Finding The Right Realtor

Listen, there are a lot of great REALTORS® out there! People who value you, your goals & offer exceptional services to help create the ultimate buying or selling experience - a REALTOR® you can trust ⭐️ (that's a gold star right there 😉)

There are also those you see on the opposite end of the spectrum who are front & centre in the media - displayed on air as being unethical & betraying their client's trust in some way. Honestly, If you were to read up on some of the real estate litigation in Ontario, you would see just how many (unfortunately) fall into this category.

I hope you choose to use me for your real estate needs but if you don't, please be sure you use someone you can trust!

But I do still want to leave you with some tips for finding someone who will be the best REALTOR® for you...

There are lots of different types of REALTORS® out there with a wide variety of business models to help you get to your end goal - but the journey you take to get there is what determines which model is best for you.

One thing to pay attention to is how busy they are.

Yes, you want someone who's out there in the market, actively working & watching for any shifts that may work in your favour. The balance though, is not to end up committed to someone who is so busy they can't service you in the way you are hoping for.


You can avoid running into this by asking questions like...

• How long does it usually take for me to hear back from you?

• How many active clients do you work with at a time? (If this number is too high, you run the risk of potentially being lost in the shuffle. If they are vague, they may be someone who doesn't do as many transactions in a year.)

• Do you have any admin or team members that work along with you?

(If they have a steady business, they will likely have support to ensure everything is taken care of)

• What can I expect in terms of communication throughout the process? Before we get going, during the active process, & after closing? Really consider what they are saying & if you feel like you will know exactly what to expect or if you will feel worried or stressed about being in the dark on things.

(Yes, this is a 2 way relationship... in fact communicating is discussed in the contracts you'd sign to create a REALTOR®/Client relationship)

Now, this is certainly more than just whether you prefer text vs. email.

It's can you trust that you will know what you need to know, even if you don't know you should know it?

Essentially, you want a quarterback who's calling the plays & seeing everything as it unfolds, then telling you about it so you know what to expect & can score a touch down (or in this case a home 🏡 🙌)

Some examples of things you might want to know....

SELLING

• When is the stager coming? Who's paying??
• When are showings? How do they work?
• How you can maximize your chances of success!
• What do you do to prepare for a home inspection?
• When do I have to be out by?

BUYING

• How do you offer against other buyers? What should you expect?

• Who do you make the deposit out to?
• When do I have to remove the conditions by?
• What happens to the deposit? Is it the Sellers? Is it applied to closing costs?
• How do you protect yourself once you move in?

Finding someone who anticipates the things you need to know or should be aware of is paramount to a smooth transaction - in fact, I've been doing it already by dropping tidbits about what's to come... like introducing the concept of relationships (which is a legal concept we would need to review before you become a client). 

This type of information truly helps you know & understand what you are agreeing to.
It will also help keep you out of litigation by not missing a deadline, or failing to close, or not hiding a defect 🏚

Buying & Selling is not something to be taken flippantly -- it's a contractual obligation & what is written into the accepted agreement is what matters.

So, how can you tell if the REALTOR® will be a good communicator throughout the process?

Connect with them & then see what information they share... how they prepare you & set expectations... are they trying to educate you or push you to commit? Emails, messages, chats... all of these tell a tale about what you might expect going forward.

It's the combination of both that tells you what you need to know... if they've been in the business for 5 years but only sold 6 homes, they may not have been exposed to many of the nuanced details that each scenario can bring about. 

You want someone who has the experience to guide you calmly & isn't afraid to say "I'm not sure, let me look into that" or "This is beyond my scope & I recommend you speak with _________ professional in that field for clarification". 

Someone who is ready to jump with suggestions may be coming from a well-intended place, but the reality is that bad advice can cost you thousands... in fact I've seen litigation where more than $150,000 was awarded in damages. The wrong information can cost you everything you've worked so hard to build. Be wise & choose someone who's honest & seeks outside guidance when necessary!

Now, if the person you're drawn to is newer & doesn't have a lot of experience yet, that might still be ok! Just clarify who in their brokerage (office) is there to support them, & therefore you, by extension. We were all new once & there are a lot of great newer agents who are willing to seek outside help when necessary - so don't write them off without asking more questions 😊

There is no right or wrong here - each just offer something a little different!

When you work with a Solo Agent it means you're going to get that person directly.
They may have an administrative team, but they handle their own showings, listings & appointment.

Occasionally they may need someone from their brokerage to help out, but most of the time the REALTOR® you hired will be the one helping you!

When you work with a team, it will depend greatly on how the team is set up & you can advocate for what you want upfront.

Be clear & set those expectations early so everyone can feel they are on the same page 👍

It's absolutely okay for your REALTOR® to share their opinion of areas based on their personal lived experiences or that of their clients, but if they are predicting market trends based on opinion without referencing facts, it's a bit of a red flag.

Make sure any decisions weigh out both opinions & the facts.

Looking to the facts & allowing them to enlighten your decisions will absolutely help keep you ahead of the curve as well as ensure your choices align with your overall real estate goals.