How to choose a real estate agent you love

If you know anybody who has bought or sold a house, you’ve probably heard one of two stories – a horror story or a love story. There are hundreds of articles telling you how to choose a realtor. In the information age, weeding through the advice, the ratings, the ads can quickly become overwhelming. Nobody wants to live a horror story, so aside from the oft repeated conventional advice on how to choose a real estate agent, how do you find a real estate agent you love working with? How do you find “the one” that is right for you?  Here are some suggestions.

1. Pick up the phone. Doing your entire agent search online is like trying to find your spouse using only an Internet dating site. The persona people put forward online doesn’t always represent reality. When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, remember you are building a relationship with a real live person who will be helping you make one of the biggest decisions of your life. Before you commit, be sure you take a moment to meet the real deal.

2. Look for that something extra. The “ok” agent and agent you love both get paid the same way. It doesn’t cost anything extra to find the person who has that something extra. If you’re going to invest your time and trust with someone to make this decision, you might as well find someone you like – or better yet find someone you love working with.

3. Look for someone you trust. While assisting you in your real estate transaction, your agent will get to know everything about you – your finances, your mistakes, your fears, your hopes, your dreams. They should be a trustworthy and capable person who has been trained and is willing to do everything possible to assist you.

4. Remember everybody is human. Nobody knows everything – that includes you, me, and every real estate agent out there. No matter how much a real estate agent knows, they can’t know everything. Look for an agent who has strong resources so they can answer any unexpected questions that may arise. Anyone who tells you they know everything is not being honest with themselves or with you. Find someone who will be forthright, and has the resources to find the answer even if something complicated arises.

5. If they don’t answer the phone or return your calls – move on. This is the simplest way to weed out an agent who will drive you nuts and potentially leave you living a real estate horror story. Especially in today’s market where things are moving quickly, you need a responsive agent. Work with someone who will call you back.

6. You get what you pay for. Black Friday, buy one get one, clipping coupons – who doesn’t love a great deal? At the same time, we all know that sometimes it’s worth it to pay a premium to get the highest quality. I don’t know about you, but I would rather buy meat at Publix than from a guy who posted about his “cleaning out the freezer” blowout on Craigslist. Your agent is the person who is helping you find or sell your HOME. Whether you are there for a long time or short time, home is home. It’s your sanctuary, your foundation, it’s the place where you can be you – it’s important. When choosing an agent to help you make this huge decision, don’t choose the cheapest option, choose the best option.

7. Don’t be blinded by the stars. Some real estate agents will have hundreds of five-star reviews – signaling they have helped a lot of happy people. There is nothing wrong with a busy and experienced agent. Just like a big box store, big busy agencies can offer experience and processes to get the job done. At the same time, many people prefer mom-and-pop shops because of the one-on-one focus, the flexibility, and exclusivity of being a big fish in a little pond as opposed to a little fish in a big pond. Online ratings are not the only way to determine if someone is a good fit for YOU.

8. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Your agent is there to help you. Just because they know more about the real estate industry does not mean that they shouldn’t treat you with 100% respect. There are no stupid questions – choose someone who will help you, support you, and be there for you while you search for or sell your home.

9. Remember the decision is yours. Once you begin your search, a lot of people are going to reach out to offer their services. Some you may not want to touch with a 10 foot pole, but within that group may also be the agent you are looking for. Remember – who you work with is your decision. Just because you talk to someone who has offered to help doesn’t mean you have to work with them. There are tons of articles and books advising you how to choose a quality agent. If you don’t like what someone has to offer, you can simply say – thank you but NO. Having someone reach out to offer assistance with your real estate transaction is not a bad thing – you want an agent who is proactive and wants to help. Don’t miss out on a potentially great agent because you dismissed everyone who tries to contact you.

10. Trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to walk away. Don’t be afraid to make a decision. Remember if you discover you’ve made the wrong decision, you can walk away. The agent-client relationship is a two-way street, and communication is key. If you feel that you are doing everything you can to make the relationship work but it’s just not right, talk to your agent. If it’s still not working, it’s okay to walk away. Real estate horror stories often include a plot line with a client who felt obligated to stay with an agent that didn’t work for them. If it’s not working, you can say thank you but I’m going to work with someone else. You can walk away.

The real estate process does not have to be a nightmare. Buying or selling a home is a huge milestone in your life. Your home is part of who you are. When looking for a professional to guide you through the process of buying or selling, be sure you find an agent you love to work with. An agent you love can make the difference between your story being a love story or a horror story.