How to Choose the Right Buyer's Agent

By Kayvon Mohammadian • 1/28/2026

Choosing the buyer's agent is the most important first step towards finding your next property. It means the difference between a smooth, successful home purchase and a frustrating one filled with missed opportunities. After years of working with buyers in Seattle's competitive market, I've learned what separates exceptional agents from the rest. Here's my tips on how to find the right real estate agent that you should look for when selecting someone to represent you.

Included in This Article

1. Start With Trusted Referrals

2. Evaluate the Brokerage, Not Just the Agent

3. Speed Matters: Why You Need an Agent Who Can Move Fast

4. Look for Agents Who Go Beyond the MLS

5. Constant Communication Makes the Difference

6. The Bottom Line

Start with Trusted Referrals for Buyer's Agents

Talk to People You Trust

The best agents build their business on referrals, not just advertising. Start by talking to friends, family, and colleagues who have recently bought or sold homes in your target area. Ask them about their experience: Did their agent communicate well? Were they responsive? Did they fight for the best deal?

Personal recommendations are far more valuable than any online review alone. Insights from people you know and trust who've seen the agent in action will help you make an informed decision. Plus, agents are likely to provide their best service to referrals who come from a previous client. They want that person to keep recommending them so more good word of mouth is always a positive for agents and buyers.

Evaluate the Brokerage, Not Just the Agent

Culture Matters

A key tip when looking for the right real estate agent, is not to overlook the brokerage they work for. A company's culture directly influences how their agents present themselves and advocate for their clients. In today's competitive market, you don't want a discount brokerage that cuts corners on service and support.

Find a Brokerage With a Large Market Share

Instead, look for a company with significant market share in the neighborhoods where you're searching. Why does this matter? Because agents at these established firms are constantly talking with each other about what they're seeing in the market.

At Windermere, we share insights about pricing trends, buyer activity, and inventory changes that happen daily or even hourly. When the market moves fast, having an agent plugged into this network gives you a crucial information advantage.

Speed Matters: Why You Need an Agent Who Can Move Fast

The Best Ability is Availability

In today's competitive real estate market, timing is everything. Homes can go under contract in a matter of days or even hours. This means you need a buyer's agent who can get you through the door quickly. The last thing you want is to miss out on your dream home because your agent couldn't make time for a showing until next week.

That's why working with a part-time agent or someone with limited availability can be a real disadvantage. Real estate doesn't operate on a 9-to-5 schedule, and neither should your agent. You need someone who's responsive, flexible, and ready to drop everything when a new listing hits the market or when you want to see a property before it's gone.

Find a Team You Trust

One of the best ways to ensure you always have access when you need it is to work with an agent who's part of a team. A well-coordinated team means there's always someone available to show you a home, answer your questions, or write up an offer at short notice. It's the kind of backup and support that can make all the difference when competition is fierce and every minute counts.

This is why working with a buyer's agent like myself who has the support of working with a team makes such a big difference. You can be confident that there is always a ready, willing, and able agent available to support you whenever the time arises. By getting two agents at the same time there is double the strategizing and support. Sometimes we don't always agree on the best course of action so you also get multiple perspectives. Real Estate is not a "one size fits all" practice so the more data and insight you get allows you to make informed decisions at every step.

Look for Agents Who Go Beyond the MLS

Find a Proactive Buyer's Agent

Here's a question that separates good agents from great ones: "What do you do to research listings I'm interested in beyond just looking at the MLS?"

The answer should involve proactive outreach to listing agents. I make it a point to call the listing agent for every property my clients are considering and stay connected with them. You'd be amazed at what you can learn from a simple phone conversation that you'd never find online.

I've had listing agents share detailed information about competing offers already on the table (something I would never do for my own listings, but it has certainly helped my buyers). Others have told me that the seller would be open to reducing the price, they are looking for a specific concession, or that another buyer is preparing to submit an offer so we need to move quickly. All of this intelligence helps my clients craft stronger, more strategic offers.

Find a Connected Buyer's Agent

A good buyer's agent can also tap professional networks beyond fellow brokers. It helps to stay in contact with photographers, stagers, title company, contractors, and anyone else who may have insights that we do not. Are photographers and stagers booked up? Is the title company getting an uptick in requests for Preliminary Title Report? That can mean there is soon to be an increase in inventory that you should be aware of. It may mean the difference between settling for an "okay" house or confidently waiting for the right one coming soon.

Constant Communication Makes the Difference

Your Agent Should Know What's Happening

When my clients are targeting a property, I stay in constant contact with the listing agent. I'm gathering real-time updates on activity, interest level, last minute pre-inspections, and many other important details. This ongoing dialogue is crucial before and after an offer is accepted so you can keep adjusting as needed. It is the most impactful factor that informs our strategy and allows us to write the strongest offer possible.

Remember, until the seller has formally accepted an offer, you can always adjust yours as needed. Buyers working with a proactive agent will always have an advantage when it comes to getting their offer accepted. A few last minute tweaks of your offer can often push you just ahead of the competition when it really matters.

The Bottom Line

It's More Than Just Key's and Paperwork

The right agent doesn't just unlock doors and fill out paperwork. They leverage their network, actively research on your behalf, and use every tool at their disposal to give you an edge in competitive situations. When you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, you deserve an agent who goes the extra mile.

Reach Out to See How Kayvon and Cara Can Help You

If you're looking for a dedicated team of advocates who knows the Seattle market inside and out, I'd love to talk about how I can help you achieve your real estate goals. Feel free to reach out at any time. I'm always happy to answer questions, even if you're just starting to explore your options.

Finding the right real estate agent is just one of the steps towards the home buying process.

Read my Tips to Get Your Offer Accepted to learn more about standing out from other buyers and avoid all the heartache.