How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent
Today I want to share with you how to find the best real estate agent when you are looking to sell or purchase a new home.
I’ll break down where and how the average buyer and seller is having success finding their real estate broker and share my tips on how to make sure you choose the agent that is best for you.
To start, let’s look at a study: Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends done by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
How Do People Typically Find Their Real Estate Agent?
This NAR study shows that on average people looking to buy a home are primarily going to find their real estate agent through:
- A referral from friends or family
- Using an agent they have worked with previously
A smaller but still significant percentage find their real estate agent via:
- Personal solicitation
- An agent’s website
- Meeting them at an open house
- Seeing their signs around town
The same is true for people looking to sell their homes, with the majority going through personal referrals or using someone they worked with in the past, likely the same real estate professional who helped them buy their home.
The Scary Statistic
But here is a scary statistic that I want to highlight for you all today, take a quick look at Exhibits 4-8 and 7-2: 
Most buyers and sellers only reach out to 1 or 2 agents when selecting a real estate professional to work with. Is this a problem? Not necessarily. Just make sure you do your homework.
Do Your Homework
If you are going to rely on someone you know and have had a good experience with, it’s natural and healthy to foster that positive working relationship. However, if you are receiving a referral, then you want to make sure that it’s a solid referral to a real estate agent who knows what they are doing before you decide to work with them.
It’s common for a new agent to prospect their friends and maybe offer a discount to build their business. I’ll be honest, I did it too. When you don’t know anyone in your business and need to gain experience, you reach out to the people you do know, family and friends.
Personal friends and referrals can be great people to work with, just do some due diligence before choosing your real estate agent.
5 Tips to Find the Best Real Estate Agent for You
- Research the broker’s Zillow page and other online profiles to see their past sales and client reviews
- Check out their website and view testimonials from their past clients
- Find them on social media
- Cross-reference their experience and reviews with other agents
- Reach out and start a conversation with prospective agents
There Is No Wrong Way to Find a Real Estate Agent
Bottom line: there is no wrong way to find a real estate agent. You can even meet your agent on YouTube! The key is to make sure that you find a quality one that’s right for you and that you will have a good experience with. Do your homework.
I hope this post has been helpful to you. And shameless plug, if you live in Seattle and think I might be the best real estate broker for you and your home buying or selling needs, feel free to reach out to me. I’m happy to be a resource for you.
