How To Find A Real Estate Agent

Whether you're hoping to purchase (or sell) a property in the state of New Jersey or elsewhere, finding the right real estate agent is always key. This type of professional can help you locate a property to buy or market the home you want to sell, but that's not all. The in-depth knowledge and expertise of a real estate agent can make a huge difference when it comes to getting the best deal on a purchase or sale. Plus, these experts have seen it all, and their experience in real estate can help you avoid any number of pitfalls commonly experienced on both the buyer and seller sides.

But, how do you find a real estate agent — and especially one who always has your best interests in mind? This is often the million dollar question (or one worth several thousand) for buyers and sellers hoping to reach an agreement on a home in New Jersey and beyond.

There's no shortage of real estate agents vying for your business, but some have different designations and there are many strategies out there to help you find the right fit. This guide breaks down the different types of real estate agents working today, what each one does, and how much you'll typically pay for professional real estate services.

Real estate agent basics

Before you look for a real estate professional that can help you strike a deal, you should have a basic understanding of what agents do. Generally speaking, real estate agents help individuals buy and sell homes while helping educate and prepare their clients for each step of the process. 

For example, a real estate agent helps buyers locate properties while advising sellers on the best ways to prepare their property for sale. They also use their knowledge and expertise to advise clients on pricing, whether they're making an offer to buy a home or pricing a property so it will sell for top dollar based on where it's located.

Other responsibilities taken on by real estate agents include:

• Real estate agents help buyers and sellers understand all the required documentation and paperwork involved in a home purchase or sale.
• They use computer software to prepare reports that show comparable properties nearby that were recently sold. 
• Agents help buyers and sellers negotiate a purchase or sale, and they advise them on what to do next throughout the entire process.

Also note that there are two main types of agents involved in every home sale, although many real estate professionals serve in both roles over the course of any given year. 

• A buyer's agent helps their clients locate a home for purchase, make an offer, negotiate for repairs, and ultimately close on the home sale.
• A seller's agent helps a homeowner market their property for sale, which typically involves working with them to come up with a sales price, marketing their home, and negotiating with buyers on a deal.

In some cases, a single real estate professional represents both the buyer and the seller in a single transaction. However, it typically makes more sense to have two different agents working on a sale together. After all, this means both the buyer and the seller have someone representing their best interests and working only on their behalf.

Realtor vs. real estate agent vs. broker

As you prepare to purchase or sell a home, you should also find out the differences between the types of professionals who may ask to work with you. Specifically, we're talking about knowing the difference between real estate agents, realtors, and real estate brokers.

Here's an overview of each type of agent and their qualifications:

• Real estate agent: A real estate agent is someone who is licensed in their state to help people buy and sell residential and commercial properties. States have their own requirements that dictate who can become a licensed real estate agent, which typically includes pre-licensing training, the passage of a licensing exam, and continuing education.
• Real estate broker: A real estate broker is a real estate agent who completed more educational requirements and passed a broker’s license exam. This puts them in the position to work as a managing broker that helps train and manage other real estate professionals, or as the principal broker that is in charge of all real estate agents working for a specific firm.
• Realtor: A realtor is a licensed real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. These professionals subscribe to the NAR's strict Code of Ethics.

Generally speaking, realtors are the cream of the crop when it comes to finding a real estate agent that can help you buy or sell a home. Ultimately, that's because they agree to follow a strict code of ethics, and they can be held accountable by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) if they fail to meet their standards.

As you compare realtors you may want to work with, you should note that some of these professionals take extra steps to earn a specific designation. For example, your realtor may have any one of these certifications:

Accredited Buyer's Representative / ABR®: This designation shows a realtor completed additional education that helps them succeed as a representative for buyers.

Accredited Land Consultant / ALC: The ALC designation shows that a realtor has completed additional training to boost their knowledge and expertise on the topic of raw land.

CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): This type of realtor has completed additional training when it comes to the handling of residential real estate, including single-family homes, condominiums, and other types of property.

SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): This designation shows a realtor has completed training geared specifically to agents who work with buyers and sellers who are over the age of 50.

Where to find a real estate agent

Ideally, you'll find a real estate agent who has plenty of experience when it comes to buying and selling homes in your immediate area. After all, a local agent who frequently works with homeowners in your neighborhood or town will have in-depth knowledge an out-of-town agent simply cannot, such as recent information on local homes sold or homes that may be coming up for sale in the future.

To find a agent you might want to work with, start with the following steps:

• Request recommendations from buyers and sellers you know and trust. Ask friends and family members whether they were happy with any real estate professionals they have worked with in the past few years.
• Do a simple online search. Use the find a real estate agent tool offered by the National Association of Realtors to see which agents are most active in your area.
• Keep your eyes peeled. Look out for real estate agent signs in your neighborhood or local area, and take note if some agents seem to be more popular than others.
• Attend open houses. Not only can you browse a home that's for sale during an open house, but you may also connect with an agent during your visit.

How to choose the right real estate agent

Once you have narrowed down the real estate professionals you may want to work with, you'll need to start asking questions — and plenty of them. Here are the key things you'll want to find out, whether you're a buyer looking for a home or a seller hoping to get top dollar for your property.

What kind of experience do they have?

Find out how long the real estate agent has been working in the industry, as well as how many homes (on average) they typically buy or sell in a given year. 

As a buyer or seller, you may want to look for an agent that specializes on your end of the transaction. After all, agents who typically work with just buyers or only sellers tend to have more experience dealing with common issues that pop up on either end.

Are they responsive?

Did the agents you contacted get back to you in a timely manner? If so, do you have reason to believe they'll be responsive if you use them to buy a new home or sell an existing home?

Most real estate agents are easy to reach these days, whether they prefer to talk on the phone or they get back with you quickly via email or text. In any case, you'll be better off with an agent who responds quickly and doesn't make you chase them down.

Have they worked with buyers and sellers in your immediate area?

Finding an agent who has bought and sold homes in your immediate area—and at least in your town—is crucial. After all, real estate trends can easily vary from one town to the next, and you want to work with someone who has their finger on the pulse of your local market.

How hard are they willing to work for a sale?

It also helps to ask agents some questions about the type of work they usually do for their clients. If you're selling a home, for example, you'll want to ask what steps the agent will take to properly market your home outside of adding it to the multiple listing service (MLS). 

Will they hold open houses? Do they have professional photos taken of each property they list? These are good questions to ask before you sign the listing contract for a property.

If you're a buyer, on the other hand, you'll want to know about an agent's availability and how often they can take you out to look at properties. You can also ask them whether they typically know about properties for sale before they hit the market, and how they will notify you if a home you may be interested in becomes available.

How much will a real estate agent cost?

As a buyer, you won't directly pay anything to use the services of a real estate agent. That's because sellers bear the brunt of this cost when they list their home for sale.

Generally speaking, sellers agree to pay between 5% and 7% of the eventual sale price of a property once the transaction is complete. This means a home sale of $350,000 will result in realtor commissions and fees of $17,500 to $24,500. That said, the average real estate commission is around 6% of the sales price, 

This amount is ultimately split between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent. If a home sells for $350,000 for example, this means the seller of the home would pay $21,000 in real estate commissions. From there, the buyer's agent's office would get $10,500, and the selling agent's office would get the remaining $10,500.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I buy or sell a home without a real estate agent?

You can definitely buy or sell a home without the help of a real estate agent, although you typically cannot list your home with a multiple listing service (MLS) if you go this route. That said, you can market your home online or through word of mouth, and you can hire a lawyer to handle paperwork and facilitate the financial side of the transaction.

What's the best way to find a real estate agent in another state?

Finding a real estate agent in another state can be tricky, but there are steps you can take to find a qualified professional with local expertise. For example, you can use the find a real estate agent tool from the NAR to search for agents by zip code. You can also ask for recommendations from people who already live in the area you plan to move to (if applicable).

What's the best way to find a real estate agent first-time home buyer?

First-time home buyers should ask family members and friends which agents they have worked with and recommend. Attending open houses is another way to get an introduction to local real estate professionals. As an added bonus, open houses give you the chance to tour homes for sale in the area you want to live in.