How to Choose the Best Realtor in Reno & Sparks
Choosing a real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when buying or selling a home. Search for the “best Realtor in Reno” and you’ll find agents, teams, awards, review counts and sales numbers that can be difficult to compare. The biggest number does not necessarily mean you’ll receive the most experienced representation.
The better question is: Who will personally represent you, how experienced are they, what do their own clients say about them, and will they still be the person advising and negotiating for you after the contract is signed?
There may not be one Realtor who is right for every client, but there are objective ways to separate marketing from meaningful experience.
The First Question Most People Forget to Ask: Who Will Actually Represent You?
One of the biggest differences in real estate today is the difference between hiring an individual agent and hiring a real estate team.
With an experienced individual agent, the person you interview is generally the same person advising you, negotiating for you and remaining accountable throughout the transaction.
With a team, the person whose name is on the advertising may be the team leader, but that does not automatically mean that person will personally handle your transaction. Some teams intentionally divide responsibilities among buyer agents, listing agents, showing agents, transaction coordinators and other team members. That structure can work well, but consumers should understand it before signing an agreement.
If you meet with the head of a team because of that person’s experience, reputation or sales record, ask a very direct question before you sign anything:
“Will you personally be my agent and personally handle my negotiations throughout this transaction, or will I be assigned to another member of your team?”
That answer matters. If the team leader has 20 years of experience but the person actually representing you has two years of experience, you should evaluate the experience of the person who will actually be advising you—not just the résumé of the team leader.
Real Estate Team vs. Individual Agent
What to Compare
Large Real Estate Team
Experienced Individual Agent
Who Represents You
May involve several team members during different stages of the transaction.
The same experienced agent personally advises and represents you throughout the transaction.
Accountability
Responsibility can be divided
Clear accountability to one agent
Communication
May involve multiple contacts
Direct communication with your agent
Negotiation
May be handled by different members
Typically handled personally by your agent
Experience
Can vary by team member
You evaluate the exact agent you hire
Sales Statistics
Often aggregates production from multiple agents
Generally reflects that individual agent’s production
Reviews
May cover multiple team members
More directly reflect that agent
Availability
Strong backup coverage
More dependent on one person
Client Experience
Often systemized
Often more personal and consistent
How to Read a Realtor’s Numbers Correctly
How to Read a Realtor’s Numbers Correctly
Real estate profiles are full of numbers—sales, reviews, years of experience, price ranges and awards—but those numbers do not always mean what they appear to mean. Before comparing two Realtors, make sure you are comparing the same thing.
Sales in the Last 12 Months
Recent sales can indicate how active an agent is in the current market. But first determine whether the number represents one agent’s transactions or the combined production of an entire team.
A team with ten agents may advertise hundreds of annual transactions. That can be impressive, but it is not directly comparable to the personal production of one individual agent.