Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases the average American makes in his or her lifetime—and it comes with a complicated process of financing, appraisals and inspections, contract negotiations and contingencies, occupancy permits, and more. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 88 percent of homebuyers rely on a real estate agent, broker or Realtor to help them navigate this process. All these agents are licensed to help a person buy or sell a property, but a Realtor also belongs to the NAR and their local and state associations. This membership comes with access to a variety of resources and requires some additional hours of continuing education. With thousands of real estate agents operating in the St. Louis area, how do you find the right one for you?
Here are a few tips from people with experience in the process:
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Ask family and friends
“Word of mouth and referrals are always a good place to start with anything you’re looking for,” says Stacey Sanders, president of the St. Louis Realtors Association and a realtor with 35 years of experience. “A friend or colleague will give you an honest opinion.”
Look at who is actively buying and selling in the area
Gregg Williamson, a realtor with Keller Williams Saint Louis, suggests looking around at the yard signs and other marketing in the area you’d like to buy in. “You can see their successes, the properties they have sold,” Williamson says. “If you see lots of my signs in the Central West End, you will assume that I know [the market there].”
Don’t just go with the seller’s agent
Sanders says one of the biggest mistakes she sees is buyers who go with the agent at the open house, instead of finding their own. “If you stumble across the seller’s agent, they will guide you through the process, but they aren’t your agent,” she says. “Everything they are doing is on the seller’s behalf.” That’s why it’s important for potential buyers to line up their own agent to work in their best interest.
Interview agents before starting the house search
It’s vital to find an agent whom you are comfortable with because you may be working with him or her for quite some time. Catherine Kolbeck has worked with the same agent to both buy and sell properties during the past few years. Before hiring her agent, she interviewed four. “What I found different about [the person I hired], in particular, was that he asked me a lot of specific questions about what I was looking for,” Kolbeck says, noting that the “ability to listen” was among her top requirements.
Find someone knowledgeable about the area and/or property type
Sanders and Williamson both stress the importance of finding an agent with the right expertise. An agent who usually works in the city may not be the best option when looking for a more rural property. But an agent who works in the Central West End will know a lot more about things you are likely to find there, such as plaster walls, knob-and-tube wiring, and radiant heating.
Ask about resources or special designations
Kolbeck suggests getting the most out of the commission you’ll pay an agent by looking for one with the best “ancillary services that are built around [the buying or selling process].” During her search, she was interested in finding a realtor who was well connected to reputable contractors, title companies, and all the other things that she might need in a house sale or purchase. But buyers with more specific needs or interests may want to seek out a realtor who has earned a specialty designation, such as in military relocation, smart homes, luxury homes, or senior living.
Expect to sign an agreement
In 2024, the National Association of Realtors settled a lawsuit over agent commissions that has brought sweeping changes to the industry. One result is that agents are now required to have a signed agreement in place before even opening the door at a property. “This new settlement has made it hard because people were not used to having to sign something,” Sanders says. “But this came out of that lawsuit in the best interest of the buyer, so they understand the process and what that agent is doing for them upfront.” To start your search for a Realtor, visit www.stlrealtors.com/agents/.
