Finding A Realtor for Your Out-of-State Move

So, you decided that the city you live in right now is no longer serving you and your needs or maybe you just landed an amazing job in another state that you can’t pass up; it’s time to move, so where do you start?

Google, is your obvious starting place to see what information comes up in your new city. When you’ve had a chance to narrow your home search down on Google, now it’s time to find a realtor in your state to help make purchasing a home or renting there much easier. Buyer’s agent have a fiduciary duty to their clients to look out for their best interest and are usually paid by the seller in most cases in the U.S. Enlisting their help can further help you narrow down the neighborhoods in your new city because they know the areas well, they can help you navigate the real estate market and laws in that state and county because laws and markets vary on location, and they will have the broadest access to properties than any other source.

 Looking for the right buyer’s agent can be challenging when you don’t have any contacts in your new city; for starters there are so many realtors out there, how do you know which one is right for you or worse their “working” in real estate as a hobby. Also, how do you distinguish every agent from each other if the best ones all seem to have lots of 5-star reviews?

Here are 4 surefire ways to help you find the best buyer’s agent in your new city of choice:

1)    Ask a Trusted Realtor in Your Existing City for a Referral Agent in the City Your Moving To:

Often times if you are selling your home in your existing city, you probably hired a trusted agent to help you with the sale or maybe the rental of your existing property, if that’s the case, ask that realtor for a referral in the city you will be relocating to. Many realtors network with other agents in different locations around the country for this reason and sometimes will have another agent friend in the area you will be looking to move to. If the realtor you already know works for a larger brokerage, like EXP or Keller Williams they tend to have offices around the country and sometime internationally and can easily tap into their network of other agents to find you the best person. This is a great way to get a referral because you already have an established relationship with your trusted realtor, they know you and can better pair you with someone similar in the city your moving to so it will be a more seamless transition for you.

2)    Look for Specialists:

Believe it or not, not all realtors are created equal. Some real estate agents specialize in different niches, some examples would be; some agents specialize in a particular area of town, some may specialize in short sales or foreclosure homes, and some agents specialize in helping individuals and families relocate from out-of-state. One great way to find an agent match is to look online for realtors that specialize in your new city, either by the area you want to live in and if you’re not sure of that yet, look for agents who specialize in helping people relocate from out of state. Many realtors will display their specialties on websites such as Realtor.com, be sure to check out their most recent reviews and any testimonials from past customers that they’ve previously helped who also relocated.

3)    Take a Trip, If you Can:

This option is not always possible, depending on where your new destination city is in relation to your existing city as well as time constraints, however if you’re able to make a one-time trip to your new city, plan a weekend and take a look at some open houses to attend. This can be a great way to get introduced to the real estate market in your destination city as well as interview some of the agents hosting the open houses. Hiring a buyer’s agent has allot to do with not only finding a competent and knowledgeable person that help you navigate the real estate market but finding someone you feel like you trust and are comfortable with.  The process of buying a home, especially in an area you’re not already living in will require lots of conversations and getting to know each other, it might as well be with someone you like.

4)    Agent Social Media Profiles:

This is a great way to find a buyer’s agent based on their personalities and online social proof. Utilizing social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, will help you gain insight into different realtors profiles, sometimes showing pictures and videos of their past clients and listings and information about the city. Be sure to use, local hashtags to find realtors in your new city, do some social stalking, and reach out by DM when you think you have found someone you want to hire.