How to Find a Trustworthy Realtor

When looking for a real estate agent, personal referrals can be helpful. However, it’s essential to do your research as well.

For example, if you’re selling your home, ask potential agents how they came up with their recommended listing price. You want to be sure that they’re putting your best interests first.

Look at their online presence.

The internet is a great place to find information about real estate agents in Plymouth, MN. Look at their social media and website for an idea of their professionalism and client focus.

It’s essential to avoid hiring a realtor based solely on personal referrals from family and friends, as these can lead to trust issues. Try using an agent-matching service to find a realtor vetted and recommended by others.

Also, check out their online reviews. Realtors with lots of 5-star Google reviews are a good bet, and it’s a sign that they provide top-notch service to their clients. Avoid agents who only have one or two bad reviews. They may not be able to handle the pressure of a significant transaction.

Ask for references

Professional references are often the best source of recommendations. However, it’s essential to approach this method carefully. Be sure to let them know you’re considering listing them as a reference and ask for their express permission. If they’re uncomfortable with this, respect their decision and move on.

Personal and business contacts are also potential real estate agent referral sources. However, this approach may be more challenging to control because of biases and assumptions.

For example, if your friend’s uncle owns a company that provides relocation services, they may recommend a relocation specialist to you. This agent may help with a stressful move by handling tasks like finding schools, booking travel, and more. They can also provide valuable local insights. For instance, they may have connections to mortgage brokers and home inspectors that can save you money.

Now, you might wonder how Minnesota realtors are leveraging AI to transform the real estate industry? Real estate agents can produce various business materials with AIs, such as blogs or blog outlines, flyers, weekly emails, social media captions and graphics, stock images for marketing, headshot revisions, and remodeling previews.

Ask for testimonials

Testimonials are a great way to boost your credibility, especially from past clients. If your testimonials highlight how you helped a client overcome a specific challenge, prospects will be more likely to trust your expertise.

You can ask for testimonials through a simple survey, a dedicated client testimonial page, or email. Whatever method you choose, keep it fast and easy for your clients to respond. Please don’t make them download special software or wait weeks for a response!

Sending testimonial requests too frequently can come across as pushy. Instead, schedule them with your automated email program at intervals that work for you and your clients.

Check their credentials

Most states have online real estate agent verification portals where you can look up an agent or broker’s license. This is a great way to verify their rights and experience.

You can also ask to see their sales history. You want to know how many homes they have sold and in what neighborhoods. Determining if they typically sell houses in your price range is also essential.

Lastly, you should always check whether they have been involved in dual-agent transactions. A dual agent represents the buyer and seller, which can be a conflict of interest. It’s best to avoid these agents.

Check their experience

In addition to looking for an agent with local experience, look for one with extensive experience working with unique real estate situations (like first-time home buyers or foreclosure purchases). Top brands only work with highly rated agents and allow you to request multiple agent matches.

Experienced realtors also tend to have more connections with other industry professionals, including mortgage brokers and attorneys. This can help you avoid common pitfalls that cost you money or even your dream home.