Hiring a real estate agent isn’t like picking a random coffee shop for your morning caffeine fix. This is the person who’s going to help you navigate one of the biggest financial moves of your life. You need someone who knows their stuff, has your back, and—let’s be honest—doesn’t make you want to roll your eyes every five minutes.

So, how do you find the one? Here’s how to separate the pros from the, well… let’s just say, “not-so-pros.”

Step 1: Stalk Them (The Legal Way, Of Course)

Before you even set up a meeting, do a little digging. Check out their website, social media, and reviews. Are they actively helping buyers and sellers in your area? Do they seem knowledgeable, engaged, and like a person you’d actually enjoy working with?

Red flag: If their last Instagram post was in 2019 and it’s a blurry photo of a “SOLD” sign, they might not be as active in today’s market as you’d like.

Step 2: Ask the Right Questions

Once you’ve found a few potential agents, it’s time to grill them (nicely). Here are some key questions to ask before you commit:

For Buyers:

✅ How well do you know this market?
You need someone who understands pricing trends, neighborhoods, and what’s really going on beyond what’s listed online.

✅ How do you handle competitive offers?
In a hot market, it’s not just about throwing money at a house—it’s about strategy. Your agent should have a game plan to make your offer stand out.

✅ What’s your availability like?
If houses are selling fast and your agent is MIA for days at a time, that’s a problem. You need someone who responds faster than your mom when she hears you’re dating someone new.

✅ What’s your negotiation style?
Are they aggressive? Strategic? A good agent knows how to push just enough without scaring off sellers.

✅ Can you connect me with trusted mortgage brokers, inspectors, and lawyers?
A well-connected agent is priceless. They’ll hook you up with professionals who won’t leave you hanging.

For Sellers:

✅ How will you market my home?
A top agent won’t just slap your listing online and hope for the best. They should have a plan that includes professional photos, social media promotion, and possibly even video tours.

✅ How do you determine the right listing price?
Overpricing scares off buyers. Underpricing leaves money on the table. Your agent should have a solid pricing strategy based on real data.

✅ What’s your track record in selling homes like mine?
If they’ve only sold downtown condos and you’re selling a farmhouse, that might not be the best fit.

✅ How do you handle negotiations and multiple offers?
The way your agent handles offers can mean the difference between a bidding war and a house that sits on the market too long.

✅ What’s your commission, and what does it cover?
Get clear on fees upfront so there are no surprises later. A good agent will happily break it down for you.

Step 3: Trust Your Gut

You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your agent, so make sure you actually like them. If they make you feel pressured, confused, or like they’d ghost you the second you sign a contract—run.

A great agent will be:
✔️ Responsive and communicative
✔️ Honest (even if it’s not what you want to hear)
✔️ A strong negotiator
✔️ Experienced in your type of sale
✔️ Someone who genuinely cares about you and not just their commission

Final Thought: Don’t Settle

Buying or selling a home is a huge deal, and you deserve an agent who’s going to hustle for you like it’s their own house on the line. Ask the right questions, do your research, and make sure they’re the right fit—because the only surprises you want in this process are good ones.

Looking for an agent who actually gives a damn? Let’s chat. I’d love to help you find your perfect home—or the perfect buyer for yours.

Spring Fever: Why the First Day of Spring Turns Everyone Into a Real Estate Maniac

Ah, spring—the season of fresh starts, warmer breezes, and an inexplicable urge to declutter things you didn’t even know you owned. (Looking at you, drawer full of takeout soy sauce packets.) But do you know what else happens when the first day of spring rolls around? People go absolutely feral for buying and selling homes.

It’s like the second the temperature creeps above freezing, everyone wakes up from hibernation and suddenly realizes their house is either too big, too small, or just… wrong. One whiff of melting snow, and boom—FOR SALE signs start popping up faster than dandelions in your front yard.

Sellers: The Spring Awakening

For homeowners, spring is the moment they take a good, hard look at their house in the daylight for the first time in months. (Because let’s be honest, winter is for ignoring home maintenance and pretending the outside world doesn’t exist.) They step outside, squint at the peeling paint, notice the dead plants still in their window boxes, and think: Yep, it’s time to move.

Suddenly, it’s a whirlwind of touch-ups, decluttering, and watching YouTube videos about curb appeal. Garage sales start appearing as homeowners desperately try to offload furniture they swore they’d keep forever. ("Someone will definitely pay $10 for this broken chair, right?")

And if you need proof that people lose their minds in spring? Just watch a seller spend five days deep-cleaning their entire house, only to refuse to move their kid’s soccer net from the living room before showings.

Buyers: The Birds, the Bees, and the Bidding Wars

Buyers? Oh, they’re no better. Spring fever hits, and suddenly everyone who swore they were “just browsing” is pre-approved and aggressively scrolling listings at midnight.

They’re done with their cramped apartment. They’re sick of their too-small yard. They see a house with a front porch and lose all self-control. ("I can totally see myself drinking coffee there!"—a phrase heard approximately 14,000 times at open houses in March alone.)

The market gets wild. Open houses start feeling like a competitive sport. You’ve got people speed-walking through listings like it’s an Olympic event, whispering, “We have to offer NOW” before they even see the basement. Bidding wars become the norm, with buyers offering anything from their life savings to naming rights for their firstborn child just to win.

Spring = The Real Estate Super Bowl

Let’s be real—spring is when real estate is at its most unhinged in the best way possible. Everyone’s excited, everyone’s ready for a change, and everyone suddenly remembers that they could have a backyard if they just found the right place.

So whether you’re selling your place or fighting for your dream home, welcome to the madness. The sun is shining, the market is moving, and just like tulips, those houses are popping up—and disappearing—fast.

Thinking of buying or selling this spring? Let’s chat before you get swept up in the seasonal chaos. (I promise, I’ll talk you out of offering your firstborn in a bidding war.)