How to Pick a Real Estate Agent: 4 Tips for Choosing the Right One

Purchasing a home begins with finding the right real estate agent. The success of your home search comes down to how well the two of you work together to find the home of your dreams. But how do you choose the right agent—and what should you look for when deciding? 

“Picking the right agent is like picking a business partner—you want someone who actually knows what they’re doing and isn’t just in it for the paycheck,” says Becky Pendergrass, an agent at Benchmark Realty, LLC.

To help you as you begin your home search, real estate experts are sharing their best tips and advice for finding and assessing potential real estate agents.

Where to Find an Agent

All things begin with an internet search these days, and finding an agent is no different. If you’re searching online, start by checking with local real estate firms as well as nationally recognized firms with local branches. 

“Do some digging,” Pendergrass says. “Before hiring me, most of my clients have already checked out my social media, read my reviews, or talked to someone who’s worked with me. That’s what you should be doing—look at an agent’s track record, ask for referrals, and pay attention to how they present themselves online.”

Be sure to read reviews for any firm you consider. Look for an agent with experience and a proven record. “Reviews help tremendously and really give a look into how that agent deals with their clients,” says Alana Lindsay, an agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg. “When evaluating their reviews either on their website or some other public portal, you want to look for key things in an agent that you would like to have to be reflected in the reviews. If you want someone who is very responsive and answers a lot of your questions, you will want to see if that is something someone has written in their review.” 

It’s also a great idea to get recommendations from friends and family who have worked with agents they like—nd don’t discount a website presence as you hunt. “The quality of an agent’s online persona speaks volumes about the quality of their work,” says Jacob Wood, a broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg. “Do they show attention to detail and presentation? They need not have the most reviews or the fanciest website, but the more effort they put into their online persona, the more effort they’re likely going to put into your transaction.”

What to Ask Potential Agents

Once you’ve found some agents you’re interested in, make some phone calls to see if they have the capacity to take on new clients. From there, have a conversation about your goals. 

“I always ask my clients, ‘What’s your endgame?’” Pendergrass says. “Are you a first-time buyer looking to build some equity? Investor? Upgrading? Downsizing? Not all agents specialize in the same thing, so you need someone who understands your specific situation.”

Wood suggests asking where the agent finds listings for buyers, and which tasks the agent outsources and which they handle personally. He also suggests outright asking why you should choose that agent to work with. If you’re selling your home, ask the agent about the marketing techniques they’ll use to sell your home. 

Be sure to ask key questions that will tell you how much experience the agent has, what methods they have for helping you sell or buy your home and what kinds of connections they have in the industry to make this possible. 

Ask who they typically work with: Lindsay suggests asking whether the agent works with a team and if they have experience with first-time buyers if you’re new to homeownership or shop within your price range. While this kind of experience isn’t necessary, it can be helpful, she says. 

“If an agent mostly works with first-time home buyers in a lower price range and hasn’t done a higher price range deal in the luxury market, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are unable to properly assist you,” Lindsay adds. “The details of the transaction are mostly the same except for the price and a few other factors here and there.”

Learn their stats: You might also want to ask about your agent’s track record. Pendergrass suggest asking how many homes they’ve sold or purchased in your price range over the past 12 months. You can also ask what their average number of days on market is for the homes they sell. 

“It’s essential to hire an agent with a track record in your price range. Their experience gives them a better understanding of how to position and price your home effectively,” she says. 

Ask for references: “Hearing directly from others who have worked with the agent gives you a better sense of their communication style, negotiation skills, and overall client satisfaction,” Pendergrass adds. 

Understand their credentials: Keep in mind that not all real estate agents are realtors, and other types of credentials exist. Abby Palanca, a licensed real estate salesperson at SERHANT, says you should ask about the agent’s experience in a particular area or neighborhood as well as their pricing strategy.

“You’ll want to make sure they are experienced in your local market,” she says. “Finding out how they intend to price your home, why they arrived at that number and what they’ll do during negotiations to get you the best possible deal is incredibly important.”

How to Decide (Especially If You Have Multiple Options)

Once you have some conversations under your belt, it’s time to choose a real estate agent. Be sure to reflect on conversations you had about your goals, timeline and dealbreakers regarding pricing, location or home features.

Maureen McDermut, a realtor with Sotheby’s International-Montecito, suggests spending time reviewing agent agreements and commission structures so you can compare. “For selling and buying, there are different contracts and agreements…Understanding the commission structure and the duration are both very important,” she says. “Be sure you have an exit clause if the home isn’t sold within a specified amount of time.”

Be sure to choose someone you trust to get the job done. Realtors should have a good understanding of local pricing trends and negotiation strategies. In addition, you should trust their tactics—but don’t discount the importance of working with someone you like, who understands your vision for your future home. 

“Buyers should consider factors like lifestyle needs, long-term investment potential, and financial readiness, while sellers need to weigh market conditions, pricing strategies, and timing,” says Cindy Raney, founder of the boutique real estate firm Cindy Raney & Team.

Finally, be sure to choose someone who responds to you in a timely fashion and can prioritize you as a client. “There is no more important skill set in helping buyers than communication,” Wood says. “Small issues can completely hamstring a transaction if they’re not disclosed immediately, and many can be avoided altogether through thorough communication early in the process. The best thing a client can do is state their expectations clearly and return correspondence from their agent quickly.”

Know You Can Change Your Mind

It’s not uncommon to choose a real estate agent and to find that you’re not satisfied with the work they’re doing to help you find your new property. In these cases, you have a few methods of recourse to address the situation. 

First, try having a conversation. “Clients should always feel free to ask questions of their agent to ensure their goals are being met and that their expectations are clear to the agent at all times,” McDermut says. 

Next, review your contract. “Your agent should go over these with you in great detail prior to signing to ensure that you fully understand everything,” Lindsay says. “You should look out for the length of the contract, and what both you and the agent mutually agree on is an appropriate length for the contract to last.”

If nothing seems to be resolved, consider ending your agreement or finding a new agent.