Figuring out how to choose the best realtor for you is a big task. At Legacy Properties West, we know the relationship you have with your real estate agent will be one of the most important relationships in your life. After all, buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you may ever face. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or seller or an experienced property investor, finding the best Realtor with the expertise to guide you through the process is key. There’s no shortage of real estate agents vying for the listing. A quick look around will reveal online ads, postcards, and yard signs galore. With so many professionals in the region, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Where do you start, and how can you be sure you’ve picked the right one? It may be a daunting task, but it’s certainly an achievable one.

Determine What’s Most Important to You

When it comes to the home buying and selling process, everyone is different, and therefore, has different needs. Before you look for an agent, decide what qualities are most important to you and seek them out in your candidates. Consider things like the style of communication, availability and closing records. Do you need someone who will immediately get back to you on correspondence, or are you more flexible? Is super-personalized attention key for you, or do you prefer an agent to gauge your lifestyle and take the reins accordingly?

Get Referrals From Your Network

There’s nothing better than a referral from a friend, relative, neighbor or colleague you trust. According to research, more than one in five sellers choose their agent based on a referral from someone they know. Ideally, you’ll want someone who is experienced in working with clients who are similar to you. After all, the needs of a first-time buyer are very different from the needs of repeat buyers or homeowners looking to downsize.

Leverage Technology

While old-school methods of choosing an agent like referrals and for-sale signs are valuable, our ever-evolving technology offers a wealth of resources. Start by examining the online presence of agents you’re considering. Check websites and look for any active social media accounts they may use to promote their listings. An agent’s online presence is the next best thing to a personal referral. Take a look at their online reviews, and read what people in your area have to say about working with them. Don’t worry about one or two negative reviews, but do take note of how the agent responds to them. Check with your state’s real estate regulator.  On their site, you can find out an agent’s licensing status and whether or not they’ve received any disciplinary actions. You can also check with your local Better Business Bureau’s website to see if the agent has received any complaints.

Meet With at Least Three Agents

When hiring a real estate agent, don’t settle for the first agent you meet. This is your opportunity to get a sense of each agent’s style as well as their experience level. Ultimately, you’re looking for a Realtor who is familiar with a particular area and understands your budget needs. Handle this process as if it is a job interview, because essentially it is. You may go into the process with a front-runner in mind based on a referral or reputation. Even so, you’ll still want to ask each of the three agents the same questions and compare their responses. The interview process gives you a chance to find out the agent’s preferred method of communication and their availability. It also offers the opportunity for you to confront any uncertainties or potential concerns based on your initial research.

Request References

If you still need more information, this is the time to ask for references. Ideally, the references they provide will be buyers with similar circumstances as yours. Try asking about homes they’ve listed and sold in the past year, with contact information for at least a few recent clients. When you call the agent’s references, be sure to find out their experience and what quality of support the agent provided throughout the process. Also, ask if they’d hire that agent again for their next real estate transaction.

Go With Your Gut and Choose Your Agent

Now for the fun (and most important) part of the process. Compile all the research you’ve done, weigh all your intel, go with your gut and make a final decision. Just like in any relationship, chemistry is key here. The agent’s knowledge and experience are just as important as their ability to guide you smoothly through the process. If you meet an agent who checks all the boxes, but you just don’t vibe with them, don’t choose them. Personality fit is essential in the process of home buying or selling. Above all, you need to choose an agent you trust and will feel comfortable with if the road to closing gets a little bumpy. At Legacy Properties West we know that there are a lot of choices out there, but we believe that our office has some of the best agents in the business. Stop by and see us today, we can’t wait to be part of your home buying journey.