When buying or selling your home in San Antonio, finding the best local Realtor to guide you through the process can save you money and headaches. While you can purchase or sell your home in San Antonio without an agent's help, working with a Realtor who's well-versed in the nuances of the market can ensure you get the best possible deal.
But with thousands of agents vying for your business via online ads, newspaper listings, and yard signs, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Follow these tips on how to find the perfect real estate agent for your home purchase or sale in San Antonio, even as a seasoned homeowner or first-time homebuyer.
1. Get Referrals from Friends & Family
Has anyone you know bought or sold a house recently? Ask which Realtor they used and whether they had a good experience. You can read about an agent online, but talking to someone you trust can give you a better sense of whether you'll have a good experience with an agent.
Ideally, you'll get two or three recommendations. Meet with each one before you make a decision. See which agent matches your style, listens to what you have to say, and understands what you're looking for.
Expert Tip: Personal referrals can provide legit Realtor recommendations, but we don’t recommend working with a listing agent just because they helped a family member or friend. You need to thoroughly vet and compare referred agents with at least a few other agents from other sources to make an informed decision.
2. Search Online
In this day and age, finding real estate agents is only an online search away. For example, simply typing "real estate agents in Mission Del Lago in San Antonio" into any search engine will yield a list of real estate agents in Mission Del Lago, San Antonio.
Examine their website and social media pages, as well as their online reviews and home closing stats. One or two unfavorable reviews aren't a big deal, but more than that could be a red flag.
Expert Tip: Agents who you find in these searches could be ones who have paid companies to be featured on different websites. Be sure that any sites you trust for referrals is legitimate and trustworthy.
3. Interview Potential Agents
Once you've identified a few excellent agents in San Antonio, set aside some time to interview them. An interview allows you to understand the agent's personality and experience.
During the interview, pay attention to how the agents respond. Do they provide you with specific, factual answers to your interview questions? Beware of agents who respond with vague answers. You want someone who communicates clearly, has the right experience, and matches your personality.
Additionally, look for evidence that they understand the San Antonio market, such as mentioning a new La Fiesta grocery shop or the Paesanos restaurant opening down the street. Knowledgeable agents know how to market your home to buyers and get it sold for the highest price or provide you with important local information to help you make a more informed purchase.
Expert Tip: When interviewing real estate agents it is important that you find out their knowledge of the San Antonio market, communication skills, marketing strategy, and past home sale history.
4. Request References
Anyone who has tried to sell something will tell you that word-of-mouth is everything. And, when it comes to real estate agents, nothing beats a recommendation from a reliable source. If you hear fantastic things about a realtor from a friend or family member, it could be a hint that the agent is worth your time.
However, if you're going in blind, request references and testimonials to get a sense of their work. They may provide you with a list of people they've recently sold homes to and contact information. Write down a few questions, then call or email some buyers or sellers. When cross-checking an agent's references, use the following questions as a starting point.
What was the frequency and mode of your communication?
Would you recommend them to your parents?
What was your experience using this Realtor for your out-of-state home purchase?
Were they knowledgeable about the current San Antonio market?
What were some of the challenges you faced working with XYZ?
Expert Tip: Before you hire a real estate agent, it’s important to make sure the agent is a great fit both professionally and personally. Cross-checking references can help you solidify the references as well as the relationship with your potential agent.
5. Look for San Antonio Real Estate Awards
Another way to narrow your search for a Realtor in San Antonio is by checking an agent's website and resume for awards. You can also run a Google search for a list of agents in the San Antonio area who have won awards from the local or state branch of the National Association of Realtors. These types of peer awards strongly indicate that the agent has high standing within their community — and probably will represent you well.
Some San Antonio real estate awards to consider are the Cartus Broker Service Award, Platinum Top 50, and most especially, the San Antonio Board of Realtors awards, as it is based on a vote of a Realtor's peers.
However, realize that it may also indicate a very busy Realtor who may not be the right choice if you'd like more individual attention. Therefore, when looking for an agent in San Antonio, you should look beyond the awards and local recognition.
Expert Tip: While peer-given awards are a great indication of an agent’s value to their immediate community and clients, it is important that you do not base your hiring decision solely on that. Look out for their communication skills, experience in your property type, and marketing skills.
6. Be Honest With Your Realtor
A Realtor’s job is to understand your wants, needs, and vision for your home. For them to garner a complete picture, you’ll have to be honest with them. Perhaps they are communicating poorly, dismissive of your preferences, or lack the right skills.
If, along the way, you decide the working relationship is not progressing as you think it should, give them a call and let them know. They may be able to rectify the situation quickly.
Expert Tip: One of the best ways to be honest with your Realtor is by being open with your housing needs and goals. Tell your Realtor what you want in a house, your location, your budget, and what works for you.
What To Look For in a Realtor
Getting a good outcome on your home sale or purchase requires finding a great real estate agent. But with thousands of active agents in San Antonio, TX, that can be easier said than done. So here are key things to look for when hiring an agent.
1. It's All About Chemistry
While this isn't a dating article, chemistry is an important thing to consider. Simply put, do you connect with them? While it may sound obvious, it is critical that you enjoy spending time with your real estate agent and that you get along.
Keep in mind that this is someone you'll be seeing a lot on your property journey and sharing financial information with. Furthermore, property hunting or sale in San Antonio can be an emotional rollercoaster, and if you don't like the person you're working with amid all of the turmoil, it will feel all the more stressful.
2. Experience is Key
We've all seen those action movies where the rookie comes out of nowhere and nails every assignment with ease. But, unfortunately, in real-life, particularly selling your home, is not one of those Hollywood movies you've seen in Alamo Drafthouse.
Real estate, especially in San Antonio, is an area where experience reigns supreme, so searching for a real estate agent with plenty of experience is key to your success. While you shouldn't overlook savvy newer agents with less experience, working with an experienced agent offers you local connections, local market knowledge, and better negotiation experience that others may not have.
Additionally, experienced real estate agents will have worked with a good range of clients of differing backgrounds, experiences, and needs, giving them a better sense of how they can help you properly.
So how do you gauge a real estate agent's experience? By keeping an eye on how well they communicate and know the San Antonio housing market. On top of that, ask if they are a part of the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR). Realtors who are part of SABOR are more likely to be also certified by the Texas Realtors and the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
3. Knowledge of the San Antonio Real Estate Market
We live in a world where you can find or sell any property, anywhere globally, with a few mouse clicks. This has become, over time, the standard practice for a property search.
However, once you find that house in San Antonio, will you know anything about the cost of living in that area specifically? For example, based on previous homes in the area, do you know how much it'll appreciate or the current listing price? Also, what are the school districts and transport links like, and where are they?
These are all questions that a simple listing website can't fully tell you, but an excellent San Antonio real estate agent can. While you might find your ideal home online, working with a real estate agent who has extensive knowledge of San Antonio neighborhoods will stop you from ending up with a dream house in a nightmare location or selling your home at a loss.
4. Tech-Savvy Marketing Skills
In the world we live in, it's imperative that a real estate agent is savvy in the field of technology. That includes everything from your preferred method of communication (phone call, email, text) to the ability to market your property online with professional photos, descriptions, and virtual tours. Conversely, if an agent is behind the times in technology, it could negatively impact your buying or selling experience.
For example, a listing agent needs to know how to create a solid first impression online because most people shop for homes virtually before visiting a property for sale. If you're a seller, you'll want to know what types of plans a real estate agent has for marketing your home for sale.
As a buyer, you'll want an agent who can find newly listed homes in San Antonio as quickly as you can, if not faster— and has the resources to find homes for sale that aren't listed on traditional channels. In addition, picking an agent that understands the importance of social media marketing can increase your odds of selling or buying quickly and for the right price.
5. Relevant Certifications and Specialties
Like any good expert in any industry would seek to further their education and stay on top of changes or advancements in their field, many real estate agents in San Antonio pursue additional certifications to strengthen their skillset.
Look for a real estate agent who is a Realtor. This is because they’re likely to be members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) and have formally agreed to abide by the group’s code of ethics. Some Realtors also have certifications to show that they’ve completed training in a specific area of expertise. Some designations include:
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate
ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): Completed additional training in representing buyers in transactions
SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers aged 50 and older
Additionally, ask if the agent specializes in military relocation, historic homes, seniors, or first-time homebuyers. These expanded skills can make a difference for clients in special or irregular circumstances. If you are one of them, finding an agent certified in one of these particular areas could be a huge bonus.
Red Flags to Avoid
When it comes to making one of the most important decisions of your life (i.e. buying or selling a home), don't get stuck with a second-rate agent. Here are a few red flags to help you evaluate your potential agents in San Antonio and avoid the duds (so you can choose the right one).
1. Lack of Professionalism
A real estate agent is a professional who should look and act the part. Casual is okay. Friendly is great. However, an agent that doesn’t know the business, is sloppy, or is rude should be a deal-breaker. Watch out for real estate agents that show these traits:
Rudeness to you, potential buyers, or the buying agent
Failure to arrive at showings, meetings, or other appointments on time
Lack of marketing tools or skills
2. Charges A Low Commission
Most Realtors charge a commission of between 5-7% (with the majority of San Antonio Realtors charging 6%). This sum is divided between the selling and buying agents. Be wary if your Realtor offers you a significantly lower commission on the sale of your house (less than 5%).
Because sharing the commission only gives each agent 2%, fewer agents will show your home, which means it will take longer to sell.
(Expert Tip: You can always try to negotiate a slightly lower commission if you have one agent handle both the sale and purchase of your next house.)
3. Fudging of Facts
Given the importance of trust in any real estate deal, any sign of dishonesty in your agent is a reason to walk away. Again, there will be early warning signs if your potential real estate agent is being shady. For example, listings should clearly state the name of the broker and their firm, as well as any associated fees.
Dishonesty can also come in the form of a real estate agent making excessive promises, or expressing too much certainty as to the outcome of a deal. Inconsistency between what an agent promises in an email and what they offer face-to-face should be taken as another warning sign.
4. Lack of Specialization
Neighborhood knowledge is everything when looking for a real estate agent for your next home-buying or selling journey. Hire a Realtor that is knowledgeable about the area in which you are looking to buy or sell a home. In San Antonio, the jack-of-all-trades real estate agent may turn out to be the master of none.
In other words, if you have an area in mind you'd like to live, it may be best to find an agent who specializes in that area. Ask the agent questions about the area you're interested in to get a sense of their degree of experience; if they have to go back and check up on many things, they may not know the housing market of the neighborhood very well.
If you're selling, we recommend finding an agent who specializes in your area. And if you're buying, choose an agent with knowledge surrounding your buyer profile and preferred areas. If you're new to San Antonio, feel free to explore the city via our neighborhood map!
5. Pushy with an Agenda
Have you ever had the impression that a salesperson is more concerned with their commission than with placing you in the proper car? You don't ever want to feel this way when working with a real estate agent.
A Realtor that has your best interests at heart will scour the market with you, support you throughout the process, celebrate with you when you find the one, or be a stabilizing presence if you go through the emotional rollercoaster of not being able to find the one very easily.
If an agent is pressuring you to accept an offer that doesn't meet your most essential demands, it is time to step back. Also, look for signs that your agent is misinterpreting your cues, such as failing to ask for what you want or failing to listen to your responses.
Search Top Real Estate Agents at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate HomeCity
Connecting with an excellent real estate agent in San Antonio can take days or even a week to find, but the effort and due diligence are worth it. Because the right real estate agent can accelerate your path to homeownership, smooth out rough edges along the way, and save you immeasurable time and stress.
Do you need help with finding the best real estate agents in San Antonio? At BHGRE HomeCity, our agents have years of experience, a proven track record of success, and strong connections in the various San Antonio communities.
We also provide extra services such as assisting you in coordinating closing dates when you buy and sell a home at the same time. If you're a homeowner, we can help you sell your home quickly and profitably. Select a BHGRE HomeCity San Antonio agent and get started right away.
