When you make the decision to jump on the Homecoaster, it is important to team up with a great real estate agent as early as possible. Think of your agent as your ride operator. They are experienced in all the ups and downs and will be there to instruct and guide you along the way. 

If you know a family member or friend in the business, that is a fantastic place to start! Working with someone you already know and trust is definitely a perk. You can also ask family and friends who recently bought or sold a house if they would recommend their agent. Most real estate business' thrive off of referrals, so ask around to see who has worked with an awesome agent.

If you don't personally know any agents or have any trusted family or friends who recently had a great Homecoaster experience, where and how do you go about finding the best agent for your situation?

Find the local brokers

Searching online is a good place to start when researching local real estate brokerages. There will be the big, recognizable names such as Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, or Keller Williams. There will also be some smaller brokers who specialize in a particular neighborhood. There are pros and cons to each. You may find that the big name brokerages provide their agents with a wealth of free resources. This can be especially helpful for sellers looking for some extra marketing on their property. Local, smaller brokerages tend to have a very focused area of expertise. This is great because they truly know every house in their target neighborhood.

Visit the neighborhood you are looking to either buy or sell in. Take note of the signs on front lawns. Seeing the same brokerage over and over again in a particular area indicates their strength in that location. Brokers that have a large share of the active market can offer some big advantages.

Buyers working with one of the prominent brokerages tend to be the first ones 'in the know' when new properties hit the market. This is beneficial to both buyers and sellers in hopes of closing a quick deal. 

Interview multiple agents

A brokers reputation and experience in your neighborhood is valuable, but the most important person for you is the agent within that brokerage that you will work with. If the brokerage has agent bios on their website, browse those first. Check out if the agents have any online reviews to gain some first hand recommendations from those who have worked with them (although many agents don't ask their clients to leave reviews, or have accounts with third party sites, so don't write someone off just because you can't find reviews!).

Once you have narrowed down a few agents, set up some appointments to meet with them. There are lots of good agents out there, but you are looking for someone who you personally feel comfortable with. Someone you can relate to. Someone you can trust.

Here are some ideas to help you through your agent interviews.

1. Strike up conversation. Before getting down to business, chat it up a bit with them! Some old fashioned small talk can help you gauge your comfort level with this person. 

2. Ask about their experiences both in real estate and outside. Many agents did not begin their careers in real estate. They may have years of experience in other industry's prior to getting into real estate. I know agents who were contractors, designers, insurance professionals, and even professional musicians! Their past experience may be something that could benefit you. If nothing else, it could make for some interesting conversation!

3. Chat about the current state of the local real estate market. Ask them about their opinions and professional experiences. The real estate market is one that is constantly changing. A good agent is in tune with the current state of the industry and will be able to give you their honest opinion on what to expect. 

4. What is their plan? I recommend asking them about their personal approach to helping you buy or sell. Have them give you a brief summary of their process and the services you can expect.

After interviewing a few agents, think about who you felt the most comfortable with. Who really listened to you? Who did you personally connect with? Who seemed knowledgeable enough to guide you through the Homecoaster ride?

NOTE: Don't automatically rule out a new agent! Although experience has its benefits, so does an agent's character and personality. Don't write off an agent only because they are newer to the business. Most agents are surrounded by resources to help with any hurdles that come along. I also find that new agents are hungry for the business and eager to learn. They will be some of the hardest working agents out there! If you felt they were great listeners and understand your goals, go with your gut.

REALTORS® vs. Real Estate Agent?

Wait there's a difference? Yep!

Not all those who are licensed real estate agents can use the designation of Realtor®. A Realtor® is an agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors®. As a member of the NAR, an agent has completed a required business ethics course and have taken a pledge to abide by the NAR Code of Ethics.

Should you only consider agents who are members of the NAR? Of course not! I know many great agents who are not members of the NAR. Is there value in an NAR agent? Absolutely. Know that those who use the designation of Realtor® have taken that oath, which gives a great peace of mind to their clients that they are committed to conducting their business in an ethical manner. 

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Don't worry! There are professional services available to help you find a great agent.

Homecoaster has our Referral Service and we would be happy to help you out! We simply ask that you to fill out a basic questionnaire so we can get an idea of what your needs are. We then go to work researching agents in your market. We will contact them to gauge their interest and ability to serve your needs. If they seem to be a great fit, we will connect them with you! This service is 100% free to you. We are compensated via a broker to broker referral compensation once the transaction closes. 

Just a brief Homecoaster commercial here to explain why we feel our referral service is better than the others. Most online referral services will refer you to an agent who pays fees to be in their network. We do not limit our agent search to those in our network! We will call managers and agents at brokerages in your target area to find you the best agents for your market regardless of their association with Homecoaster!