The Real Estate Agent I Would Hire
The qualities I would look for if I were trusting someone with my home, my money, and my blood pressure.
By Ana Benitez
People often ask how to choose a real estate agent.
The truth is, I think most people start in the wrong place. They look for the biggest team. The most billboards. The most social media followers. The most awards. None of those things would be at the top of my list. If I were hiring a real estate agent, I would start with a much simpler question:
Do I trust this person?
Buying or selling a home isn't just a financial transaction. It's often one of the largest financial decisions a person will ever make. And it's almost always emotional.
I wouldn't hire someone who treated me like a lead. I wouldn't hire someone who seemed impatient when I asked questions. And I certainly wouldn't hire someone who made me feel as though I was being processed.
I would hire someone who listened. Really listened. Someone who understood not only what I was looking for, but why. Because people rarely buy a home for the reasons they think they do. A feeling. A solution to a problem. Or a vision for the next chapter of their lives.
Competence matters. Trust matters too. The best agents bring both.
Communication would be non-negotiable. If I'm worried, I want updates. If there were showings, I would want to know. If there weren't showings, I would want to know that too. Silence creates stress. Good communication creates confidence.
I also want someone who can negotiate. Living in France taught me that patience is often more powerful than pressure. Good negotiation isn't always about talking. Sometimes it's about staying calm, standing your ground, and knowing when to wait.
Most of all, I would hire someone who cared.
Someone who saw me as a person rather than a transaction. Someone who understood that behind every sale is a goal, a worry, or a dream. In other words, I would hire someone who could genuinely say:
"I've got you."
The best agents don't create stress. They remove it.