According to a new survey by moveBuddha, Florida is still the most desired state to relocate to in America. The personal advisory website, which offers services on relocation, surveyed 1,250 Americans about their plans to move in 2025. The results revealed that residents in three of four U.S. regions named Florida as the state they’d most like to move to.
This survey got us thinking: Buying or selling a house is one of the most important transactions you’ll make in your lifetime. Plus, if you’re planning an out-of-state move, how do you choose the right realtor in your new city? It can be daunting to put your future home in the hands of a stranger.
For today’s blog post, we want to consider four tips for choosing the right realtor for your needs.
First, it’s important to gather referrals. Word-of-mouth is one of the top ways that real estate agents grow their clients, with one in five home sellers finding their agent in this way. To start, ask your friends and family about their recent experiences with real estate agents. If you’re moving out-of-state, ask them if they know anyone in your new location who may be able to offer you guidance.
It’s important to find an agent who is very familiar with your location. To ensure this priority doesn’t get lost in your search, use this phrasing when you talk to friends and family: Do you know a real estate agent who has sold homes or facilitated property purchases in my area in the past few years?
If you’re new to the city and don’t have any personal connections, you can rely on online reviews instead. Check their website or social media platforms for detailed testimonials. You can also refer to Google My Business, which requires that all reviews be linked to a Google account. Be sure to pay attention to how the agent responds to their reviews, especially the natural or negative ones.
Second, you want to ensure that your communication styles align. Email or call your top five candidates and patiently wait for their follow-up. This first initiation of contact will give you a sense of their responsiveness. Ideally, they should reply back to you on the same day. Specifically, if it takes longer than four business hours, be weary. What if you have competing offers on the table or a problem comes up with your home inspection? You want to feel confident that your agent is handling the issue in a timely manner.
Third, you need to be prepared. Your initial conversation is similar to a job interview. Ask them tough questions right off the bat and pay close attention to the details supplied in their answers. Consider the following questions to better understand what they can offer you:
How long have you been in business? You generally want an agent with at least two years of experience in your housing market.
How many houses did you sell last year? Focus on agents with double-digit sales.
What is the average list price to actual sales price ratio for your listings? While this number fluctuates by marketing, it should still be high. Even in the worst market conditions, 95 percent is reasonable.
What percentage of your listings do you sell? Here, you want an agent who has sold an average of 60 to 80 percent of their listings.
Finally, look past their fees and remember that the most inexpensive agent isn’t always the right fit. Agents work at different price points, and even ones with lower commission rates should be confident in their abilities. If an agent jumps at the chance to work at a discount early on in the conversation, it may be a red flag. After all, if an agent can’t negotiate to protect their own money, how will they fight for you to make or save you money on your home selling or buying journey?
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Central Florida or Tampa-St. Petersburg, we hope you’ll contact The Urban Dog Group!
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs. Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.
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