How to Find a Real Estate Agent That's Right for You

Where to find a real estate agent | How to choose a realtor | Qualities to look for | FAQ

In this guide, we cover the approaches for finding a realtor, plus what questions to ask an agent during an interview and what qualities to look for to ensure they're a good fit.

Where to find a good real estate agent

1. Try a free agent finding tool

What it is: An agent finding tool is a service that a real estate company provides. The tool connects you with local agents in the company’s network who may be a good fit for your transaction.

How it works: The company usually asks about your buying or selling situation. Then within an hour or two, it provides recommendations for local agents based on your needs.

Many of these companies have 10,000+ partner agents nationwide, allowing you to choose from at least 2–3 top realtors. Only 18% of sellers contact more than one agent before choosing a realtor.[1] But an agent finding tool makes it easy to interview multiple realtors so you can find the right fit.

Why it's great: Agent finding tools are much faster and easier than searching on your own.

Top brands, like Clever Real Estate, only work with top agents. So every agent it connects you with has at least five years of experience, a proven track record of successful transactions, and a high customer rating.

The best brands also offer built-in savings on realtor fees. That's a big perk, since it's hard to negotiate commission rates with agents on your own.[2]

How to choose: To get the most value, stick with brands that offer built-in savings and a solid agent network. You can quickly tell how good a company's agents are by its customer reviews.

Unlike most agent finding services, Clever has built-in savings for both sellers and eligible buyers. So you can rest assured you’re getting a top local agent — while also paying less in realtor fees.

2. Ask family and friends

Another great option is getting recommendations from people you know (family, friends, neighbors, co-workers) who have recently bought or sold a home in your area. A lot of people — 47% of buyers and 41% of sellers — use referrals to find a real estate agent.[3]

Why it's great: Tapping your personal network is a relatively fast and easy way to find the right real estate agent. It’s also your most credible referral source. These are people who know you and care about your outcome, so they probably wouldn’t recommend an agent if they had a bad experience.

Potential drawbacks: We don't recommend working with a real estate agent just because they helped a family member, friend, or relative. Finding the right real estate agent is highly subjective and personal. The perfect agent for a friend could be wrong for you. The agent might not have experience in your price range or neighborhood. Or maybe you don't connect with their personality. You still need to vet them just like you would if you'd found the agent on your own.

3. Ask your loan officer or another real estate professional

Real estate pros — particularly loan officers, but also contractors, property managers, and so on — generally know a lot of local real estate agents. If you ask, they'll likely be able to give you a list of names and contact info for agents they work with on a regular basis.

Why it can work: If your first step before selling or buying is talking to a contractor or loan officer, they can usually provide some agent recommendations to help narrow the field. You get a bit of built-in vetting; these agents are (a) closing deals regularly enough to be on that industry pro's short-list and (b) legit enough that they're actually recommending them, which ties back to their own reputation.

Potential drawbacks: The biggest risk here is the "I'll-scratch-your-back-if-you-scratch-mine" nature of these relationships. Loan officers and contractors will often refer you to an agent simply because the agent refers their clients to them — not necessarily because they're a top producer or the best fit for your particular situation.

4. Not recommended: DIY online search

You can try a DIY online search via agent finder platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com or search engines like Google, but we don’t recommend it.

These sites yield too many options, with too little quality control, for you to make an informed decision quickly. Only 7% of buyers and 3% of sellers find an agent this way.[3]

Our recommendation: Use tools like Zillow and Google to screen prospective agents you’ve found via better sources, like personal referrals or agent finding services. They make it super easy to find key info to inform your decision, like sales numbers and reviews from past clients.

How to choose a real estate agent

We recommend you interview multiple agents before hiring one. You're more likely to find the right fit if you compare your options.

Choose which agents to interview based on their experience, their online reviews, how many active listings and recent closings they have in your area, and any other specific criteria you may have.

Interview your top 2–3 candidates to make sure their communication style, personality, and responsiveness match what you’re looking for.

If you’re selling, agents should actually come to your house for the interview, if possible. This is an opportunity to learn important information, such as how much they think your home may sell for, what repairs or improvements may be needed, and what their marketing and negotiating strategies will be.

By the end of a first interview with a real estate agent, you should be aligned about your goals, the market you're in (and the implications for you as a buyer or seller), how the buying or selling process generally goes, your responsibilities at each step, and what you and your agent can expect from each other in terms of communication, availability, and so on.

Qualities to look for in a real estate agent

Buyers and sellers typically choose an agent based on their reputation, trustworthiness, experience, and personality.[4]

An easy way to find an agent with these qualities is through an agent finding tool. The best services:

• Vet agents for you, so you only get recommendations for reputable, trustworthy agents
• Ask you about your selling or buying situation, so they can match you with agents who have the right experience for your transaction
• Connect you with multiple agents, so you can interview several options and see who you click with the most

Here are some of the most important qualities to help you find an agent that’s right for you.

Knowledgeable about the local market

Look for local agents who are very familiar with your target market. They should have general knowledge about local property values, taxes, and new construction and developments, and they should know specifics like how much inventory is available, what homes are selling for in relation to their original list price, and how quickly properties are selling.

This knowledge can help you set realistic expectations about what it takes to buy or sell a home in your target area based on current market conditions.

Demonstrates relevant experience and expertise

Real estate is local and specialized. Look for an agent who has recent transactions in your target area, around your price point, and with your property type. 

Also consider whether you need an agent who specializes in luxury properties, working with first-time home buyers, specific neighborhoods or property types (like land sales), or other areas.

You can often find information about an agent's experience on their personal website or Zillow profile. You can also look at past listings or sales. However, if the agent works for a large brokerage, it may be hard to tell which listings they directly contributed to. When in doubt, ask them directly in an interview. 

Attuned to your needs, concerns, and priorities

Real estate transactions take time, so you may work with your agent for an extended period. It’s essential to find a real estate agent who takes a client-centered approach and listens to your concerns, priorities, and needs. 

You want an agent you can trust instead of one who uses high-pressure tactics, doesn’t negotiate on your behalf, or believes the solution to every problem is to ignore your budget and offer more money. 

Talk with agents and read their online reviews to get a feel for how they work with clients.

Shows professional and ethical conduct

Look for an agent who can clearly explain what the buying or selling process is like. Your agent should also set realistic expectations about each of your responsibilities and challenges you may face in the current market. They should be upfront about their availability, how quickly they respond to calls and messages, and how they manage deadlines.

You can talk to the agent in person and look at online reviews to assess their reliability, professionalism, and reputation.

Savvy with marketing and tech

Real estate agents need to stay on top of industry trends and the local market to buy and sell properties effectively. You can get a sense of how savvy a realtor is with tech and marketing by evaluating their online presence, how they market themselves and their listings, and the platforms they use to communicate and complete paperwork.

Skilled communicator and negotiator

Communication skills are essential for realtors. Look for someone who listens, responds quickly, communicates clearly and proactively, and has a communication style you like.

You also need a good negotiator. Your agent should understand what each side wants and how to advocate for you. Ask the agents you interview to explain how they handled difficult situations in the past.

Strong local network

Look for agents with a strong local network who can help you find quality lenders, contractors, inspectors, and other real estate professionals. An agent with a solid network can also leverage their connections to help your deal move quickly.

No red flags

You need an honest agent you can trust to have your best interest at heart — not their real estate agent commission. 

Be wary of agents who overpromise, are more interested in talking about themselves than you, are hard to reach, or take a long time to return calls. These can be red flags that the agent is too busy, lacks experience, or doesn't have your best interest in mind. Trust your instincts if you feel an agent isn’t transparent, professional, or ethical. 

FAQ about finding a realtor