child, I’m married, and I have three daughters and a golden retriever. I’m influenced by a fusion of Chinese/American culture, and am blessed with everything I have.

I am a real estate agent and an owner of three rental properties. As a student of this industry, I’m hungry to keep learning and to help people out.

I excel in customer service and I value honesty and integrity. I speak three languages—English, Mandarin, and Cantonese—and am knowledgeable in numerology, astrology, and feng shui. I pride myself on going out of my way to listen to my clients and provide them with the utmost in customer service.

But I think what most sets me apart from other agents is my natural energy to think positively and solve problems for my clients.

Here are a few other things you should know about me:

I’m Hardworking

When you hire me, I’ll get things done. I’ll listen, find solutions, and work tirelessly to make sure you get a fair deal.

I work hard to help each and every one of my clients, because I never want my personal hiccups to be the reason my clients don’t get a home. I’m ALWAYS on my game—I have to be! My clients hire me to perform and deliver, and I do everything in my power to get them into a home. If anything, I’ve been known to over-deliver!

Communication Is Key

The majority of the time, when things go haywire in a real estate transaction, it’s due to a misunderstanding or poor communication. Communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your agent.

I am an agent who is prompt to showings and meetings and always willing to meet your communication style (text, call, email, etc). I work to listen well, communicate clearly, and respond quickly.

When You Hire Me, You Become Family

I’ve told many of my clients that if I wouldn’t put my siblings in a home, I wouldn’t want to put you in it! I’ll point out the pros and cons of a home and be totally honest with you. Your priorities become my priorities.

And this extends beyond closing—if I can help, I will!