How do I find the best realtor in my area? What makes a good real estate agent?

Finding a quality realtor or real estate agent can feel like an overwhelming task - I get it! I feel the same way when I have to go choose a financial advisor, kitchen designer, chiropractor, sometimes it just gets to be too much. Here's my insider tips on how to find a good real estate agent whether here on the South Shore of Boston, or anywhere. Not every realtor is going to be the best fit for you, and that's ok!

Here's where I would start...

1. Research - Start by looking online in areas of interest to you, find agents, look at their reviews, read their bio's, go to their website. A strong realtor is going to have an online presence because they are invested in their business and ensuring new clients can not only find them, but have a quality impression when they are found. Read their google reviews, look at their portfolio of sales, check out their social media presence. In this modern age of easy online stalking, you can get a feel for if you like someone pretty quickly based on their online presence. 
2. Referrals - Ask friends who have bought or sold their home in the area you are interested in, see if they have good recommendations and then research their recommendations. Just because your friend liked someone doesn't mean they are the right fit for you but if someone who you trust has had a good experience, that's a good place to start as well. 
3. Experience - Buying or selling real estate is one of the largest financial decisions you will ever make, it really is in your best interest to find someone who knows what they are doing vs. someone who you know on a personal level that may only sell 1-2 houses a year. Look into potential agents experience, how long have they been working in real estate, are they full time or part time? How many transactions do they handle annually? Are they listing homes for sale and representing buyers? A realtor that sells multiple houses per year is going to have a better understanding of the current market and can offer you better insight, perspective, connections, and opportunity. 
4. Knowledge in Locations - Ask the people you are interviewing what their knowledge in locations you are considering is? Many top real estate agents here on the South Shore work numerous towns. For example, just because my office is in Quincy and Hingham, doesn't mean I don't know a lot about what's happening in say, Scituate (a town I grew up in and my parents still live), or Hull (where I own property as well). I have extensive knowledge throughout the South Shore and Boston so work with buyers in many locations. If you were interviewing realtors in Wester MA, to represent your property in Weymouth, you might want to reconsider their knowledge base of the location and the market you are looking to sell your home in.
5. Interview, chat, ask questions - You should take the time to have a conversation with a potential real estate agent that is going to represent you. I always ask potential clients to grab a coffee or hop on a call, just to get a feel for if we are a good fit. I think it's important for a potential home buyer or home seller to ask me questions and voice their concerns, it's my job to help you gauge your best next steps. Everyone also has a different style, and in order for us to find out if we will be a good fit, we have to sit down and go over your questions. I also think communication style is important, availability, etc. Maybe you only like to talk to your realtor via text, or maybe you prefer email while at work, let's go over this so we know what is going to be best for you. I didn't become one of the top realtors on the South Shore by ghosting clients, communication is key - I am here to talk it out with you and make sure you know what is going on. Make sure the real estate agent you are interviewing is available to you when you need them. 
6. Connections, referrals, online presence - Working with top real estate agents in your area means you will have access to their referral network, vendors, lawyers etc. It also will mean they will have connections to listings via other agents who they work with a lot. Ensuring the realtor you choose has positive connections with other agent in the area and is in a network of agents who perform at a high level will help ensure you get insight on off market properties, have a good legal team behind you, and have the best possible results. Realtors with strong online presence take their business seriously and are a cut above the rest. There are so many levels of realtors because the bar of entry to get a license is not that high (sadly), but the top performers in your area will noticeably stick out of the crowd with their online presence and portfolio of sales. 

Do you need to work with the #1 Realtor on the South Shore or in your market? No, not necessarily... #1 Realtor doesn't mean they are the best fit for you - but it is important that you find a real estate agent who is a top performer, who works at this as their full time job, and who takes the business seriously. I am not here to critique the part time agent, but in competitive markets like the South Shore of Boston, having a knowledgeable, communicative, and in-tune with the current trends realtor is going to make all the difference for you.

If you have questions about how to find the top real estate agents in your area, please reach out. I have a nation wide network of agents and can connect you with quality realtors across the country.