How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

Whether you're a first-time seller or you've done it all before, selling a home can be a complicated and stressful experience. It's no wonder that 89% of sellers choose to list with a real estate agent, according to the latest Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report.

Sellers surveyed said working with an agent was valuable to them chiefly because their agent helped promote their home and find potential buyers (69%). Read on for tips on how to choose the real estate agent that's the best fit for you.

1. Compare real estate agents online

One of the most efficient ways to find agents is to search your local area for vetted agents on Zillow's Agent Directory and compare reviews, specialties, and numbers of homes sold. You can also use other online search tools to check an agent's online presence once you've narrowed down your top choices. 

Pro tip: Note how an agent responds to any potential negative or neutral reviews.

2. Interview multiple agents

When hiring a real estate agent, don't feel like you need to settle on the first agent you meet. According to Zillow research, 59% of sellers only ever contact one agent, but by talking with multiple agents, you'll be able to compare and contrast to find someone who will be a good fit. Handle it like a job interview — because it is! While you might have a front-runner, ask each of the three agents the same questions and compare their responses.

3. Ask the right questions

Get a sense for their business style by asking important vetting questions. 

“How long have you been working in real estate?”

This can help you get an idea of your agent’s experience. The longer they’ve been in the business, the more knowledgeable they’ll be. Then they can use their know-how to help you make the best choices to sell your home.

A newer agent can still do a good job — the important part is that you are aware that they have less experience before you agree to work with them. That could avoid any surprises as you work together.

“Do you primarily work with buyers, or sellers?”

Sellers typically prefer to work with seller’s agents, and buyers with buyer’s agents. In a seller’s case, this is because an agent who focuses on selling homes will be more familiar with the process, and will know what to expect as you start the process. Plus, they can answer your questions with more expertise behind them.

“How many active clients do you have at a time?”

Do you want an agent who you can call at any time, as often as you need? And would you prefer your agent really focus on you and your home sale? These are things to reflect on before you ask about the amount of clients they usually have at a time. 

“Are you part of a team?”

You don’t want to hire an agent only to realize you’re hardly ever going to talk to them. Or maybe you like that your agent has a team, so there are more people available to help you through the home-selling process. Either way, know what to expect.

“What’s your specialty?”

By specialty, we mean the type of properties your agent primarily focuses on. Do they mostly work on selling commercial real estate, or residential? This also applies to price points. Some agents only sell homes that are worth upwards of a million dollars. You’ll want to make sure you’re talking to an agent who can sell your specific type of property.

“Are you equipped to handle my unique situation?"

Are you trying to sell your home on a certain timeline? Does your home need repairs that you aren’t able to complete before you sell? Make sure your agent understands your unique needs and can work with you on a selling plan that’s best suited to them.

“How will you market my home?”

There are a number of ways to reach buyers, from having your agent list your home on a local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database used by real estate sites like Zillow, to hosting and promoting open houses at your property. Check if your agent plans to list your home privately; private listings get far less attention from buyers, and they make it harder and slower to sell your home. Whatever your potential agent’s strategy will be, make sure it will work for your situation and selling goals. 

“Can you put me in contact with some references?”

There aren’t many agents who would admit to their faults. That’s why it can be a good idea to ask your agent to connect you with some of their past clients. Those people would have a different perspective on your potential agent, and they’d probably give you insight from a seller’s viewpoint — i.e. “they made me feel heard,” or “they didn’t answer my questions very well.”

4. Explain your communication preferences

Make sure you’re on the same page from the get-go. Discuss how the agent will keep you informed and how often you expect to hear from them. If you prefer email but the agent is most responsive to phone calls, you may not be a good fit for each other. Or, if you know you’re going to have lots of questions and expect quick responses, but the agent usually just sends bi-weekly updates, you may want to find someone who is a better fit.

5. Clarify your motivation to sell

Make sure you’ve made clear any requirements that are specific to your own home sale. Are you on a strict timeline? Need to reach a specific bottom dollar? Looking to fall within a particular timing window to avoid capital gains taxes? Make sure to share these details from the beginning so your agent knows what to expect.

6. Discuss selling strategy and number of showings

There are various ways to boost the amount of people who see your home. Make sure you and your potential agent are on the same page about your selling strategy. 

If your agent uses tools like 3D tours or Zillow’s Showcase feature, it can create a high quality, immersive experience that gives buyers a better feel for the home before even stepping foot inside. Almost half of the buyers Zillow surveyed (49%) were confident enough to make an offer on a home after only taking a virtual tour. How will the property be marketed? In other words, how will you list your property? More than half (52%) of sellers say their agent’s ability to get their home in front of the largest pool of interested buyers is among the most important factors when choosing an agent, according to our research. Make sure you’re on the same page about selling strategies before you move forward.

7. Agree on all the important details

The best agent-seller relationships are those with clearly defined expectations. Make sure that, in your listing agreement, you’ve agreed upon the commission structure, list price, and contract length (i.e., what happens if your home hasn’t sold after a certain amount of time).  Yes, you can negotiate your agent’s commission, and it could even help you decide which agent to choose based on how competitive each agent’s rates are.

Source: May Ortega, Zillow.com