Choosing The Right Real Estate Agent is Imperative to Getting The Most Value Out Of Your Sale- Here's How:

Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned investor, selling a home can be a complicated and stressful experience. It’s no wonder that 83% of sellers choose to list with a real estate agent, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report.

According to the data, the most important chracteristics that sellers look for from their agents include their ability to find interested buyers (85%), their ability to guide sellers through the process of selling (80%), and their handling of contract negotiations (80%).

But, while most sellers find it an advantage to use a real estate agent, nearly 18% say it’s difficult or very difficult to find the right real estate agent.

Here are our top 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 Finder tool and compare reviews 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. Get a Referral

   There’s nothing better than a personal referral from a friend or family member you trust. According to Zillow research, more than one in five sellers find their agent because of a referral from a friend, relative, neighbor or colleague.

   3. Check Out The Local Housing Market in Person

   If you have more time on your hands, drive or walk around your neighborhood and look for repeat agent names on real estate signs (bonus if there’s a “sold” sign next to them!). According to our research, 5% of sellers find agents from a for-sale sign, while 16% hire an agent based on knowing them from their community. This will show you that the agent already knows the area and has a successful reputation among sellers.

   4. Meet With At Least Three Agents

   When hiring a real estate agent, don’t settle on the first agent you meet. According to Zillow research, 56% 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 based on a referral or local reputation, ask each of the three agents the same questions and compare their responses.

   5. Ask Questions

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

   • How long have you been working in real estate?

   • Do you primarily work with buyers or sellers?

   • How many active clients do you have at a time?

   • Are you part of a team?

   • What’s your specialty?

   • Are you equipped to handle my unique situation?

   • How will you market my home?

   • Can you put me in contact with some references?

   6. Decide 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.

   7. Explain Your Reason For Selling

   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.

   8. Discuss Strategy

   Make sure you and your potential real estate agent are on the same page about their selling strategy. Will you do open houses? How many showings do you want to do? How much lead time will the agent give you before a showing? How will the property be marketed?

   9. Agree On All The Important Details

   The best agent-seller relationships are those with clearly defined expectations. Make sure that, in writing, 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).  

Data from the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report