Step 2
Find candidate agents
Gather at least three names from more than one source, then vet them before you spend an hour on a call.
Zillow Agent Finder ↗
Search by area and read client reviews tied to closed transactions.
Sort by recent sales in your price band, not by star count alone.
Realtor.com — Find a Realtor ↗
Directory of NAR members with activity maps and price ranges.
Check the map of where they actually close. Coverage claims are broader than reality.
Zillow — Homes for sale ↗
See who is listing and selling in your exact neighborhood right now.
Filter to recently sold and note the listing agent names that keep appearing.
Realtor.com — Recently sold ↗
Sold-price data to sanity check any pricing advice you're given.
Bring three comps to your interview and ask each agent to react to them.
Vet them before you call
Read reviews in the right order
Skip the five-star wall. Read the three- and four-star reviews and every review that mentions communication, because that's where the honest friction shows up.
Verify the license yourself
Every state has a free license lookup through its real estate commission. Confirm the license is active and check for any disciplinary history.
Match the specialty to your situation
Condo, rural acreage, historic, new construction, and investment sales are different skills. Ask for three recent closings that look like your transaction.
Watch for these red flags
Pressure to sign immediately, a list price far above every comparable, vague answers about how they're paid, refusing to explain the agreement, or a 12-month term presented as non-negotiable.