How to Find a Buyer's Agent: Step-by-Step Guide
Not sure how to find a buyer’s agent? If you’re looking to buy a home, in New York or beyond, this guide will teach you where to look, what to do, and how to decide if a real estate agent is a good fit for you.
What is a Buyer’s Agent?
Buyer’s Agent: A realtor who represents you during the acquisition (buying) of property.
Is a buyer's agent the same as a realtor?
Anyone with a valid real estate license issued by the Department of State (DOS) can act as a buyer’s agent. So, yes, a buyer’s agent is a realtor. However, certain agents may specialize in representing buyers instead of landlords, tenants or sellers.
How to find a buyer’s Agent
Do Your Research:
There are plenty of ways to find real estate agents, both online and in your network.
Ask Your Friends: Friends and family members may be able to connect you with a real estate agent. But remember there’s no need to give into family pressure if you don’t want to work with the person they recommend.
Google: Most savvy agents have helpful and informative websites, as well as pages on Google My Business.
Social Media: Many real estate agents are active online on places like TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, and Threads. These platforms can also help you get to know an agent’s personality a little more before reaching out personally.
Find 3 Agents you like
You don’t have to over-complicate your research step. Simply find three agents who you think could be a good fit.
set up interviews
Set up interviews with all three agents. You can set up a meeting with them over the phone, or meet with them in person at a coffee shop or restaurant. I highly recommend meeting in person because you’ll be spending a lot of time with whomever you choose to higher. Most agents will be happy to travel to meet with you if you’re local.
Decide what questions to ask
Ask the agents questions that will help you to understand how well they can help you:
What price points of units do you tend to work with?
What neighborhoods do you tend to work in?
How many client’s do you have now?
How flexible is your schedule?
make a decision and stick with it (at least for a bit)
Working with a realtor is a lot like dating. If you try to work with everyone at once or if you don’t give anyone a fair shot before you decide to move on to the next person, you’re going to have a bad experience and you might end up alone. Your realtor is busy, and if they sense you’re working with three other agents, they’re not going to give you the same one on one attention as they would someone who is working with them in good faith. This relationship is like a marriage. You should ideally be in it for the long haul, be willing to work collaboratively with one another, and iron out minor issues as they arise. If the relationship truly isn’t working out, your agent will understand and you can start looking for someone else.
Once you find a good agent, consider signing an exclusive agreement with them. When your agent knows you are committed to them - and that they’ll get paid if you do transact - they’ll go above and beyond to make sure they find you a great home.
How to find a good realtor in New York
New York City real estate agencies tends not to have storefronts in the same way that more rural real estate agencies do. This means you will likely be looking for your New York City buyer’s agent online or through word of mouth. If you work at a large corporation with populated offices in the city, like Google or Reddit, you’ll more than likely access to an internal referral form employees fill out to let everyone else at the company know when they had a great experience with a hairdresser, a lawyer or a real estate agent.
Choosing the Perfect Fit
Now that you’ve interviewed a few people, you’ll need to choose your favorite. Here are some green flags to look for:
They Know Your Market: Knowledge of any local market is a crucial quality to look for when choosing the best real estate agent for you.
They Have Time for You: It is important to ask your agent if they have enough time to take on a new client. Even the best real estate agent will do a bad job for you if they are already spread too thin.
They Pay Attention to Details: If your agent isn’t incredibly detail oriented, they may drop the ball on some important details during your purchase. The best agents will have systems in place to ensure that all the little things are going to plan.
They Put Honesty Before Commissions: It is important to understand that a realtor may sometimes push you out of your comfort zone, but they should always be doing it with your best interests at heart. No one likes a pushy sales person. Your satisfaction should always come before their commissions.
How to choose a buyer's agent in NYC
If you’re looking for a buyers agent in NYC, there are a few additional things to consider:
They Know Your Dream Neighborhood: Because of NYC’s particularly dynamic ‘micro-neighborhoods,’ certain agents will have an intimate understanding of the ins and outs of the New York City neighborhood you're interested in.
They’re Familiar with New Developments: Oftentimes you can get fantastic deals by buying apartments in buildings that are still being constructed. Having the right buyer’s agent could be the difference between doubling the value of your investment or being left out in the cold.
They DON’T Need to Be Famous: Don’t get starstruck by the big name agents - they have large teams, and their junior members will likely be the ones you’ll be spending all your time with. When you’re choosing a buyer’s agent in NYC, make sure to ask if person you’re doing your initial consultation with is the one who will be actually handling your transaction.
How To know if YouR NYC realtor is legit
There are a few ways of telling whether or not an agent is capable professionally. Here’s how to vet their work:
Ask If They’re Full Time: NYC is riddled with people who got their license thinking real estate would be a great side hustle, but to do this job well you they really need to be able to prioritize your schedule and have enough time to do all the behind the scenes work. A part time agent is not going to be able to provide the same level of service as someone who does this full time.
Check Out Their Website: Do they have one? Does it look legitimate? Check for resources, such as blogs and guides, that demonstrate their solid understanding of the New York real estate market and its rules.
Check Which Brokerage They Work For: Big firms like Corcoran, Douglass Elliman and Compass provide agents with more support, technology and resources than smaller firms.
FAQs: How to Find a Buyer’s Agent
Is a buyer's agent the same as a realtor?
Anyone with a valid real estate license issued by the Department of State (DOS) can act as a buyer’s agent. However, certain agents may specialize in representing buyers instead of landlords, tenants or sellers.
Should a buyer and seller have the same agent?
Never share an agent with a seller. A seller’s agent will have a signed contract stipulating they give undivided loyalty to their seller - which means screwing you over if they have the chance. You may go to an open house and get really great vibes from the seller’s agent, but to level the playing field you need someone in your corner who owes you the same duties of loyalty and care. If someone sued you, you wouldn’t go to their lawyer for advice, right?
I’m Here to help
I am here for you whether you’re reading blogs like this one, enjoying free resources like my Ultimate Home Buyer’s Guide, or looking for an agent to help you find your dream home. Get started by contacting me here, and we can set up a free consultation to start you on your journey.
