How to Pick A Realtor With ZERO referrals or first hand knowledge?

[haha]

I’ve done a bunch of searches online and every one says get referrals from family, friends, co-workers and then get references. But we don’t know a soul in the intended relocation metro area 750 miles away, so no referrals. Any suggestions?

All I know to do is call the larger real estate offices in Raleigh-Durham, tell them what we’re looking for, and see who they offer up. From there we’d ask them some questions (good questions to ask are easy to find online), ask for references and do some research on our own, and narrow it to one or two and proceed.

When I was working it was easier as co-workers at the new location were always there to help, and Megacorp had relo peeps that knew good realtors in most of the their (75) locations. Now retired, we don’t have that handy resource when relocating.

How about put most of your stuff in storage in R-D, move there and rent a house or apartment as close as possible to where you want to live, and see how it feels on the ground?

I spent almost my whole life either in Seattle or in Seattle metro but not in city. Still, I really didn't know pluses and minuses of various neighborhoods and streets until I rented in the one I though might work best. I am slow about feeling that I really know what's what, so I benefited from taking my time.

Ha

 

[Midpack]

How about put most of your stuff in storage in R-D, move there and rent a house or apartment as close as possible to where you want to live, and see how it feels on the ground?

I spent almost my whole life either in Seattle or in Seattle metro but not in city. Still, I really didn't know pluses and minuses of various neighborhoods and streets until I rented in the one I though might work best. I am slow about feeling that I really know what's what, so I benefited from taking my time.

Ha

I am sure we should rent for 6-12 months, and we may still. Obviously that will add cost and logistics, but that could prevent us from making a location error. Moving again would be MORE costly. I guess we’re hoping a good realtor should be able to help us get location right?

 

[JoeWras]

Fendol Farms has just started breaking ground. Just behind the Del Web project. Del Web in Briar Creek is just about sold out. There are a couple of other 55 and older being built in Brier Creek.

Traditions, another Del Web project is being built in Wake Forest.

Before looking at the Triangle, please keep in mind that Traffic has gotten much worse here and the price of housing has appreciated 40% + in the last three years. The Triangle is still averaging 60 new residents per day on an inflow.

The folks retiring from the Northeast are not moving to Florida but instead to Raleigh and Charlotte.

That's a growing area, but it baffles me that they are allowing such huge growth without doing something about Leesville Rd. That used to be tobacco farm country, and country roads. Leesville is still grossly undersized. At least from the Del Webb community, there is a back door out to 70. Fendol Farms is boxed in to Leesville. It is going to be ugly.

And your inflow quote is sure supported by what I've noticed to be a recent change. 540 traffic from 70 to 40 is becoming impossible every morning. After they widened the offramp to 40 several years ago, it was almost always a breeze. Not anymore.

I don't even want to talk about evening traffic.

6 more weeks of this commute!

* PS: yes, I know, it isn't Chicago. I know. Grew up there. But even metro-grizzled-vets get sick of this traffic growth too.

 

[Amethyst]

I'm mystified why so many people want to retire to a place that is obviously a hot employment center. The Research Triangle is one of the biggest employment growth areas in the U.S. , and Charlotte is not far behind. NC state taxes are hardly the lowest in the U.S.

not a knock on OP, but am puzzled about the inflow of retirees generally. Just don't get it.

 

[Midpack]

* PS: yes, I know, it isn't Chicago. I know. Grew up there. But even metro-grizzled-vets get sick of this traffic growth too.

You took the words right out of my mouth. We did see some crazy traffic on Leesville Rd and IIRC N Mangum St (going east at evening rush hour) while there about a month ago. A disaster for commuters, but a little less so for retirees?

 

[Midpack]

I'm mystified why so many people want to retire to a place that is obviously a hot employment center. The Research Triangle is one of the biggest employment growth areas in the U.S. , and Charlotte is not far behind. NC state taxes are hardly the lowest in the U.S.

not a knock on OP, but am puzzled about the inflow of retirees generally. Just don't get it.

For us it’s a simple as (winter) weather and the amenities and (outdoor) activities we most enjoy.

There are many cheaper places to be sure, but after over 25 years near Chicago there’s a limit to how many amenities we’re willing to give up. The kind of amenities we enjoy only seem exist where the economy, therefore employment, is “hot” and COL follows somewhat.

And while we’re escaping winter, there’s too warm too (we’ve lived in Tampa and Dallas), and DW [-]gets really crabby[/-] wilts in high humidity...

 

[RunningBum]

I am sure we should rent for 6-12 months, and we may still. Obviously that will add cost and logistics, but that could prevent us from making a location error. Moving again would be MORE costly. I guess we’re hoping a good realtor should be able to help us get location right?

Yeah, though there are always personal things to evaluate. Spend a couple of days and act like you're living there. Go to the grocery store and see how convenient it is, and if they have things you typically get. Go to the coffee shop, library, hiking trails, golf course, hobby supply store, whatever it is you like to do or have to do. A realtor could take my criteria of nearby running trails, but I'd have to check it out myself to make sure they are asphalt or unpaved instead of concrete, through trees rather than wide open exposed to weather, and not running right along side a busy road or having to cross them. Tennis courts could be plentiful but shoddy. Or that neighborhood grocery store might be a run down old Food Lion with the basics, instead of something like an upscale Wegmans if you want gourmet options.

 

[JoeWras]

I'm mystified why so many people want to retire to a place that is obviously a hot employment center. The Research Triangle is one of the biggest employment growth areas in the U.S. , and Charlotte is not far behind. NC state taxes are hardly the lowest in the U.S.

not a knock on OP, but am puzzled about the inflow of retirees generally. Just don't get it.

We're staying for the reason Midpack is coming. We have a lot of new friends who come here to follow their children (when they job hop here). Then the kids move away and the retirees stay!

You took the words right out of my mouth. We did see some crazy traffic on Leesville Rd and N Mangum St (going east at evening rush hour) while there about a month ago. A disaster for commuters, but a little less so for retirees?

That's a good point. The rush IS much shorter than Chicagoland and you can work around it and do your thing outside the relatively short windows. At least for the next 10 years or so. Not sure what will happen after that.

 

[Amethyst]

Summers in central NC are hot and humid. Naturally they don't last as long as in Florida, but it would be something to check into.

And while we’re escaping winter, there’s too warm too (we’ve lived in Tampa and Dallas), and DW [-]gets really crabby[/-] wilts in high humidity...

 

[RunningBum]

For us it’s a simple as (winter) weather and the amenities and (outdoor) activities we most enjoy.

There are many cheaper places to be sure, but after over 25 years near Chicago there’s a limit to how many amenities we’re willing to give up. The kind of amenities we enjoy only seem exist where the economy, therefore employment, is “hot” and COL follows somewhat.

And while we’re escaping winter, there’s too warm too (we’ve lived in Tampa and Dallas), and DW [-]gets really crabby[/-] wilts in high humidity...

What are the outdoor activities? Some may have local knowledge to help.

 

[Amethyst]

You haven't seen a nice real estate agent work hard not to roll his/her eyes until you've seen them react to my criterion of a decent fitness center within a 10-minute drive. And not a few machines in a dang clubhouse, either.

Yeah, though there are always personal things to evaluate. Spend a couple of days and act like you're living there. Go to the grocery store and see how convenient it is, and if they have things you typically get. Go to the coffee shop, library, hiking trails, golf course, hobby supply store, whatever it is you like to do or have to do. A realtor could take my criteria of nearby running trails, but I'd have to check it out myself to make sure they are asphalt or unpaved instead of concrete, through trees rather than wide open exposed to weather, and not running right along side a busy road or having to cross them. Tennis courts could be plentiful but shoddy. Or that neighborhood grocery store might be a run down old Food Lion with the basics, instead of something like an upscale Wegmans if you want gourmet options.

 

[JoeWras]

Summers in central NC are hot and humid. Naturally they don't last as long as in Florida, but it would be something to check into.

I came from Florida, so I have perspective. Yes, our July-August is equivalent to Chicago's Jan-Feb. It is our "winter" of sorts. But you can still do stuff, especially in the morning. Bike rides in July-Aug early morning are the bomb. What I couldn't stomach with S. Florida was the unrelenting humidity in Sept-Oct. That at least relaxes here. I've come to accept a little humidity. It sucks, but then again, the desert sucks you dry.

What are the outdoor activities? Some may have local knowledge to help.

Many to mention. Although we are not IN the mountains or coast, we are close enough to enjoy on day trips. But more than that, all kinds of stuff you can do. One of my favorites is the outdoor pop symphony concerts in late May through early July.

 

[RunningBum]

That's a growing area, but it baffles me that they are allowing such huge growth without doing something about Leesville Rd. That used to be tobacco farm country, and country roads.

My Leesville Rd story. 1985, driving home in the evening from RTP, after rush hour had cleared, maybe 8pm (still light out) and a friend was following me. Pull off of 70 onto Leesville toward Strickland in my newer VW Rabbit GTI. Looked in my rear view mirror and gunned it around a corner. My friend in his turbo Buick Regal was a bit slow in the turn but caught me on a straight. So I opened it up again and he chased me. We got onto Strickland, and kept it up. Probably not 2 lane anymore, but it was then, but I think I only had to pass one car. Turned onto Six Forks, also 2 lane that far north at the time, and passed a couple more cars to my apartment. When I finally got there my friend pulled up and we were both laughing our asses off, saying how much fun that was, and went in for a beer (none before driving). Foolish youth, but on a summer weekday evening we were pretty much able to go as fast as we wanted all the way, with hardly any traffic to contend with. No way that happens today.

 

[RunningBum]

Many to mention. Although we are not IN the mountains or coast, we are close enough to enjoy on day trips. But more than that, all kinds of stuff you can do. One of my favorites is the outdoor pop symphony concerts in late May through early July.

Well, I was asking midpack, since he's the one looking. But I know there is a lot to do there. If he's into fishing, looking for someone to tell him which of the lakes is better, rather than just looking to be near any lake, for example.

 

[RunningBum]

One of my favorites is the outdoor pop symphony concerts in late May through early July.

Are those still out at Regency Park? When I was married we lived in a house just up the hill from there, and really enjoyed those concerts. Extra nice not to have to deal with the traffic leaving, especially since the back way out wasn't there yet.

 

[trirod]

When we bought a house in an area 250 miles from home recently, we looked at the reviews on Zillow then at the kinds of houses the agent was selling. Our agent turned out to be competent, but nothing spectacular. On the buying side I'm not sure it matters too much - we were finding our own houses to look at on Zillow so she didn't really add anything except for setting up the viewings and dealing with closing. On the selling side it's more important, but at that point you should have local referrals so should be easier to find a good one.

 

[JoeWras]

Are those still out at Regency Park? When I was married we lived in a house just up the hill from there, and really enjoyed those concerts. Extra nice not to have to deal with the traffic leaving, especially since the back way out wasn't there yet.

Yes. They (city of Cary) rebuilt the area and made a permanent structure instead of the big tent. It is a huge improvement.

 

[RunningBum]

When we bought a house in an area 250 miles from home recently, we looked at the reviews on Zillow then at the kinds of houses the agent was selling. Our agent turned out to be competent, but nothing spectacular. On the buying side I'm not sure it matters too much - we were finding our own houses to look at on Zillow so she didn't really add anything except for setting up the viewings and dealing with closing. On the selling side it's more important, but at that point you should have local referrals so should be easier to find a good one.

When I was a kid, we moved back to a large town / small city where we had lived before. A family friend ran a small real estate firm and he drove us around the first day. We were moving back to the same area of town, but undecided on neighborhoods and it had been 8 years. I can remember the realtor commenting on various houses who built the house, and whether or not they built quality homes. IIRC he would also say things like "this neighborhood has drainage problems" and stuff like that. It was really impressive, and I'm sure helpful.

 

[Midpack]

Yeah, though there are always personal things to evaluate. Spend a couple of days and act like you're living there. Go to the grocery store and see how convenient it is, and if they have things you typically get. Go to the coffee shop, library, hiking trails, golf course, hobby supply store, whatever it is you like to do or have to do. A realtor could take my criteria of nearby running trails, but I'd have to check it out myself to make sure they are asphalt or unpaved instead of concrete, through trees rather than wide open exposed to weather, and not running right along side a busy road or having to cross them. Tennis courts could be plentiful but shoddy. Or that neighborhood grocery store might be a run down old Food Lion with the basics, instead of something like an upscale Wegmans if you want gourmet options.

Agreed, we’ve been to Raleigh-Durham three times so far, about 12-13 days total, and we did attempt to ‘act like we were living there’ - going to libraries, lakes, gardens/arboretum, restaurants, shopping, farmers markets, grocery stores, etc. along with more than two dozen neighborhoods in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Wake Forest. Also mapped out where all Whole Foods, Costco, libraries, Apple stores, Nordstrom’s, farmers markets, a variety of restaurants, malls, and other places we know we’d frequent. Visited some.

 

[Midpack]

What are the outdoor activities? Some may have local knowledge to help.

Biking, walking, hiking, boating (kayaks for sure, maybe smallish sail or power), no fishing for us. Farmers markets, gardens and arboretums, places close to home to for exercise dogs. We have researched and visited some, but nothing better than local knowledge.

 

[JoeWras]

Biking, walking, hiking, boating (kayaks for sure, maybe smallish sail or power), no fishing for us. Farmers markets, gardens and arboretums, places close to home to for exercise dogs. We have researched and visited some, but nothing better than local knowledge.

You should have plenty to do. Biking and hiking are my thing. We always find something different to explore close by. And for variety, work our way to the mountains or foothills.

NC came way too close to selling off part of Umstead park a decade or so ago. The citizen uproar stopped it. It is becoming an urban gem to have such a state park smack in the middle of the growing metropolis. It is also now linked by greenway trails from east of Raleigh all the way to Durham.

Although I miss the flat land of the forest preserve system, I enjoy the larger variety here. Some days, first gear is my friend.

 

[RobbieB]

I never "picked" a realtor, just called an office in the area we were looking and got assigned and went and looked at houses with that guy/gal.

No problems.

 

[Katsmeow]

I literally just did this with my recent move so I will tell you what I did.

I did look at listings in the area but that works better for seller's agents than buyer's agents.

So, I ended up going to the relevant location forum on City-Data which ends up mostly talking about real estate and the market. The market we were moving to was a very hot market where having a good buyer's agent was key.

Anyway, I posted an inquiry in that forum. I asked for private messages to me with recommendations. I got several recommendations. From reading through that forum I had a good feel for the people in the forum and which ones knew the location I was looking at.

I ended up then researching 3 agents. I looked them up at realtor.com. I focused on reading reviews of their work (mostly to see if they worked in the areas I was interested in) and looking at their past sales. I looked for someone working in the areas we were focused on and who had a lot of experience. I also looked at the individual website for the agent I ended up selecting. I wrote the agent and then talked to her by phone. (I was prepared to interview more of them but one agent was a real standout and I felt happy with her from the beginning). She actually runs a small team (one other agent and a couple of others who work in the office).

FWIW in a hot market I felt it was super important to find an agent who was very familiar with the market and who could help with quickly showing houses. I liked that there were two agents in the team as one could fill in if the other couldn't do a showing.

Anyway - it has all worked out fine. We are currently under contract to buy a house.

 

[Midpack]

I literally just did this with my recent move so I will tell you what I did.

I did look at listings in the area but that works better for seller's agents than buyer's agents.

So, I ended up going to the relevant location forum on City-Data which ends up mostly talking about real estate and the market. The market we were moving to was a very hot market where having a good buyer's agent was key.

Anyway, I posted an inquiry in that forum. I asked for private messages to me with recommendations. I got several recommendations. From reading through that forum I had a good feel for the people in the forum and which ones knew the location I was looking at.

I ended up then researching 3 agents. I looked them up at realtor.com. I focused on reading reviews of their work (mostly to see if they worked in the areas I was interested in) and looking at their past sales. I looked for someone working in the areas we were focused on and who had a lot of experience. I also looked at the individual website for the agent I ended up selecting. I wrote the agent and then talked to her by phone. (I was prepared to interview more of them but one agent was a real standout and I felt happy with her from the beginning). She actually runs a small team (one other agent and a couple of others who work in the office).

FWIW in a hot market I felt it was super important to find an agent who was very familiar with the market and who could help with quickly showing houses. I liked that there were two agents in the team as one could fill in if the other couldn't do a showing.

Anyway - it has all worked out fine. We are currently under contract to buy a house.

Great idea. I’ve used city-data for years, and I’ve had three realtors PM me even though I haven’t asked yet, nothing wrong with that. Once I ask outright, I suspect I’ll get more “volunteers.” In the past 24 hours DW has gotten cold feet again, looks like we’re going to wait until Jan 2019 to act...

 

[mountainsoft]

It sounds like you're buying, but we are just wrapping up the selling of my mom's house. I have never used a realtor before so I wouldn't know the difference between a good or bad realtor. I didn't know home prices in the area, or what realtors served the area.

I started my search by looking around the neighborhood to see what realtor signs were most common. The "big name" realtors mostly seemed to be selling empty lots. There were only a couple of realtors that were selling houses, and one seemed to be focused on newer houses. So I kind of went with the one that had signs up on most of the older houses like my mom's.

As a second opinion I looked at recent home sales on Zillow and other sites. I looked to see which realtor sold the house, and how many days the house was on the market before it sold. Getting max dollars didn't mean much if it took 6 months to sell the house. We needed out as soon as possible.

In the end we went with the original small realtor that had the most signs up and the most recent sales. They were a small home town operation with a father and daughter. Some people may be turned off by their style (kids screaming in the background during phone calls and whatnot), but my wife and I both enjoyed working with them. They gave us a selling price that seemed fair and inline with what I had seen selling in the area. And they seemed very knowledgeable about the area, the history of the homes, etc. We had bids for the house in less than a week. We ran into several issues with the sale (inspection problems, failed loan with the first buyer, an address change from the county, demands from the FHA appraiser, etc) and the realtor handled them all smoothly.

As I said, I don't have anything to compare them with, but we were happy with the way they handled the entire process. We just signed the closing papers yesterday!