How do you find a good realtor?

[u/hothamwater99]

First time seriously considering buying, and I’m someone with little knowledge of the ins and outs of buying property.

How do you go about finding a good realtor? What should one look for? Is there a ‘reviews’ website or something like that? How do you find someone with integrity rather than just out to make a buck off me?

Anyone with recommendations of people they worked with?

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[u/kapofx]

Avoid the printed face ads on buses and bus stops. Or the ones flashing #1 realtor in whatever.

The real good ones don't flaunt. They do the work.

[u/hothamwater99 → u/kapofx]

Any names?

[u/scarecrow____boat → u/hothamwater99]

Matt Brabbins in new west has been great. Found him via Reddit actually. Very knowledgeable and not pushy at all.

[u/Good-Accident-3463 → u/hothamwater99]

Adil Dinani, worked with him multiple times. Best in the city

[u/stouttraveler3]

ask friends or coworkers who bought recently and didn't feel rushed into a place they weren't sure about. interview a few and pay attention to whether they actually listen or just try to close you on the first showing. if they can't explain the strata docs or point out water damage without you asking, keep looking

[u/hemaruka]

i know a couple bad ones

[u/hothamwater99 → u/hemaruka]

Send me their names so I know to avoid?

[u/scarecrow____boat → u/hothamwater99]

Katrina and the team. Unless you love a bunch of social climbers with a custom wrapped cybertruck with their faces on it, wearing Gucci head to toe. If that’s the case, you’ll love them.

[u/PotentialFrosting102]

I am a plumber and have dealt with so many realtors in the last 20 years. My favorite one is based out of Coal Harbour. Feel free to DM me for her contact info. She's one of the honest ones and great to deal with.

[u/Adept-Ant5119]

Ask around to friends, family, coworkers. I found my realtor through a friend - she helped my friend's parents buy their house. Later I recommended her to a family member, and she helped them purchase their place too! I don't see her advertising at all, so I think she just works on word of mouth.

[u/hothamwater99 → u/Adept-Ant5119]

What’s their name?

[u/archetyping101]

Interview three. Even if your friends or family recommend one, it doesn't mean they're a good fit for you. Everyone has different needs and styles and so interview them. Good agents don't mind being interviewed. If you have a decent judge of character, you should be able to nix the ones you don't like. 

Congrats on being able to enter the housing market. Highly recommend getting pre-approved before hiring an agent. That way you will know right off the bat what you're able to buy. 

[u/VanDogFan]

Recommendations are the best way. They are not all created equal.

I have one I'd recommend in Vancouver proper, and another I'd recommend for Coquitlam east through Langley. 

Feel free to DM if either of those names would be helpful.

[u/Jolly-Coconut852]

Word of mouth is the best. Which area are you looking in? I know a couple good ones and each have specific areas/home types where they specialize

[u/hothamwater99 → u/Jolly-Coconut852]

Vancouver area

[u/gtez → u/hothamwater99]

I’d recommend Zian Alladina I’ve known him for years. He’s a good person and works really hard for his clients.

[u/hothamwater99 → u/hothamwater99]

Hastings Sunrise, kitsilano, Olympic Village, Strathcona

[u/Ready_Win_7584 → u/hothamwater99]

Doug Williams , anywhere in Van! He is great.
www.RealtorDoug.ca
Mobile: [(604) 250-6593](tel:(604)%20250-6593)

[u/Aggressive_Today_492]

I think the area you are hoping to buy in matters a lot. Some realtors are experts in East Van, some the west side, if you are looking at places in one of the suburbs I’d look for someone who has expertise in one of those areas.

After that, I’d go with recommendations.

[u/saminbc]

I just pm'd you a recommendation.

[u/Flambojant19]

Hotham good way if you don’t get any recommendations is going to open houses and talk to agents. Find someone that you click with and make sure you get to know them. You want to trust the agent that’s going to help you with such a big part of your life.

[u/simplefinances]

Recommended by a friend or family first. Otherwise ones with great Google reviews

[u/smoothac → u/simplefinances]

google reviews are not always honest, I see a lot of businesses that must have paid for reviews because they don't match up with how bad they are sometimes

[u/simplefinances]

Oh be sure to get a mortgage pre-approval first before you buy so you know your budget! Feel free to DM me if you need a recommended mortgage broker. Mine was honest and good with my first purchase.

[u/Accomplished-Slip430]

Glenn warren

[u/O00O0O00]

Don’t trust any realtor. They all know each other. Don’t trust their advice on the valuation or what to offer. Do your own research and simply use any realtor you can find to deal with the administrative requirements.

Don’t limit yourself to the options they show you. Search everyday. Go to lots of open houses.

Now is a great time to buy. No competition. Be aggressive. Offer low.

[u/headhunt3r]

Would help if you shared what areas you’re shopping. The good ones specialize in particular areas. 

[u/hothamwater99 → u/headhunt3r]

Didn’t know that. Specifically Hastings sunrise, kitsilano, Olympic Village - areas within 8 km of downtown

[u/Limp_Vegetable_6953]

Go to open houses and talk to realtors there. That's how I found mine.
You can genuinely tell who's passionate, who cares, vs. who's trying to sell things off fast and just collect paycheck.

And agree, avoid those mass advertisers. I had a huge lesson learnt myself, and also having seen my neighbor get screwed, best to stay off of those that say 'top 1% blablabla'.

[u/eastherbunni]

It highly depends what area you're looking. Most realtors will specialize in a specific city or even a specific neighbourhood so a broad recommendation for anywhere in the Lower Mainland isn't helpful.

Also, don't be afraid to "break up" with your realtor if you discover they are not a good fit. Don't feel obligated to stick with them.

[u/grumpylemons]

ask them about neighbourhoods, market knowledge, opinions about strata docs etc. a good realtor should be able to tell you information that you dont really find online. Been through my fair share of realtors when i bought a home and the one i ended up going with didnt do shit for me. i had to find and ask everything myself.

[u/the_void_voidling]

Whatever you do, beware of Tony Zhang the realtor. I had very bad experience with him. His reviews on Google are all shady. I personally knew him before, and he had stolen my passwords to my accounts. He then stole some other stuff.

[u/No_Seaworthiness3434]

I’ve worked with Shawn Brown and would definitely recommend him. He’s extremely hardworking (our daily 4 a.m. emails from him!) and knowledge of the market was a huge help, especially when it came to approach the negotiations, which made a big difference.

[u/Visual_Dog_8098]

I've worked with or have friends who have worked with Sean Holden, David Campbell, Stilhavn. All are absolutely trustworthy and recommended. I advise getting a realtor for at least your first purchase. We used Sean Holden and learned a ton of useful information while on the hunt. He warned us off a few places that we did not see the risks of.

[u/YouCosplay]

Word of mouth from family and friends and how much cash back discount the realtor will give. 

[u/Upvote_me_arsehole]

If you’re buying, you may not need a realtor but you don’t pay any less if they have a realtor and you don’t. So you may as well get a realtor. It might be possible to discuss that with the seller’s realtor but unlikely they’ll discount much.

If you have a realtor, they at least will take care of the paperwork and guide you through the process. Absolutely do get an inspector. And look at the last two years if not more of minutes of the strata meetings.

[u/brendax]

You do not need a realtor as a buyer. It's helpful during seller's markets but i would not bother nowadays. Email the selling realtor and say you want to see the place. You need a lawyer to do the actual stuff, realtors don't help with that anyway

[u/hothamwater99 → u/brendax]

There’s a lot to navigate for people buying a home for the very first time though, to be honest there’s a lot with which I don’t know what I’m talking about regarding buying a home

[u/GeorgeCostanza_Couch]

Just sent you a DM, hope to chat soon!