How to find the real estate agent that is right for you
It’s not hard to find a real estate agent. There are several thousand Realtors registered in the Sacramento area. But which one is right for you? It could mean the difference between quickly scoring a house you love, or standing in the cold after months of futility.
Ask friends for Realtor recommendations
You likely have a friend, family member or co-worker who has bought recently. Pick their brain, says Erin Stumpf of Coldwell Banker, board president of the Sacramento Association of Realtors. What was the experience like? Would they recommend that person? Do they know of other agents?
Tour Sacramento neighborhoods
Visit neighborhoods you are interested in and look at real estate signs to see who is active there. Some agents may bill themselves as experts in certain neighborhoods. But the agent you choose should be familiar with many neighborhoods, says Leanna Halldorf of Guide Real Estate. Many good agents do business throughout the county and even in adjacent counties.
Research on Zillow and other sites
Do you have a few agents’ names? Google them. Some sites, such as Realtor.com and Zillow, often show where that agent currently has listings. Check LinkedIn and the agent’s own website, as well.
Interview prospective agents
Call a few Realtors and interview them. Do they work with houses at your price point? Neighborhoods? What hours and days of the week are they available? What is their approach to shopping for a home? Their strategy in a competitive bidding process?
Ask your Realtor for references
Feel free to ask for references. The agent likely will choose recent satisfied customers. But you can learn a lot from someone who has been through the real estate ringer with that agent at their side.
Lean toward experienced agents …
Sacramento’s wild real estate market has seen a lot of changes in how shopping and deal-making gets done. Generally speaking, the more local deals an agent has done in that time, the better.
… but rapport with homebuyers counts, too
You’re going to spend a few months working with this person. You want someone you communicate well with, who will answer all your questions, and who has a lot of time to devote to you. That may well be a less-experienced but hungry agent.
How much will this cost you?
Your agent’s fee will be embedded in the sales price of the house. The seller and the seller’s agent will determine the payment amount for the agents. That amount, usually 5% to 6% of the sales price, will be divvied up between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent, usually in equal parts. The buyer will not have to provide additional cash to compensate his or her Realtor.
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 6:30 AM with the headline "How to find the real estate agent that is right for you."