Referrals from friends, family and colleagues are one of the most common ways to find a real estate agent to assist in listing your property for sale. Our research shows that this is the most common way, as when starting with zero information, a referral from someone you know provides trust and confidence in the decision-making process. Indeed referrals are a valuable way to find a real estate agent through referrals, but like any method, it has its pros and cons:
Pros:
Trustworthiness: When a friend recommends a real estate agent, there's a level of trust already established. You're more likely to believe in the agent's credibility and professionalism because someone you trust has vouched for them.
Insider Knowledge: Friends can provide insights into their experience with the agent, including their strengths, weaknesses, and how they handle situations. This insider knowledge can help you make a more informed decision.
Personalized Recommendations: Friends who know you well can recommend agents based on your specific needs and preferences. They might consider factors like your budget, desired location, and the type of property you're looking for.
Ease of Communication: Since the agent comes recommended by a friend, communication might feel more comfortable and straightforward. You may feel more at ease asking questions or expressing concerns.
Cons:
Biased Recommendations: While friends have good intentions, their recommendations can be biased based on their personal experiences or personal relationships with agents, which might not necessarily align with what you're looking for in an agent.
Path of least resistance trap: Relying solely on referrals from friends might limit your pool of potential agents and opportunities. Referrals are easy because they come with the assumption that the other person has done the research and decision making. However, there could be other highly qualified agents out there who haven't been recommended to you simply because they're not within your friends' circles.
Mismatched Expectations: What worked for your friend might not work for you. Everyone's preferences, requirements and priorities differ, so there's a chance that the agent recommended by your friend might not be the best fit for your needs.
Strained Relationships: If things don't go well with the recommended agent, it could strain your relationship with the friend who made the referral, especially if you end up having a negative experience.
Inability to negotiate fees and services. Referrals often come with the expectation that fees and services cannot be negotiated.
Overall, while finding real estate agent through referrals from friends are a helpful starting point in your search for a real estate agent. It's essential to complement them with thorough research, including online reviews, interviews with multiple agents, and assessing their track record in handling properties similar to yours. Agent Market is perfect to assist you with this. At the very least, you have the ability to create transparency and compare the services and fees provided by your referred agent are comparable to what is available in the market.