How do I know which agent to trust from 1,500 miles away?
Answered by Chris Deutsch, Founder & Editor
Licensed Minnesota Realtor #20382264 ·
The short answer
Interview like you're hiring — because you are, and distance raises the stakes. Three video calls with three agents will tell you more than a hundred reviews.
On stage The 60-second answer
Captions on · Transcript below
The stage is set.
Chris's video answer is on its way. Until then, the short answer above says the same thing.
The transcript posts with the video.
The longer answer
What separates the real ones: they ask about your life before your budget. An agent who starts with "what does your Saturday look like" is trying to find your neighborhood. One who starts with "what's your price range" is trying to find their commission. Ask each one to talk you out of a neighborhood. Anyone can praise — only someone who knows the ground can tell you where not to look, and why. Ask for a transplant reference: someone they moved from out of state who'll actually take your call. And watch response time on the small things, because that's what showings-by-video will feel like for months.
Here's what separates the finalists: every agent you call will say yes to you. Your job is finding the one who says no to houses.
The next department over
What people in this spot usually ask next.
- Relocation to the Twin CitiesCity or suburb — how do we decide from 1,500 miles away?Read the answer
- Relocation to the Twin CitiesShould we just buy new construction since we don't know the neighborhoods yet?Read the answer
- Relocation to the Twin CitiesHow do we choose a neighborhood in a city we've never lived in?Read the answer
- Relocation to the Twin CitiesHow walkable is Minneapolis, really?Read the answer
- Senior transitionsI live out of state. How do I manage my mother's move from 1,200 miles away?Read the answer
- Head-to-head comparisonsLinden Hills or Fulton — how do we choose?Read the answer
From the editor's desk
“As Founder and Editor, I review, correct, and stand behind every answer.”
Is your situation more specific than the market? That's the one worth talking through.