Property Knowledge Centre → How Do I Choose the Right Real Estate Agent?
How Do I Choose the Right Real Estate Agent?
How do I choose the right real estate agent? Look beyond the agency brand and compare the experience, track record, strategy and accountability of the person who will actually be responsible for your sale.
Start with relevant experience. Ask how long the agent has worked in real estate, how well they understand your suburb and surrounding markets, and what experience they have selling properties comparable to yours. Years in the industry alone are not enough; the experience should be relevant to the decisions you are asking that person to make.
Examine the agent’s personal track record rather than relying solely on the agency’s results. A large office may sell many properties, but those results may have been achieved by numerous salespeople. Ask which comparable properties the individual agent personally handled and what role they played in those campaigns.
You should also establish who will actually manage your sale. At some agencies, the person who conducts the appraisal and secures the listing may not be the person conducting inspections, speaking with buyers, providing feedback, negotiating offers or managing the campaign day to day.
Ask those questions before signing. Who will be your principal point of contact? Who will call the buyers? Who will negotiate? If you are selling by auction, who will conduct the auction? And if something is not going according to plan, who has the authority and experience to make the important decisions?
Do not choose an agent simply because they give you the highest price opinion. Ask for the comparable sales and reasoning behind the appraisal. A higher figure may be justified, but the agent should be able to explain why your property could achieve it and what strategy they propose to maximise the result.
The same applies to commission and marketing. The cheapest proposal is not automatically the best value. Consider what services are being provided, the quality of the campaign, where the property will be advertised, who is doing the work and whether the agent is being given the tools required to reach the widest relevant pool of buyers.
Ask the agent to explain their recommended method of sale and why it suits your property. Auction, private sale, expressions of interest and off-market approaches each have different characteristics. The recommendation should be based on the property, likely buyer behaviour and current market conditions rather than simply being the method the agent uses most often.
Communication is another important consideration. You need an agent who will provide clear feedback, explain what buyers are saying and distinguish genuine market evidence from casual commentary. Good advice will not always be the advice you want to hear, but it should be supported by evidence and experience.
The relationship matters because selling a property involves a series of important decisions, sometimes under pressure. However, choosing someone simply because you like them can be just as problematic as choosing someone because of their agency logo. Trust should come from competence, transparency, communication and accountability.
Ultimately, choose the agent who can demonstrate relevant experience, explain their strategy, support their price opinion with evidence and clearly identify who will be accountable for your campaign from the appraisal through to negotiation and sale.
Related Questions
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Choosing an agent should be based on relevant experience, strategy, accountability and who will actually be responsible for your sale. To discuss the approach most appropriate for your property, request a professional property appraisal with Clements International.