How do I know which agent to trust from 1,500 miles away?
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.
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.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.