I once picked a realtor because she had a cool logo on her business card—big mistake. She barely returned my calls and seemed more interested in her lunch than my credit score or house hunt. Now I always ask awkward questions up front, like “How do you handle tough negotiations?” If they get weird about it, I’m out. My gut’s been right more than once... even if it’s just telling me to run.
Title: How do you even pick a realtor you can trust?
Now I always ask awkward questions up front, like “How do you handle tough negotiations?” If they get weird about it, I’m out.
I get where you’re coming from. Flashy branding is everywhere in this business, but it rarely tells you anything about how someone actually operates. Early in my investing days, I made a similar mistake—picked someone based on their “award-winning” ads, only to find out she was more focused on her next listing than actually closing mine. After that, I started treating picking a realtor more like interviewing for a business partner.
I still ask tough questions, but I also dig into their track record. I want numbers—how many deals have they closed in my target neighborhoods, how long do their listings sit, what’s their average negotiation-to-list price ratio. If they can’t give specifics or start dodging, that’s a red flag for me. I’ve found that some of the best agents aren’t the slickest talkers or the most “friendly”—they’re just relentless when it comes to the details. One guy I’ve worked with for years is honestly a little blunt, but he’s saved me thousands through sheer persistence at the table.
Gut instincts matter, but I also like to verify things. I’ll call a couple of their past clients if I can. It’s awkward, sure, but I’ve learned more from those five-minute conversations than from any amount of glossy marketing. And I pay attention to how quickly they respond, even in the early stages—if they’re slow before you’ve signed anything, it’s not going to get better once you’re locked in.
I don’t think there’s a perfect formula, but I’ve stopped believing in the “one size fits all” approach. What works for a first-time buyer is totally different from what I need as an investor. And yeah... if my gut says something’s off—even if I can’t put my finger on it—I walk. There’s always another agent who actually wants your business.
I totally get the skepticism around flashy marketing. I’ve had clients come to me after getting burned by agents who looked great on paper but dropped the ball when it mattered. One thing I always suggest: ask agents about a deal that went sideways and how they handled it. If they’re honest, you’ll hear about a messy situation—because everyone’s had one—and how they navigated it. The best agents aren’t perfect, but they own their mistakes and learn from them. Also, if someone’s dodging your questions or giving vague answers, that’s usually a sign they’re not as experienced as they say.
That’s a really good point about asking for stories where things didn’t go as planned. I’ve noticed some agents get super defensive if you bring up anything negative, which is always a red flag for me. Has anyone here ever actually switched agents mid-process? Curious if that’s as awkward as it sounds or if it helped in the long run.
I’ve noticed some agents get super defensive if you bring up anything negative, which is always a red flag for me.
Totally agree—if they can’t handle a little constructive criticism, how are they going to handle a negotiation? I actually switched agents once after my first one tried to talk me into a house $50k over my budget “because it had good vibes.” It was awkward, but honestly, my wallet thanked me later. If an agent gets weird about your questions, that’s a sign to run, not walk.
