Dietre Ffrench Shares Tips on Finding the Right Agent

You do not have to look far to find an experienced real estate agent in Atlanta. After all, the city is flush with real estate professionals boasting years of industry experience. But does that experience always translate into successful agent-client relationships? And how do you weed through the long list of seemingly qualified agents to find the one that is right for you, especially in today’s highly competitive market? While there is no magic formula, there are some tried and true approaches that, when followed, can help you make a more informed decision.
 
To learn more, we turned to Dietre Ffrench, an agent for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. With a track record of delivering stellar service and a reputation for serving her clients with passion and purpose, Dietre has more than 20 years of design, construction, architecture and housing industry experience in the Atlanta market. When asked about her success, Dietre points to her past but is quick to add that experience alone is not enough. It is how you turn that experience into a value-add for your clients that really sets you apart. And for Dietre, that includes leveraging relationships built over the years with architects, builders and other real estate professionals to stay on top of the latest innovation, market activity and industry trends. She then turns that data into actionable intelligence to help her clients make smart decisions and achieve their real estate goals.
 
So how do you sift through the marketing hype and find a real estate agent that will put their experience to work for you? According to Dietre, “It is important to do your homework. You are trusting your real estate agent with one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. In today’s competitive market, choosing wrong can be a costly mistake.” She went on to add, “I always recommend that the process be treated like a job interview. It seems like common sense, but you would be surprised how many people cut corners or skip this crucial step.”
 
So with Dietre’s help, we have compiled a list of 10 questions to use when interviewing real estate agents. Whether you are looking to buy your dream home or hoping to get top dollar for your existing property, it is important to find an agent that has parlayed their experience into a proven track record of success.
 
1. Can I see your real estate license? This simple question ensures you are working with a trained, accredited professional. No reputable agent will have an issue showing you proof of their license to sell in your area. If they cannot deliver, you need to move on.
 
2. How long have you been a full-time REALTOR®? Everyone knows a real estate agent. But, maybe this is not the time to give a big break to your neighbor’s cousin who just got their real estate license. An experienced agent typically has been working full-time in your market for at least four years. If you are considering a less experienced agent, be sure to ask if they will receive hands-on guidance from a real estate broker in their office. If not, this may be riskier than you are willing to assume, and you should keep looking. 

3. Do you work primarily with buyers or sellers? While most agents help both home buyers and sellers, some tend to specialize in one or the other. Knowing an agent’s area of expertise will tell you if they are the right person to help you through the homebuying process or with selling your house. Some agents may have more success with homebuyers than when they work for sellers. A best-case scenario could be finding an agent who specializes in both areas of knowledge, therefore granting you insights into both sides of the process.
 
4. Do you work individually or with a team? Many agents work with a team in order to maximize their availability. And there are benefits to working with an agent who is part of a pack. For example, if your agent is tied up and you need to see a property ASAP, someone else on the team can step in and show you the home. Some homebuyers or sellers, however, might prefer to work one-on-one with their agent, which is why you should check upfront whether you will be working directly with your representative full-time or with another agent or assistant on their team.
 
5. How many homes did you help buyers (and sellers) close last year? This is where putting experience to work pays off for clients. It is one thing to “work” with clients looking to buy or sell houses, but actually helping them get across the finish line is a different and better measure of success. Whether you are looking to buy or want to sell, you want to find an agent with a track record of getting the deal done.
 
6. How many clients are you working with? You want an agent that is busy but not too busy. An agent working with a lot of clients at once may not be able to devote the time you need from them. On the other hand, an agent with fewer clients or none may be a signal to look elsewhere. As a rule of thumb, any agent currently working with more than 10 clients may have a hard time providing you with the one-on-one service you are looking for. 
 
7. What neighborhoods do you specialize in? Your agent should be well-acquainted with the areas you’re interested in. Search for someone who can rattle off key information about your desired neighborhood, including home prices, schools, safety, public transportation and cultural amenities.
 
8. Do you have a list of referrals? Any successful professional will have a list of satisfied clients from previous transactions. Ask for a list of references and contact them. You will be surprised at what you can learn. Agents that cannot or will not provide a healthy list of references may not be able to guarantee a satisfactory experience for you. 
 
9. How will you help me buy (or sell) a home in a highly competitive market? In a red-hot market, you need someone who really knows what they are doing. Again, this is not the time to go with someone that sells a few houses on the side. If you are looking to buy, you’ll want someone who knows the community inside and out and is an expert negotiator. If you are selling, you want to know how accurate their pricing is. Find out their sale-to-list ratio, which you get by dividing the final sale price by the asking price. The closer this number is to 100 percent, the better. If it is well over 100 percent, that means they’re getting more than the asking price for the homes they sell.
 
10. How will you keep in contact with me? How often? Does your agent prefer to stay in touch mainly by phone, email or text—and how about you? Generally, it’s best if your agent’s preferred method of communication aligns with your own. You should also ask how often you will be touching base. Navigating the homebuying process requires good communication between you and your agent, so you want an agent who will stay in touch and check in frequently.

 
 Dietre Ffrench
c. 404.663.9701
o. 404.237.5000
dietreffrench@atlantafinehomes.com

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