How to Find A Good Real Estate Agent: 7 Things to Look For

• 1. Experience
• 2. References
• 3. Size of Their Brokerage
• 4. Marketing Plan
• 5. Communication Style
• 6. Negotiation Skills
• 7. Ethics

When it comes time to sell your house, finding the right real estate agent is essential. But how do you know who to trust? Here are seven things to look for when learning how to find a good real estate agent. 

1. Experience

Make sure your agent has experience in the market where you’re selling. They should also have experience with the type of home you’re selling, whether it’s a commercial property or a single-family home.

Your agent should know how to get a home appraisal if you’re the buyer, and they should be comfortable holding an open house if you’re the seller. The agent you choose should be a natural in relationship selling and know how to build trust with a client.

There’s no requirement to pick an agent who has several years of experience. However, these agents tend to be savvier and know how to get their clients excellent results. 

2. References

Knowing how to find a good real estate agent includes asking for as many references as you need. Ask your prospective agent for past client testimonials and read them thoroughly.

Buying or selling a home is a significant undertaking. You don’t want to work with someone who rushes through their job. 

Also look at their online reviews to get an idea of what other people think about their work. If you discover that their average review is less than a 4.5 or 4, it’s a wise idea to hire a different agent. 

3. Size of Their Brokerage

Consider the size of the brokerage they work at. Smaller firms may be able to offer more individualized attention for their clients.

When you’re moving to a new location, you don’t want someone who treats you like a number. You want an agent who will be able to answer your calls quickly and follow up thoroughly. 

4. Marketing Plan

Another factor to look for when settling on how to find a good real estate agent is their marketing plan. Do they have an effective process for driving interest in properties? Do they have a high close and client satisfaction ratio?

Ask the agent how they plan to market your house. They should have both online and offline real estate marketing ideas and know how to generate real estate leads for your home.

5. Communication Style

The fifth thing to look for is communication. You want to be sure you’re compatible with your agent’s communication style.

They should be responsive to your needs and keep you updated on the progress of your purchase or sale. If they are difficult to reach in your initial conversations with them, this can be a red flag.

6. Negotiation Skills

Your agent will need excellent negotiation skills in order to get you the best price for a house. They should be thoroughly familiar with what is a comparative market analysis so they can price your home accurately.

If you’re buying, your agent will be negotiating down. If you’re hiring a seller’s agent, this means your agent should always negotiate a higher price (within reason, of course).

You can often spot strong (or weak) negotiation skills in reviews. Take your time to read through everything you find online about your agent. Past clients are the clearest indicator of their successes and any critical mistakes. 

7. Ethics

Finally, knowing how to find a good real estate agent includes seeing that they’re ethical. You don’t want someone who is going to use black hat marketing tactics or sleazy conversations just to make a sale. 

You need to be able to trust them completely if you’re going to hand over the sale of your home to them. Get to know them face-to-face before you enter into a contract with them. This gives both parties the chance to “feel each other out” and ask any questions about what it’s like to work together.

By keeping these points in mind, you’ll know how to find a good real estate agent whenever you need one. You’ll find a professional who gets the job done enthusiastically and on time. 

Finding The Right Agent for You

Finding a great real estate agent can be easier said than done at times. With the tips in this article, though, we hope your search becomes much easier. For more insights on the housing market as a consumer, or working with clients as an agent, check out our blog.