How to Find the Best Realtor for the Job in SLO County

{original post 2/12/2022}

3 Tips to Choose the Best Realtor

When you are picking a Realtor to work with, how can you be sure that the person you select is the best person for the job? The truth is not all Realtors are created equally. There are an estimated 3 million Realtors in the USA and only 5.64 million home sales in 2020. This means the average Realtor does just a few transactions per year, whereas a small minority does the majority of the business.  It’s the classic 80/20 Principle. When you hire an agent you want to be sure you are getting the Best Realtor for the job rather than just an average Realtor. Here is a list of the Top 3 Tips to help you make the best choice.

1. Gather referrals. Ask friends and family who they used for their real estate transaction. Get their feedback. Don’t rely on their word alone though. Do some research online and look for credible reviews. If someone else had a good experience with someone chances are they will give you that same experience.
2. Interview at least 3 agents. Once you’ve begun the process, make sure to interview at least 3 agents. Most people hire the first agent they meet. Sometimes this can work great. Other times, you might find yourself working with a sub par agent and regretting it. Be open minded. When you meet with them be sure to ask how many homes did you sell last year? A true professional knows their numbers. Ask what their list to sales price ratio is. Look for someone who does proactive marketing rather than passive marketing.
3. Choose an agent that has systems. You want to choose someone who treats this as a business and not a hobby. They usually are a full time agent, have a transaction coordinator, an admin, a team, and great technology for their clients. Agents who do a great job for their clients do a lot of business, and they usually don’t work alone. They have systems and processes they follow. Make sure your agent has a tried and true system that they follow. You don't want an agent to wing it on the sale of your largest asset.

Some other key characteristics you want in your Realtor is that they need to be hungry, knowledgeable about the market, and have good people skills. You want someone who is humble and will look out for your best interests. Some agents may appear to be extremely successful, but they don’t care about you as much as they do their commission check. You will want to make sure you find someone who will care about you and your upcoming move. At the end of the day, you need to choose someone that you trust. Find a person you can connect with, build a relationship with, and feel comfortable and confident with for your upcoming transaction.