How to choose the best realtor for you

Wondering how to choose the right real estate agent?

Since a Realtor can make buying a house simple and even fun, you know it’s important to find the right one. Otherwise, you could miss out on all the benefits of having a real estate agent (which would be a bummer).

But, you’ve already spent hours looking for a Realtor — asking friends, family, and anyone else you can.
The only problem?
After all of your searching, you found multiple real estate agents — instead of one.
The tricky part is that they all seem like they could be a good fit.
So, how do you know which Realtor to go with?

By asking real estate agents the right questions and looking for the right qualities. If you don’t know how to do that — don’t worry! That’s what this post is for.
Here’s how to choose the best real estate agent for you.

How Can I Choose the Best Realtor?

Once you’ve found a few Realtors (you can check out this article to help you find them), it’s time to figure out which one is right for you. By asking the right questions and using the right criteria, you can find a great realtor.

Questions to Ask Potential Realtors

The best way to find your perfect real estate agent is to interview multiple agents. Interviewing around 3 agents helps you consider enough agents — while avoiding being overwhelmed by too many choices.
Here are the questions to ask a Realtor before making your choice.

1. How Long Have You Been a Realtor?
While experience doesn’t always mean quality, agents who have been in the business for years generally know more about your real estate market. So, they know how much you should pay for a home, the right area for you to house hunt, and how to negotiate with sellers (among others).

2. Do You Specialize in My Area?
The more local knowledge an agent has, the better. Realtors who only work in your area know all of the ins and outs of buying there. Real estate agents who work in your area only occasionally won’t be able to give you the insider advice that specialized Realtors can.
So, it’s important to make sure your agent specializes in your dream location.

3. How Many Clients Do You Work With?
If an agent only works with a few clients at a time, he or she can focus on your home buying journey. But, if a Realtor works with a lot of clients at one time, he or she won’t have the bandwidth to be there every step of the way.
A real estate agent who limits how many clients he or she works with will be a better guide for buying your first home.

4. What Are Your Hours?
Unlike a 9–5 job, real estate doesn’t take any evenings or weekends off. If your Realtor isn’t available nights and weekends, you could miss out on the perfect home — especially in competitive markets.
Your agent needs to be available most of the time to show you brand new listings before they’re snatched up. And, your agent needs to respond to negotiations as fast as possible. Otherwise, the seller could go with another offer that answers more quickly.
So, you want to make sure any agent has few off-hours.

5. Do You Have References?
While a Realtor might seem great during an interview, you want to make sure he or she is just as awesome to work with. Speaking with references can give you a peek at what it’s like to work with the agent.
That way, you’ll have an idea of what working with the Realtor is really like — before making your choice.

Qualities to Look for in a Realtor

After you’ve interviewed several agents, you’re ready to choose one. Here are 2 super important characteristics to look for — so you’ll make the best possible choice.

1. Responsiveness
Possibly the most important quality in a Realtor is responsiveness — which is how easily you can get in touch with your agent.
In competitive markets, 15 minutes can be the difference between securing and losing a house. If you choose an agent who’s slow to respond, you might miss out on the perfect place. Plus, it’s frustrating to reach out to your Realtor and get radio silence in return.
You can figure out how responsive a real estate agent is by looking at what hours they work. If a Realtor doesn’t work nights and weekends, then they’re likely not responsive nor your best choice.
Plus, you can also ask references how easy it was to contact the Realtor. If the references struggled to reach the agent, it might be worth finding a new Realtor.
Choosing a responsive agent can help you win your dream home — with less frustration and missed opportunities.

2. Personality
Another important quality in a Realtor is personality. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your agent, it’s important you get along well.
A real estate agent might have rave reviews, hit all the objective checkboxes, and seem like the right agent. But, the Realtor’s personality might clash with yours.
For example, they may be pushy and try to run the home buying process. Or, the agent only answers emails — while you prefer to communicate over text. Or, your agent might only care about the objective measures of a home, while you need a house that has good vibes.
Whatever your personality is, you need a Realtor who gets you. And, who helps you house hunt in your own way. So, choosing a real estate agent who has a complementary personality is essential.

Wrapping It Up
While the right Realtor can make the home buying process less stressful (and even fun!), it’s important to choose the right one. Not all agents have the expertise, customer service, or personality to provide the guidance you need.
But, if you ask the right questions and look for the right qualities, you can find the perfect Realtor for you. That way, you’ll find your dream home in no time.
Want the strongest offer for when you find your dream home? Consider upgrading your offer to all cash with Ribbon. You’ll be able to compete with bigger and more experienced buyers. So, you’ll be more likely to secure the right house for you.
Learn more about how Ribbon can help you get your perfect home today.