https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:26:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757486 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 11:01:56 +0000 Bluebonnet 2757486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you have a lot of ideas on how to find different Realtors (from comments above). Another important thing to consider is how well you would work with the Realtor. If you are detail oriented, you need a detail oriented Realtor. If making decisions quickly and seeing properties immediately is important to you, then you need to look for someone who is very responsive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757455 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 10:04:10 +0000 youboots 2757455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On the flip side- you could personally drop by houses in the neighborhood with a business card and let them know you are interested in their neighborhood and would appreciate any leads in the future (on their house or others). I've had several people and neighbors inquire about our house. I would not sell to someone off market (and I don't think it's in the best interest of the client for a realtor to do this especially in hot markets) but I'd be happy to give a heads up to someone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757440 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:29:58 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2757440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you are totally fine to start interviewing agents. I would put together a list of questions. </p> <p>I dont think you'll find that one agent randomly has a ton of listings in one area versus another. So target your interview questions another way: </p> <p>How many homes did you sell last year? How many buyers did you help last year? How many of these were in this immediate area we are considering. </p> <p>How long have you been living/working in the area? How well connected are you to the community (aka how likely they would hear word of mouth about something coming on the market). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757433 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:09:44 +0000 Portboston 2757433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Look up the addresses on Redfin. It will tell you who the brokers were on the last sale. Maybe if you find a few of the houses have the same broker, you can talk to that one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757429 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:58:24 +0000 Modern Daisy 2757429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: that is exactly what I'm doing but unfortunately each listing I can find is a different agent.</p> <p>@Mrs. Pickle: oh wow that's great information thank you! I don't know why I pictured them all in an office chatting about clients at the water cooler lol. Makes me think it's even more important to do my research before approaching anyone because I really want to avoid "breaking up" with someone who isn't the right fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757240 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:59:18 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2757240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: no they wouldn't. The broker gives you a recognizable name behind you. Also training, legal advice, etc. Each agent works as an individual and doesn't share contacts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757188 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:07:20 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2757188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I hear you...have you seen any houses that have sold in the neighborhood recently? So even within the last year or two? You could try looking on zillow to see if there's a trend in who listed those houses and try to find one that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757186 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:04:30 +0000 Modern Daisy 2757186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Microscope: oh you can interview them?? Wow I guess that makes sense but they might not be willing to talk to me if I'm not ready to move? I already am saving the listings of nearby houses and recording who the agent was - unfortunately they are all different so far!</p> <p>@2PeasinaPod: I appreciate the offer but I actually already have a ton of agents that are friends and family in the area and all are knowledgeable. I'm really just trying to locate the top agent for this neighborhood but it's not looking like there really is one.<br /> @yoursilverlining: pocket listings are illegal but that's not what I'm talking about. I just don't want to miss a listing/be the first to know about it. They would have to market a propert even if I cold called and offered to buy it but at least I have a shot!</p> <p>@Mrs. Pickle: that's what I thought so does the brokerage even mean anything? Like if I contacted one person at a brokerage would that person have the same insight to future listings as someone else there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757077 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:13:27 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2757077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Each agent is an individual, so it doesn't really matter which brokerage they work under. The only way to know who lists the most houses on that street is to have access to the MLS and look at the closed sales. The only way to do that is through an agent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757074 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:11:44 +0000 danda 2757074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the western burbs of Philly and we found our realtor by asking some friends who lived near our target area and were homeowners. The first realtor we contacted didn't respond quickly to us (took days or up to a week for an email response) which we took as a bad sign. The second who we went with was ultra response, which was key for us. The house we purchased we visited the day it went on the market, and had an offer in immediately (and we were competing against 2 others). The brand of the agent didn't seem to make much difference although his connection to others in the area did (he knew where we wanted to be and was proactive in seeking out homes for us...we did tour one home before it was listed). My neighborhood does seem to have one or two very common seller's agents, but if I had used one of them there might have been a conflict due to combination of buyer/seller agent being the same, not sure. Our agent ended up being same brand as sellers agent but I don't think that actually impacted anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757064 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:33:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 2757064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you sure that marketing pocket listings (before it hits market) is legal in your state? I guess that would be the first thing to research, because that could make a big difference. If so, then (if I were you) I would probably try to find out if one particular realtor or small office has sold homes recently on that street/surrounding street. </p> <p>We’ve found our realtors sort of haphazardly. One was recommended and was a total dud because she did NOT listen and kept trying to show us homes that literally didn’t meet any of the criteria we gave her. Another realtor we used we found via an open house. He was fine, but I definitely did the heavy lifting of researching and then he set up showings. Like you, I was interested in one particular street in a town and asked him to cold call people and see if a few people were interested in selling and he was totally taken aback by that request and looked at me like I had 10 heads. The final realtor we’ve used we found randomly through Craigslist. Young and AMBITIOUS and very motivated. He is a great realtor and was willing to start contacting the owners of every house I was interested in, even if the house was not on the market. It sounds like you need an ambitious go-getter too; but also someone who is also willing to wait, which might be a hard find as obviously they are only making money once you actually buy. </p> <p>If you don’t plan on buying for a few years, I personally wouldn’t engage anyone now or even worry about it really. I would just stalk the MLS listings for your state and be ready to move on anything that pops up. When something pops onto the market you’ll be able to find and retain a relator, they are not hard to find. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757061 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:31:11 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2757061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Look for listings you like. Look at the photos on the online listing, the house description, etc. Write down those Realtors. After you have a few, make appointments for interviews! You have time, so it can't hurt. When we sold our house 7 years ago we interviewed 3 Realtors for selling only (moved into a rental in a new state). When we started looking for our condo, we interviewed 3 more (again, new state, so we couldn't use the same person). Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757060 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:31:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2757060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I know you said you didn't want to let anyone know where you wanted to live, but can you PM me the town? My brother's good friend is a realtor on the main line, and he was our realtor. He was honestly amazing. Very knowledgeable about the area, not at all pushy, and patiently stuck with us in seeing over 100 houses. His family has been in real estate in the area for 80+ years. I'd recommend him in a heartbeat. Let me know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757058 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:13:23 +0000 Modern Daisy 2757058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: thanks! I plan on doing that but the listings don't seem to have any open houses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757023 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 07:14:38 +0000 jape14 2757023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you said nothing is for sale on that street, but attending open houses in the neighborhood is a good way to meet realtors. We met our realtor and our mortgage broker by attending an open house in our favorite neighborhood (mortgage broker happened to live next door to the listing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-realtor-advice-finding-the-right-one#post-2757019 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 06:18:55 +0000 Modern Daisy 2757019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've decided to move in a few years both to upgrade and to be closer to the train that I take to work every day. I've been scoping out neighborhoods and actually picked the exact street I want to live on, but nothing is for sale right now and of course it is desirable so when something comes up it will likely go right away.</p> <p>I want to start talking to a real estate agent now who specializes in that neighborhood and would know about listings before they come on the market, but I'm super confused about how to find the right one and how the whole branding thing works. For example it looks like there is one realtor "brand" that dominates the neighborhood but every listing is a different person and "sub brand" if that makes sense. How do I quietly choose the right person? I don't want to ask around because practically everyone I know is a realtor of some sort and it would be awkward to have that convo then not ultimately use them. Plus I know it sounds paranoid but I don't want anyone to know where I want to live before I'm actually making an offer in case being open about it somehow ruins the plan whether it's someone trying to talk us out of it or a potential seller deciding not to sell to us for some weird personal reason.</p> <p>So anyway can anyone explain how the whole branding system works? Has anyone else been in this position before and successfully found the right agent? </p>