How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent

Real estate transactions are complicated. There are contracts, paperwork and other legalities to address, as well as plenty of research, negotiation and time involved. A good real estate agent is essential to buying or selling a home. With the right agent in your corner, the process will be easier and less stressful.

Your real estate agent should be able to educate you on the home-buying and selling process. They should also have local market expertise, expert negotiation skills, and the ability to handle legal and contractual issues.

Understanding Your Needs

You must consider your specific needs and preferences to find the best real estate agent. 

Here are questions that every homebuyer should consider:

• What type of home are you looking for, including size and amenities?
• Where should your next home be located?
• What is your price range?
• What is your preferred timeline?
• Do you want a turnkey home, or are you willing to renovate?
• What are some must-haves in a home versus nice-to-haves?
• Are you a first-time homebuyer, or have you purchased homes before?

Here are some questions for sellers:

• Why are you selling your house?
• How much is your home worth?
• What is your preferred selling timeline?
• Are you prepared for the selling process?
• Should you make repairs or improvements before selling?

Understanding Different Types of Real Estate Professionals

There are different types of real estate professionals, including buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, real estate brokers and Realtors. Most agents can represent buyers and sellers, but their title depends on who they represent during the transaction.

Real Estate Agent vs. Broker

Like a real estate agent, a broker helps people buy, sell and rent properties. However, brokers have a higher level of real estate licenses, training, and additional responsibilities. 

A real estate agent must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A real estate brokerage oversees real estate transactions to ensure compliance with legal requirements and ethical standards.

Brokers usually begin their real estate careers as agents. Depending on the state, agents must gain experience and meet education requirements to qualify for a broker’s license.

Real Estate Agent vs. Realtor

The terms real estate agent and Realtor are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing. All Realtors are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors.

A “Realtor” is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) who adheres to a strict code of ethics. Realtors can also access additional resources and training to help grow their business.

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

A real estate agent can represent both sides of the transaction. If you’re buying a home, you’ll work with a buyer’s agent. If you sell a home, you work with a seller’s agent.

A buyer’s agent represents the buyer and their best interests. The agent will help them search for a home, make competitive offers and negotiate the best deal. 

A seller’s agent, also called a listing agent, helps sellers price, stage, list and market their property. Once your home is listed, the seller’s agent also negotiates with buyers.

How to Find a Real Estate Agent

There are several ways to contact a professional real estate agent. Here are a few places to start:

• Referrals: The most common way people find a real estate agent is through a family member, friend or neighbor. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 43% of buyers and 65% of sellers used an agent that was referred to them.
• Research: You can inquire about a specific property online by contacting a real estate agent. The Homes.com real estate agent search will allow you to see experts in your area. You can narrow your search to identify agents by level of experience, budget, and expertise with different types of homes.
• Attend open houses: Look through your neighborhood to see which agents list homes. Attend open houses to meet agents in person and speak with them directly.
• Reach out to a brokerage: “A highly reputable brokerage is a good place to start,” says real estate agent Kate Wollman-Mahan of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “Don’t hesitate to reach out directly to a brokerage and ask for the sales manager, who can then introduce you to a great agent who is right for your needs.”

When evaluating agents, make sure to look up the agents’ websites and online profiles. Review their specialties, the number of transactions completed, their professional affiliations and experience in the local market. Additionally, it’s wise to look through client testimonials and reviews.

“If you can’t even find the agent’s phone number, profile picture, or bio, that’s a red flag,” says Carolina Walicki, a licensed real estate salesperson at Real New York. 

Walicki also recommends looking at how the agents display listing photos. Do the photos look professional? “Great agents will always go the extra step to present property listings with professional photos to provide value to their clients,” Walicki adds. “How real estate agents brand themselves and present their listings online is a great way to assess how they will represent you.”

Before deciding on which agent to work with, Walicki says it’s a good idea to call or email them first. Do they answer or respond quickly? What’s their tone? Another option she recommends is to go “undercover” to inquire about one of their current listings and see how they reply.

“This method will show you how that agent responds to general inquiries, their response time, communication style, etc.,” Walicki says.

Interviewing Potential Agents

After you’ve narrowed down your list of potential agents, interview them to better understand their experience. Consider each agent’s strengths and how they have successfully handled challenges in the past.

Here are some questions Walicki recommends buyers and sellers ask a real estate agent when interviewing them:

• Why did you become a real estate agent?
• How long have you been a real estate agent?
• What is your experience selling homes in the area?
• What is your experience with home purchases in the area?
• When was your last closing, and for how much?
• What’s been your biggest transaction? And your smallest?
• What do you care most about in a transaction?
• What is your commission structure?
• How do you handle negotiations?
• Can you provide references from past clients?

Assessing Agent Compatibility

Not all experienced real estate agents will be the best agent for you. Buying and selling a home is stressful, so you’ll want to find an agent with whom you feel compatible.

“You don’t need to be BFFs, but you need to feel comfortable with the person and be confident with their communication style and skill set,” Walicki explains. Pay attention to their communication style. Do your personalities fit? Do you have shared values and goals?

Another consideration is how well they interact with other agents. “If they don’t have good manners or don’t display kindness or appreciation, it may be more difficult to get the listing agent to release information to them that may become important down the line,” Walicki adds.

Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent

Once you’ve interviewed at least three potential agents, you’ll need to weigh their expertise and other qualities to help you decide. Here are some things to consider when hiring a real estate agent.

Experience and Expertise

Some agents will have more experience and expertise than others. According to NAR research, Realtors have an average of 10 years of real estate experience. 

Look for agents with a proven track record in your local market. Ask about their experience selling similar properties and their knowledge of neighborhood trends. If you’re interviewing a relatively new agent, ask if they have a support system to help them navigate a transaction if they run into issues.

Also, consider your specific needs before hiring an agent. Some agents specialize in working with specific properties, buyers or sellers. For example, if you’re relocating to a new area for your job, look for an agent with the Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation who can guide you through the complicated process.

Communication Skills

A big red flag is an agent who is late, never checks in, doesn’t go to showings with you, or doesn’t confirm appointments. Communication is key. Ensure the agent is responsive, easy to reach and able to explain complex concepts clearly.

“You want someone who is knowledgeable about the current market and is sharing that information with you,” Walicki says. “You also want an agent who will answer your questions with patience and someone who will make time for you.”

Market Knowledge

Local market knowledge helps agents provide clients with the most up-to-date, accurate information. A knowledgeable agent can provide valuable insights into local market conditions, including pricing trends, inventory levels and neighborhood characteristics.

“Real estate is unlike other assets in that every property is really unique, and understanding market comparables and adjusting them for every property at any given moment is really more an art than a science,” Wollman-Mahan says.

Negotiation Skills

A skilled negotiator can help you secure the best possible deal. Look for an agent with a reputation for achieving favorable outcomes for their clients. Here’s what a real estate agent can help you negotiate during a transaction:

• Price: This is what real estate agents negotiate first. The seller wants the highest sales price for their home, while the buyer wants to pay the least.
• Closing costs: Buyers and sellers can negotiate who pays what portion of the closing costs.
• Closing date: Each party will want to choose a date that best suits their timeline.
• Contingencies: Buyers can request certain contingencies, such as financing contingencies, to be included in the agreement.
• Repairs: If problems are found during the home inspection, buyers may be able to request repairs or renegotiate the price of the home.
• Inclusions/exclusions: You can negotiate what items, such as appliances or furniture, are included or excluded from the home sale.
• Leasebacks: Sellers can negotiate a leaseback, which allows them to stay on the property post-closing for a certain amount of time.
• Warranties: Buyers can try to negotiate for certain home warranties to be included in the deal.

Professionalism and Ethics

Choose an agent who adheres to a high standard of professionalism and ethics. Look for someone trustworthy, reliable and committed to your best interests.

“Bottom line, you need to be able to trust them; they need to be reliable, responsive, efficient and transparent,” Walicki advises. “In a fast-paced real estate market, time is of the essence. You want an agent that is accessible, works efficiently and effectively and will get back to you in a timely manner.”

Additional Tips to Find the Right Agent

There may be additional factors to consider when hiring a real estate agent. 

The agent’s availability may determine how much time they can dedicate to helping you. When interviewing the agent, ensure they aren’t overcommitted with other work. You want an agent who has enough time to dedicate to your needs.

You’ll also want an agent who has the resources and tools to help you in your home search or make your listing stand out. 

• Can they help you stage your home and take professional photos and videos if you’re selling? 
• If you’re buying, can the agent find newly listed homes faster than other prospective buyers?

Many agents also have a network of professionals they work with, which can lead to a smoother transaction. This might include mortgage brokers, loan officers, contractors and inspectors.

The Bottom Line: How to Find a Real Estate Agent

Not every real estate agent will be a good fit. You will need to invest time and effort into finding the right one. 

The best real estate agents are industry experts who can walk buyers and sellers through the intricacies of the home sale. Your agent should be able to negotiate and advise you on what to expect and what to avoid. 

Expert agents are also knowledgeable about the local market and can help their clients get the best deal and close in a timely manner. You don’t have to hire the first agent you find. Speak with multiple agents and find one with whom you feel comfortable and confident.