Definitely go with whom your friends have used for similar purchases. We have several family members who sell real estate and the problem is, none of them are experienced in our market, so we passed. Be aware of who you want looking at your financials, too. Another reason we chose not to have family involved. Its difficult enough trying to employ them, forget having them sell your house! Never again.

What we did was we asked many friends and acquaintances who had bought in the general area we were looking in for recommendations. We asked if they had had a realtor who knew the area and really did a good job. We ended up with 4-5 recommendations, narrowed it down to 3 and we interviewed them. We selected one of them and we were pretty happy with the person. Even though our situation changed and we had to pull out of the search, we were very pleased with her work and would definitely recommend her to someone else looking. The best realtors will get a lot of their business from word of mouth.

PP here. I figured out that if I put agent's name into franklymls it comes up with recent homes. Is there more analysis? Not sure how to evaluate agent based on number of homes that pop up. It appears mine is mainly a buyer's agent--her name does not appear on the listings.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking around 500k in NOVA. I've tried looking at Redfin listings of recently sold properties that I like, but the same agent never pops up more than once so I'm at a loss...

If you want recommendations, you need to tell us what cities/neighborhoods specifically. I assume you're not looking in both Reston and Alexandria, for example.

Anonymous wrote:Use franklymls to analyze agents' track records.

How do you do this on frankly? I want to check out my own agent, who I'm also underwhelmed with.

I think it is very difficult to find someone you can trust. We have gone a number of different routes, once picked a neighbor who was good but disappointed us, once picked someone with the highest sales in the area and a total nightmare (still not sure how that happened). If you are buying, it helps to find someone you do not mind spending time with. Most recently, we were lucky to find Eric Murtagh (MD but might do some Nova business) through a friend and he, and his partner Karen Kuchins, were by far the best experience we have had.

I highly recommend Frankly Realty, specifically Frank Llosa. He was our agent for buying and selling and I would not use anyone else. He is knowledgeable in NOVA, and also MD and DC.

Roz Drayer at Sotheby's in McLean. She has her DC license as well and knows the whole area cold.

Use franklymls to analyze agents' track records.

Again, have you sort of settled on a particular area? Chevy Chase MD vs Arlington VA vs NW DC all have pluses and minuses, but, I doubt there is one realtor knowledgeable of all 3. Pick the area, or narrow the search, and then look for a realtor.

OP here. Looking around 500k in NOVA. I've tried looking at Redfin listings of recently sold properties that I like, but the same agent never pops up more than once so I'm at a loss...

Anonymous wrote:OP, answer the PP's question - that might help. I would look at the on-line listings, and see how often certain names come up. Generally, in my opinion, they are all rats - you just need to find one that you can deal with thru the process.

Not sure how to do this. Should be looking at some specific websites for listing agents?

OP, answer the PP's question - that might help. I would look at the on-line listings, and see how often certain names come up. Generally, in my opinion, they are all rats - you just need to find one that you can deal with thru the process.

What area specifically?

I'm looking to buy and I've been underwhelmed by my agent, especially compared to other people's stories about getting in to see things before they're listed, etc. My agent doesn't even get me information before I find it myself online, so I'm thinking maybe I need to make a change. However, how do I find a better agent? I'm relocating from outside of the area so I don't have any recommendations from friends.