When you find yourself poised on the brink of any new real estate venture, there’s no more important initial step than seeking out a great Olympia Realtor® to round out your team. Without even thinking about it, everyone automatically knows that they want a real estate professional with the technical experience, communication skills, and local knowledge that such serious business requires. It also won’t hurt if your Realtor has bottomless reserves of energy and a positive attitude to match—as well as the sympathetic human traits that makes them a pleasure to work with.

There are lots of conventional channels that make it easy to identify perfectly well-qualified Olympia Realtors (and we are lucky to have many talented ones here in the area)—but when you’re looking for the one who will sync with you and your ultimate goals, that level of rapport will most likely take an extra proactive step or two to secure.

Positive word-of-mouth is a good way to start, but it’s realistic to remember that the one making the referral may or may not share your priorities in a working relationship. You will be working together for a while, and depending upon each other to make some significant decisions—some of which could be made under pressure. When the team has good chemistry going for it, those decisions will come easier. A few ideas that people have found helpful in finding the right Realtor:

Check out a Realtor’s Open House

This is a good way to see a Realtor at work. Whether you are buying an Olympia home or selling your own, dropping in unexpectedly will allow you to listen to what they say and how they interact with prospects. Don’t hesitate to be upfront about your own situation: a great Realtor will be able to help other potential buyers and deal with you without missing a beat!

Use Social Media

You can also start conversations with prospective Realtors on social media to gauge how long it takes them to respond, whether or not they can give you detailed answers, and to see how they engage with other members of the public. This is a good way to tell if they use social media skillfully, building their brand while clearly valuing the people who interact with them.

Consult with Other Professionals

The opinions of contractors, mortgage brokers and repair people can be valuable, too. Professional people have an insider’s view of the Olympia Realtors who work hard to get the job done efficiently.

Of course, fine-tuning your choice should include doing the conventional legwork, too. Look at the Realtor’s listings, their track records, their accolades, and where they live. The rest is up to you. Needless to say, I hope I make it to your final cut!