5 Most Important Things to Consider When Hiring a Realtor
5 Most Important Things to Consider When Hiring a Realtor
Buying or selling a home is likely one of the largest financial transactions you'll ever make.
Yet sometimes people spend more time researching a new television, vehicle, or vacation than they do deciding who will represent them in a real estate transaction.
Not all Realtors work the same way.
Experience matters, but I believe how a Realtor communicates, educates, prepares, negotiates, and takes care of their clients can be just as important as the number of homes they've sold.
So before choosing a Realtor, don't simply ask:
"How many houses have you sold?"
Ask:
"Is this someone I trust to guide me through one of the biggest financial decisions I'll make?"
Here are the five most important things I believe you should consider when choosing a Realtor.
1. Do They Listen Before They Start Selling?
This is number one for a reason.
A great Realtor shouldn't begin the relationship by immediately telling you what they think you should do.
They should start by listening.
Before I can properly advise someone, I need to understand:
- Why are you buying or selling?
- What are your goals?
- What's your timeline?
- What concerns do you have?
- What's most important to you and your family?
- What's your financial situation?
- What does a successful outcome look like to you?
- What are you worried about getting wrong?
Every client's situation is different.
A first-time buyer doesn't need the same strategy as someone purchasing their fifth home.
Someone selling and purchasing simultaneously may need a completely different plan from a seller relocating out of state.
Look for a Realtor who asks good questions.
If the first meeting feels more like a sales pitch than a consultation, that's something to consider.
Your Realtor shouldn't be trying to fit you into their process. Their process should be built around helping accomplish your goals.
That's why the first step of my Texas One-Stop-Shop Roadmap is simple:
LISTEN.
2. Do They Educate You or Just Tell You What to Do?
I believe there's a major difference between giving someone an answer and helping them understand why that answer may make sense.
Your Realtor is there to advise you.
But ultimately, you're the decision-maker.
Whether you're buying or selling, you may have to make decisions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You should understand those decisions.
A good Realtor should be able to explain things such as:
- Current market conditions
- Comparable sales
- Pricing
- Contracts
- Negotiations
- Inspections
- Repairs
- Appraisals
- Timelines
- Closing costs
- Seller concessions
- Earnest money and option periods
- Potential risks
- What happens next
And they should be able to explain those things in plain English, not simply throw real estate terminology at you.
You should never feel embarrassed to ask a question.
One of the things I tell clients is:
If you don't understand something, ask me. That's what I'm here for.
I don't want someone signing a contract simply because I told them to.
I want them to understand what they're signing, why we're doing it, the potential advantages and risks, and what alternatives they may have.
Education creates confidence.
And confident clients are usually better prepared to make good decisions.
3. Do They Understand More Than Just the Real Estate Side?
This is something buyers and sellers sometimes don't realize until they're already in a transaction.
A real estate transaction doesn't happen in a vacuum.
There are multiple moving pieces.
A home purchase or sale can involve:
Real Estate → Financing → Insurance → Inspection → Appraisal → Title → Survey → Closing
And one part can affect another.
For example:
An inspection discovers an aging roof.
That isn't necessarily just an inspection issue.
It could become a negotiation issue.
It could affect homeowners insurance.
And depending on the circumstances, insurance or property-condition issues could potentially affect financing.
The same thing happens with appraisals.
If a home doesn't appraise as expected, that may become both a real estate negotiation and financing conversation.
This is why I believe understanding the entire transaction is extremely valuable.
When interviewing a Realtor, ask how they coordinate with lenders, insurance professionals, inspectors, title companies, appraisers, contractors, and the other professionals involved.
You don't necessarily need your Realtor to personally perform every service.
But you want someone who understands how the pieces work together and can help keep everyone moving toward the same goal.
4. How Do They Communicate and Handle Problems?
Real estate transactions don't always go perfectly.
That's reality.
An inspection may uncover something unexpected.
An appraisal may come in low.
Financing may hit a roadblock.
A title issue may appear.
A buyer may request repairs.
A seller may push back during negotiations.
The question isn't simply:
"Will something unexpected happen?"
A better question is:
"How will my Realtor respond when it does?"
This is where communication becomes extremely important.
Ask potential Realtors:
How often will you communicate with me?
How quickly do you typically respond?
Will I primarily communicate with you or someone else?
How do you handle problems when they arise?
Will you explain my options before recommending a decision?
One of the most stressful things for a client is not knowing what's happening.
Even when there's a challenge, good communication can make the situation much easier to navigate.
Your Realtor should be proactive—not reactive.
You shouldn't constantly have to ask:
"What's happening?"
"What's next?"
"Did anyone follow up?"
A good Realtor should help you stay ahead of the transaction.
5. Do You Trust Them to Put Your Interests Ahead of the Transaction?
This may ultimately be the most important question.
Do you trust this person?
Your Realtor is going to know a lot about your situation.
Your finances.
Your goals.
Your concerns.
Your negotiating position.
Your timeline.
And sometimes, the best advice a Realtor can give you may be advice that doesn't immediately result in a commission.
Maybe the house you're considering has too many concerns.
Maybe you should walk away after the inspection.
Maybe you're not financially ready to purchase yet.
Maybe the seller should wait before listing.
Maybe an offer isn't as strong as it initially appears.
I believe a Realtor should be willing to tell you what you NEED to hear—not simply what you WANT to hear.
That's where trust is built.
I don't want my clients wondering:
"Is he recommending this because it's best for me, or because he wants the transaction to close?"
My goal is for my clients to know the answer.
Your Realtor should care more about the relationship and your long-term outcome than simply getting the transaction completed.
Because if the only goal is closing the deal, that's not really advising.
That's selling.
Don't Choose a Realtor Based Solely on Commission
Cost matters.
You should absolutely understand what you're paying and what services you're receiving.
But choosing representation solely based on who offers the lowest fee can overlook a much bigger question:
What value am I receiving?
When you're dealing with an asset worth hundreds of thousands—or potentially millions—negotiation, pricing strategy, marketing, financing knowledge, communication, problem-solving, and contract guidance can matter significantly.
Instead of simply asking:
"What do you charge?"
Consider asking:
"What do you do for your clients, and what value do you bring to my transaction?"
Then decide whether that value makes sense for you.
Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Realtor
If you're interviewing Realtors, here are several questions I would encourage you to ask:
- What is your process for helping someone in my situation?
- How will you help me determine the right strategy rather than simply telling me what to do?
- How do you communicate with your clients throughout the transaction?
- How do you approach negotiations and difficult situations?
- What knowledge or resources do you bring beyond simply finding or listing a home?
- Who will I actually be communicating with throughout the process?
- What should I expect from you—and what do you expect from me?
- What happens after closing?
And there's one final question I would ask yourself after the meeting:
"Do I feel more educated and confident after talking with this person?"
If the answer is yes, that's a very good sign.
What I Believe a Realtor Should Actually Be
I don't believe a Realtor's primary job is to sell you a house.
And I don't believe it's simply to put your home on the MLS.
I believe a Realtor should be your:
Advisor. Educator. Negotiator. Problem-solver. Coordinator. Advocate.
Someone who slows the process down when necessary.
Someone who tells you when something doesn't look right.
Someone who helps you understand the financial implications of your decisions.
And someone who remembers that there's a person or family behind the transaction.
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