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How to choose a real estate agent
Especially if you are buying your first home, go with a pro who matches your needs.
When my husband and I house-hunted a decade ago, we initially went through real estate agents like tissues. It felt like speed dating: One person was aggressive; another ghosted after garbled texts. What did we know? We’d never bought a house before.
We landed with a longtime friend whom we trusted, who grasped our priorities as a young family, and knew our town inside and out — plus, had a vested interest in our happiness.
Since then, Greater Boston’s real estate market has grown more competitive and expensive, with prices for the average single-family home hovering around $1 million this summer and interest rates over 6 percent.
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A savvy real estate agent is essential. I asked industry insiders what to ask to find the right one, especially if you don’t have a pal in the business.
Do they have the right experience? Suzanne Thelen, vice president of strategic partnerships at New England Title & Escrow Services, urges first-time buyers to ask three questions: “Do you specialize in working with first-time home buyers? How many transactions have you closed in the last year? In this competitive market, how have you helped first-time home buyers get their offers accepted?”
Ask to see their recent transactions, and ensure that they mirror the type of home you’re looking for in the area you want.
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Do they specialize in homes that match your budget and style? A referral from a colleague or a charming meeting over lattes doesn’t mean much if your agent specializes in North Shore farmhouses and you need a starter ranch off the Mass. Pike. Yes, you’ll be spending plenty of time with this person, but compatibility only goes so far.
“The [buyer] should look at the agent’s history of work. It’s important to see their experience apply to the kind of living arrangement and areas you wish to explore,” says Kathie Chrisicos, an agent with William Raveis Back Bay and an interior designer at Chrisicos Interiors.
Do they know your favorite neighborhoods like a local? A good real estate agent should feel like a knowledgeable tour guide, not a salesperson. They should know quantitative data about recent home sales, but they should also grasp the vibe.
Ask a potential agent for tips about where to grab lunch, facts about the schools, details on commuting times, and local hot-button issues such as construction or zoning.
“Great agents will really intimately know the markets they are working in. They’ll know the neighborhoods, the best places to eat, the details about the schools, and the people who live there in a way that is qualitative, personal, and deep-rooted,” says Wendy Buglio, an Arlington-based home organizer.
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Do they have longevity? Every agent has to start somewhere, but be wary of people who dabble in real estate while pursuing other passions. Find out how long they’ve been in the business, ask for referrals, and ask them to elaborate on their professional history: Why did they choose real estate? How have they seen the market change and evolve, and how have they adapted?
“The longer they’ve been in the field, the better. Real estate isn’t for the faint of heart, especially in this market,” says interior designer Alysha St. Germain Heidke, who owns Hello Pearl Interiors in North Easton. “Those who stick with it have a genuine passion for the biz, and that says something about how they’ll show up for you, even when times are tough.”
Do they have a strong local network? A good realtor “can connect you with reliable local services that you may need before and after your move,” says move manager and real estate investor Sarah Buckwalter with Organizing Boston.
Buying (or selling) a home is about more than just doing a deal. Ask a potential agent who else they often work with during the process, from home inspectors to brokers to stagers and contractors — and why.
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Last but not least: Do you really need an agent? Chances are, yes.
“A red flag for me is when a buyer tells me that they are going to buy without an agent, thinking that they will save money. I find that this almost never works out, because a good agent does so many things to add value, from negotiating the lowest price that enables the buyer to win the deal, to ensuring that all other professionals involved are doing what they need to do,” says Kevin Kuechler, a senior loan officer with Mortgage Equity Partners in Lynnfield.
“Recently, I was the lender for a buyer and seller who had no agents. The closing didn’t happen on time because the smoke detector certification hadn’t been scheduled in time. It’s little things like these that go unnoticed, until they don’t happen and end up costing everyone time and money,” he says.
Some things are truly best left to the professionals, whichever one you choose.
Kara Baskin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @kcbaskin.
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