Finding the right real estate agent makes the process of selling or buying a home in Tacoma a million times easier and more joyful. That said, a lot of folks aren’t sure what to look for when choosing an agent. The most important thing is to choose an agent that specializes in exactly the kind of transaction you are about to participate in. Tacoma and Pierce County of so many different types of neighborhoods, properties, and real estate agents. You deserve to have an expert agent that you like and trust, who likes and trusts you right back. Here are my tips and tricks for choosing the best real estate agent in Tacoma for you:
Pick a Specialist
This is the most important thing. After years of matching friends and clients to the best real estate agents, I can tell you that this is the difference between an ok experience and an awesome experience. The hard part of this is that while most Tacoma agents are specialists they don’t always consciously know what they do best. So for me, this can require just a little research up front to improve the result tremendously. For example, if you are selling your 2005 built house in a development in Browns Point you want to find a SELLER’s agent who has listed and sold at least 3 houses like yours in the past year or so. You also want to check out the quality of the pictures and marketing the agent used. When I am vetting a sellers agent for a friend or client I’m also looking at how long their houses are on the market, if they sell above list price, and (most importantly) if they double end deals. I’m not a fan of agents taking two commissions and working both sides of the deal. You can learn more about my opinions on that here.
If you’re a buyer, it is even MORE essential that your agent be local and specialize in both the neighborhood you want to buy in, the price range you’re buying in, and the LOAN type you’re getting. So it is SUPER helpful if you have this information. Let’s say you’re a buyer looking for a Craftsman in Central Tacoma between $300,000-$400,000 and you are using your VA Loan. In Tacoma this is actually a specialized transaction. Some craftsman homes in that price range cannot meet VA Appraisal standards, so you need a real estate agent who has experience helping clients evaluate that. Also, that price range and location is one of the hottest in the country right now- so you will need an agent who is experienced at WINNING multiple offer situations who can help guide you to write a winning offer. This is where using someone local who has been helping lots of other buyers is invaluable. Someone who doesn’t know the market well (like an agent from Seattle where prices are double!) could advise you to bid too high or give up concessions you don’t need to.
If you need a little help figuring out what neighborhood you’re going to be focussing on the neighborhood guide over at MoveToTacoma.com is a great resource and covers all of Pierce County.
Your real estate agent friend might not be the best choice
I had a friend in Seattle recently ask me if I would list her house. “I know you!” she said. “I trust you!” The problem is- even after more than 15 years in real estate I’ve NEVER listed a house in King County. Sure, the laws are the same, the contracts are the same, but the market is completely different. Even though I love her and feel super loyal to her, I could make a mistake that would cost her money. That would be terrible for both of us.
I’m sorry to say that this level of self awareness around specialization is rare in real estate. The commissions on homes in Seattle are MUCH higher than in Tacoma (almost double). An agent in Tacoma might be willing to stretch and brave the traffic to make double their money AND get to work with a friend. The problem is, deep down, we know that an eperienced seller’s agent in Seattle would be more qualified to represent that friend than us. Seriously: if you’re a Tacoma agent reading this refer out your Seattle listings to experts. Geez.
There is an exception to this guideline though. If you’re a buyer who has NO IDEA what you want and you are exploring a wide swath of geographic area. If you’re a seller that wants to price your home super high and you’re not in any hurry to sell and will wait for years for the market to finally reach you. In either of these situations a friend or a brand new real estate agent is probably the best choice. Since these are the two categories of agents who will hustle for years without regard to efficient use of their time or regard for if they will ever be paid- they are the way to go. New real estate agents will be down because working with you provides them experience, and your friends because, gosh darn it, they just love you. That’s the real talk.
You must trust them
Trusting your agent makes the entire process of buying and selling easier and more joyful, for you AND the agent. If you leave your initial interaction with your real estate agent and you don’t believe what they say or you just don’t like them- that probably won’t get better after you spend months working with them. Interview agents until you find someone who gets you, who communicates in a way that you prefer, and who does what they tell you they are going to do. You deserve it.
Especially in Tacoma’s super fast moving real estate market folks fall into a relationship with an agent because they didn’t have time to prepare and vet someone good. This is so unfortunate. It’s a good idea to find and connect with your Tacoma real estate agent months (or even years!) before it is time to buy or sell a house. This way you can build trust and a relationship with them and make sure you are building a plan that employs their expertise. A good real estate agent will be SO excited to meet you long before you’re ready to transact, because then they can advise you.
Want help finding an awesome real estate agent in Tacoma or beyond?
I’ve been a real estate agent in Tacoma for over 15 years. I’ve connected hundreds of friends and clients to real estate agents in Tacoma, Pierce County, and across the country over the past 4 years. If you’d like a recommendation for the best Tacoma real estate agent for you- feel free to contact me.
