Buying or selling a home is stressful — and expensive. You’re paying for a professional who’s supposed to get you the best deal under the best terms, and you should be picky about who that person is. After all, your Realtor will have access to some of your most personal details, they’ll be your front-line negotiator, and you’ll be spending a lot of time together. So yes, you need someone who not only knows their stuff but who you actually like being around.At White Rock Life Real Estate Group, we’ve been at this for a long time, and we know we’re the right fit for a lot of people. But truthfully, there are plenty of great agents out there. Even if we don’t end up being your first choice (though, really… why not?!), we care about making sure you know how to choose someone who has your back from first meeting to moving day.Here are the 5 steps we recommend when choosing a Realtor:
1. Make sure you actually like them.
This sounds obvious, but it matters. You’ll spend a lot of time with your Realtor: they’ll be in your home, in your finances, in your future home, dealing with your lender, your lawyer, your insurance provider, and even helping with your moving details. That’s a lot of access. If you don’t like or trust them, it’s going to feel like a very long (and very awkward) journey.
2. Look for experience that matches your needs.
Experience can mean deep knowledge of your local market, or it can mean years of negotiating successful transactions in general. Ideally, you want both. At White Rock Life, we focus on our core markets — but when our long-term clients ask us to work outside the area, we’re ready, because we have the experience to adapt quickly. Whether you’re selling or buying, pick an agent who knows the area you’re working in or one you trust to represent you well wherever you go.
3. Pay attention to how they communicate.
Here’s the thing: Realtors are salespeople. We talk. A lot. But good communication isn’t about the pitch — it’s about consistency. You want someone who keeps you updated long after the paperwork is signed. That means explaining documents, flagging changes, and keeping you in the loop at the pace you need. Some clients want a phone call for every detail, others prefer fast updates by text. Both are fine. What’s not fine is radio silence.
4. See if they take the time to understand you.
Every client, every transaction, every move is different. A great Realtor knows this and asks the right questions: What’s your timeline? Do you have kids? Pets? Areas you do or don’t want to live in? What would be a deal breaker? If an agent doesn’t ask questions like these, keep interviewing. You deserve someone who tailors the process to you, not someone who treats you like just another file folder.
5. Choose someone who’s there for more than just the deal.
Real estate isn’t a one-and-done kind of business — at least it shouldn’t be. Ask potential agents what their clients would say about them after closing. Do they answer calls when you discover a problem after move-in? Do they show up with your keys on moving day? Do they help connect you with the right people to fix issues that pop up? If not, keep looking. You’re not paying thousands in commission just for someone to disappear once the ink is dry.
The Bottom Line
Realtors aren’t cheap. But a great Realtor will save you money, stress, and frustration — often many times over. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions, do your homework, and find someone who will work for you until the very last box is unpacked.And if you’d like to see how we measure up against this list? Well, we’d love to have that conversation.
