Christina Rordam: Choosing a Realtor, what to look for and what matters?

Full disclosure: I’m biased. I’m a Realtor with ten years of experience and no shortage of opinions on the subject of choosing a Realtor. This isn’t your typical “Pick Me!” Realtor article however. Of course I’d love if all the sellers and buyers I wanted to work with chose me, and I hope they do. Ultimately there are some things that I’d recommend anyone in need of professional real estate services consider when selecting their agent, regardless of whom they do choose. I like to think of it this way. If you needed surgery and time allowed would you simply pick the first available surgeon, or a surgeon who just became one? You’d more likely choose your medical professional after careful consideration, some research and checking references, probably a meeting too. Why would the way you select the professional you trust to help you purchase your new home or maximize your profits when selling your home be any different? I’ve been told not to “should on” myself but I’m going to do it here. You should follow these guidelines and make an informed decision when hiring a Realtor. Consider the following:

Experience

This one’s big. I love my fellow Realtors, but like any other profession not every agent is the same or is created equal. I like to think I was a real rock star agent when I started selling new homes in Lake Nona and Baldwin Park at the start of my real estate career. Being that I’m still a top producer ten years later it’s fair to say there’s some truth to that statement. Either way my point is everyone starts somewhere. While the best indicator of the future is the past, even The Rolling Stones had a first single. I think it’s ideal to choose an agent with experience. But let’s say you have a good meeting with a newbie agent — you’re confident that they’re hungry and a go-getter and going to work hard for you. You may be right. Just keep in mind that if they don’t have a track record they will be relying on their broker or team leader so you may want to interview that person as well. Inexperience is a double-edged sword. The drive of a freshly minted agent can be fabulous but a little bit of knowledge can also be a dangerous thing. So make sure you are confident when you choose a rookie, and check out their support system. This is most likely who will be doing the advising when the new agent you are speaking with needs to make marketing or negotiating decisions. If they are new and you can’t speak with their mentor/broker or don’t like that person, you may want to opt for an experienced agent you connect with that has a track record of success. Either way, do your research here. Even agents who have been selling homes for years ought to be vetted. Ask for references, check their website, ask questions — which brings me to my next point.

What questions should I ask?

An easy start to this convo is to ask them why you should hire them. Realtors will likely have a prepared answer, maybe even a scripted response. Whatever they respond with is a good start and indicator of their focus. From there it’s good to ask what you can expect from them in terms of marketing when selling a home, or say search tools when buying a home. Ask for references as mentioned above and pay Google a visit too. It’s good to let them know what your specific concerns are and inquire how they would respond to your personal situation. Designations and education can be valuable too. Do they have any, or are they in the process of obtaining any? How many homes have they sold and how many team members do they have? Who will you be dealing with once you sign a listing or buyers broker agreement? Whether you pick an agent with a boutique style business model or a big box big volume model, make sure you know the players and feel good about the people you will be interacting with and that particular agent’s process.

Hire full-timer

In my opinion, this one’s non negotiable. Pick a full-time Realtor. Back to the doctor analogy: You’re not picking the part time doc right? So why place any less importance on the person you trust with your home selling or buying needs? There are plenty of us out here. It’s an entirely different ballgame than someone who is doing real estate on the side. Look, I understand a buyers’ agent on a team, or a showing assistant. I have my own part time agents on my team and they are great. But today’s Central Florida Real Estate market is a fast moving one in many cases. Can you imagine losing a home or a buyer for your home because your agent was working their shift somewhere else? Not to mention there’s a much higher motivation to succeed when you sell real estate full time as opposed to an agent with the safety net of an additional job. Who do you think will work harder for you?

I hope these tips are helpful. It’s great to pick an agent who responds to your calls and email requests on a home quickly. But being quick to respond isn’t the only criteria to consider. So ask questions, do some research and go with your gut. There are great agents available to help you with all of your real estate needs.