Don’t Just Click a Button: How to Find a Real Estate Agent You Can Actually Trust
Saturday, July 05, 2025
🧠 THE RANT (a.k.a. the Real Talk You Actually Needed)
Look, I wasn’t planning on being the Match.com of real estate agents.
But after 18 years in lending and watching way too many clients get stuck with someone’s cousin who just got their license and thinks Zillow is a CRM… I had to step in.
Because here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:
Most real estate agents aren’t pros. They’re tourists.
There’s a stat (yes, it’s real):
70% of agents sold one or fewer homes last year.
You read that right. One. Or none.
And yet, they still collect a full commission. Same as the rockstar with 100 closings under their belt.
It’s like paying steakhouse prices and getting gas station sushi.
🚫 The Problem: “But They Had Great Reviews!”
Yeah, because their mom left one. And the “Premier Agent” badge? That’s not expertise. That’s a credit card charge.
Let me ruin Zillow for you real quick:
• You click a button.
• The “Premier Agent” pays up to 40% of their income just to get your info.
• You get handed off to whoever’s available, not whoever’s best.
It’s UberEats for agents. Hope you're hungry for regret.
🧠 How We Actually Vet Agents (No Kickbacks. No B.S.)
We don’t charge for this. We don’t take a cut. We just want you working with someone who doesn’t treat your house like a scratch-off ticket.
Here’s our process:
✅ Step 1: We Pull The Data
We use internal software to check who’s actually closing deals—not just posting on Instagram. If you need the real ones let me know and I can send it to you.
• Buyer side stats
• Listing side stats
• Average price point
We don’t just send you the #1 agent. That’s usually a giant team where you get pawned off to “Cousin Chad” who just passed his license exam last Tuesday.
We find someone in the top 10–25% who’s actually working your file.
✅ Step 2: We Check Reviews
Zillow. Google. Social. We cyberstalk harder than your ex. Because receipts matter.
✅ Step 3: We Call Them
If they ghost us, they’ll ghost you.
If they take 48 hours to reply, they’re out.
If they hit us back with a quick text or call, we’re listening.
✅ Step 4: We Pressure Test
We ask:
• “Can you negotiate closing costs?”
• “Will you get the seller to pay the buyer-side commission?”
• “Can you communicate the way this buyer needs?”
If they fold under basic questions, they’re not built for battle.
✅ Step 5: You Interview Them
We’ll send you 1–2 vetted options. You meet them. You vibe check. You decide.
🧨 Wait—Do We Ever Recommend New Agents?
Sometimes.
But not because we’re feeling generous. It’s because some new agents are obsessed with learning, studying, showing up, and making magic happen.
They may not have volume, but they’ve got hunger. I’ll take that over laziness and ego any day.
🔍 Want to Do This Yourself?
If you’re going it alone, here’s how to vet like a pro:
• Search Zillow, but ignore “Premier Agent” tags. Focus on recent sales.
• Google them. Look for reviews that sound like they came from real humans, not relatives.
• Check their social. If their feed is nothing but selfies and “Just Listed” hype… meh.
• Stalk like you’re marrying them. Because honestly, it’s a bigger commitment.
• Do a buyer consult. If they won’t do one without locking you into a contract? 🚩 Red flag. Run.
🧠 One Last Thing...
There are three people who determine whether your home buying journey is smooth or a disaster:
1. Your lender (hi, that’s us 👋)
2. Your agent (who we now handpick if you want)
3. Your home inspector (don’t go cheap here either)
Skip the interview process and you might as well toss a dart at a board labeled “burning money.”
🎯 Final Takeaway
You can find a rockstar agent.
But only if you ask the right questions, check under the hood, and stop trusting websites that profit off your confusion.
And if you’re working with us?
We’ve got you.
No kickbacks. No gimmicks.
Just people who actually know how to close.
- Keith Goeringer
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