How to Find a Real Estate Agent in 5 Easy Steps
Whether you’re buying or selling a home, learning how to find a real estate agent should be one of your first steps. A good agent can help you navigate a process rife with pitfalls and scams, all while making sure you get the best deal.
We’ll cover some tips to help you find a good real estate agent who’ll keep your interests top of mind.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional that can help you buy or sell a home. A good real estate agent should be a “local expert,” with a wealth of knowledge about the neighborhoods, home prices and issues in your specific area. They should also have enough experience negotiating home prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
How to find a real estate agent: 5 steps
1. Reach out to your local network for referrals.
Ask around to see if anyone you know has had positive experiences buying or selling a home. Personal referrals are a great way to find local agents with a good reputation. You can also contact your local Realtors® association, either online or by phone. They’ll have a list of agents who work in the area you’re looking to buy (or sell) in. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) also has a free online search tool.
2. Look at listings
Online real estate listings can also put you in contact with a wide range of local agents. On many sites, you can easily view an agent’s profile and website or contact information.
Even if you’re just exploring the market in your area and still in the “information gathering” phase of home buying, it’s not uncommon to get the itch to go out and tour some homes. Just know that you may have to sign a short-term buyers agreement — also known as a touring agreement — with an agent in order to tour a house.
The most important thing to know about a touring agreement applies to all buyer agreements: Everything in it is negotiable. It can last for a single day and only apply to a single home — you won’t have to commit to this particular real estate agent long term just to have them show you a home, and you don’t have to agree to pay anything.
Since 2024, all Realtors (members of the National Association of Realtors) have been required to sign a buyer agreement with you in order to show you a home. This requirement originally applied only to Realtors, but has been widely adopted by real estate agents who aren’t part of NAR as well.
It’s also good to be aware that tour requests on many online real estate listing sites (like Zillow) don’t go to the seller’s agent. Instead, they go to a buyer’s agent who’s paid the site for leads. It’s fine to work with that person for the purposes of getting a tour — just know that they have no special knowledge of the home you’re touring, since they’re not selling it. They’re showing it to you in the hopes of working with you long-term.
3. Interview several real estate agents in person
Maybe you’ve already met an agent when you toured a home, but you haven’t met the agents your sister or co-worker recommended. It can be tempting to go ahead and make a choice now, but it’s important to meet several agents in person before committing to one long-term. Not only does it help you get a better idea of how knowledgeable they each are, it can also help ensure that you have compatible personalities and communication styles.
Unsure what to ask the agents? We’ve got you covered! In the next section we’ll go over the questions you’ll want to ask to test a real estate agent’s knowledge and expertise, as well as some red flags to look out for.
→ Skip ahead to see essential questions and red flags
4. Check references
It might seem overly formal, but checking references isn’t just about making sure a real estate agent is on the up-and-up. It’s also a great way to get a feel for how that agent works, what sort of impressions they leave on their clients and whether they’re experienced enough to handle your home sale or purchase.
5. Hire your chosen real estate agent
Once you’ve selected your agent, formalize the relationship by discussing their commission (how and when they’ll be paid), as well as your timeline, budget and must-haves, among other concerns.
Finally, you’ll put all this down in a written buyer agreement and sign it. This’ll finalize the services they’ll provide, their compensation and all the other details of this relationship.
You can view a sample buyer agreement online from the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization.
Be aware that exclusive agreements bind you to that agent for a set period of time. This means that you could owe them commission even if you find a home without their help during that period, so ensure that you understand the exclusivity terms before signing.
✓ Agree on the commission. Discuss — and be open to negotiating — the commission fee and when in the process the payment will be due.
✓ Set goals. Be clear and open with your agent about your goals. Do you need to find or sell a home fast, or are you willing to wait for the perfect opportunity? Is your budget strict or flexible? What about the neighborhood is most important to your family? Are there amenities you just can’t live without?
✓ Sign a written agreement. A buyer agreement lays out the services the real estate agent must provide and put the agreed-upon commission in black and white. The agreement should also spell out whether the agent can represent both the buyer and seller, as well as what information must be kept confidential.
✓ Understand exclusivity. If the written agreement is “exclusive,” then you’re agreeing to have the agent solely represent you for a certain period of time. In other words, you can’t work with another agent — and even if you find a home without your agent, you’ll still owe them money.
How to choose a real estate agent: Ask questions and watch for red flags
Questions to ask your potential real estate agent
→ What certifications, experience or training do you have in my area? Find out how long they’ve been in practice, how many local transactions they’ve completed and the certifications or licenses they’ve earned. You’ll want an experienced agent, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer or have specific needs.
→ How does your commission work? What are your fees? Knowing all the fees an agent can charge could help you make a better decision. Real estate agents make most of their income from the sales commission: The average commission is 5.57% of a home’s sales price, per a survey from Clever Real Estate. The home seller has traditionally paid the fee, but that’s not always the case today — plus, there’s no standard commission rate. As with everything in your relationship with an agent, these factors are negotiable.
Realtors® can also charge consulting, brokerage or transaction fees, but they’ll need to have a prior agreement with you that lays out these services and how much they’ll be paid for them.
→ What do I need to know about today’s housing market? Real estate agents should have local housing knowledge that you can’t get by searching online. A local expert can help you buy or sell your home at an optimal price, as they understand real estate trends and what’s working for other local buyers and sellers.
→ How long are homes on the market in this neighborhood? Real estate agents should have a sense of how quickly houses turn over in your area. Knowing this can help you make a competitive offer or prepare for bidding wars.
→ How will you help negotiate prices and make attractive offers? Negotiating prices is one of the most important skills to look for in a real estate agent. Knowing an agent’s game plan to help you buy or sell your home at the best price can make it easier for you to choose the right real estate agent.
While the questions above help to test your real estate agent’s knowledge and qualifications, personal chemistry and communication skills also play a crucial role. You’ll need to feel comfortable enough to trust this agent to buy or sell your home with your best interests in mind.
Red flags when dealing with a real estate agent
- Complaints: You can check a real estate agent’s license or find out what complaints have been filed against them by contacting your state’s licensing board. This step can help you avoid scammers or people misrepresenting themselves as real estate agents.
- Conflicts of interest: Your agent might not be acting in your best interests if they represent both the homebuyer and seller, known as “dual agency.” Be sure you understand who your agent is representing — ideally, you should find an agent that’s working solely for you.
- Weird fees or forms of payment: You shouldn’t have to pay an upfront fee or deposit to view a property. In addition, when you pay a real estate agent, the funds should go to the agent’s broker of record (typically another agent in charge of the firm’s contracts and transactions) and not to the agent directly. An agent that makes these requests is likely a scammer. Lastly, never pay in cash — use a credit card or check to leave a paper trail.
Do you need a real estate agent to buy a house?
You’re not required by law to use a real estate agent when buying (or selling) a house. But unless you’re a seasoned homebuyer, it can be very tough to manage a home purchase alone. Real estate agents can provide information and reassurance, while also verifying that the transaction is handled properly and legally.
Having a third party who’ll communicate on your behalf can also ease the stress of negotiating with a seller. Both buying and selling a home can be emotional — and, when tensions run high, it’s nice to have a professional acting as an intermediary.
Frequently asked questions
When you’re buying a home, a real estate agent serves as a “buyer’s agent.” They’ll help you shop for homes, make offers, negotiate with sellers and navigate the closing process.
When you’re selling a home, a real estate agent serves as a “listing agent” (also known as a “seller’s agent”). They’ll help you with everything from pricing to listing the house, as well as staging and showing it to prospective buyers. Once negotiations begin, they can help you get the best price possible.
A Realtor is a real estate agent who’s also a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). All Realtors are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors.
Meanwhile, a real estate broker is licensed to manage their own real estate business; real estate agents typically work for a real estate broker.
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