What makes a good realtor? Five qualities to assess

1. Local knowledge supported by examples

Useful local knowledge explains why buyers might compare your home with some properties and overlook others. Ask for a completed sale that resembles yours, then ask about the differences in condition, layout, noise, access or setting. The explanation matters more than how quickly the agent names a price.

Notice the questions the agent asks you. Improvements, running costs and the history of a problem may change the advice. Someone who is willing to investigate an uncertainty gives you a better basis for a decision than someone who treats every unknown as a selling point.

2. Realistic advice about opportunities and limits

Ask what could make the initial plan unsuccessful and what evidence would change the agent’s view. A useful answer separates known facts from experience and estimates. It should leave you with a clearer understanding of the choices, including the option to delay a sale or avoid unnecessary work.

For example, an agent recommending a refurbishment should explain who it is intended to appeal to, what it may cost and how it affects timing. A possible increase in price is uncertain. You should be able to evaluate the recommendation without relying on a promise that every expense will be recovered.

3. A specific plan for preparation and launch

A strong plan names the tasks, the people responsible and the order in which the work needs to happen. Ask how property information will be checked, when photography is booked and who approves the listing. If a document is missing, it should become an assigned task rather than a vague concern.

The GOV.UK guide to selling a home offers an example of the questions sellers should consider about agency services and preparation in England and Wales. Use such references in their stated jurisdiction, and confirm the legal responsibilities that apply in your own location.

Source: GOV.UK: How to sell a home (England and Wales)

4. Updates that make the next decision clearer

Good communication does more than report activity. It explains what happened, what remains uncertain and what action is recommended. A useful viewing update describes the buyer’s questions and next step instead of simply saying that the visit went well.

Agree on regular updates and a separate process for important developments such as an offer. Ask who covers holidays and how you should raise a concern. Confirm major decisions in writing so you can both refer to the same version of the plan later.

5. Reliable follow-through when plans change

The service is tested when interest is weak, a buyer changes direction or your own timetable moves. Ask how the agent would investigate the cause of a slow sale. Price, presentation, availability and unanswered questions require different responses.

During the sale, compare completed work with the agreed plan. If the same task keeps slipping, ask what is blocking it and agree on an owner and a next step. A good working relationship allows this conversation without either side hiding a problem or treating every concern as a demand for a price reduction.

• Recommendations come with reasons.
• Uncertain information is checked.
• Changes are confirmed in writing.
• Updates arrive when agreed.
• Problems lead to a clear next action.