How to Find the Best Realtor® In Miami
Miami has historically been one of the hottest real estate markets. The warm weather, beaches, and culture coupled with Florida’s lack of state income tax make it a popular destination for those looking for primary residences and vacation homes.
Along with that popularity comes some serious competition for all types of properties in Miami and the surrounding area.
As of October 2023, the median sales price for a single family home in Miami-Dade county was $618,217. This is well over the $431,000 national median sales price in August 2023.
While Miami has also benefitted from the financial prosperity of international investors, the COVID pandemic brought remote workers from states like California, New York, and New Jersey. This has not only driven up sales prices, but has dramatically reduced inventory, particularly in a city like Miami with very little land left to build on. This makes finding the right Realtor® even that much more important.
But how do you find the right Miami Realtor® to help you navigate the current market? You surely don’t want just anyone helping you buy or sell your next home.
Option#1: Utilize your network
The easiest way to find a reputable Miami Realtor® is to ask those who are in the know. If you have friends, family members or colleagues who have bought or sold properties in your preferred Miami neighborhood, they are usually the best source of referral.
In fact, ask any Realtor® and they will tell you client referrals is their bread and butter.
Most Realtors® value their referrals so much that they they spend substantial time building relationships with referred potential clients. A Realtor’s® sphere of influence is imperative to his or her success, and nurturing those relationships is key.
Disadvantages
What works for one might not work for you. The most well-intentioned friends give recommendations based on their experiences. And sometimes what works for them does not work for you. As a Licensed Real Estate Broker and brokerage owner I have worked with a number of Realtors®. Some are clearly knowledgeable and experienced in their local market while others are in need of a bit more training. But even the most expert Realtor® does not work well with all prospective clients.
For many reasons, some of the top-ranked Realtors® work exclusively with their preferred clientele. This means that if you are looking to buy or sell out of their preferred price range or neighborhood, you might get passed off to another associate or team member.
No network = no Realtor®. Relying on a Realtor® referral from a personal source requires that at least 2 conditions be met:
You know someone who has has worked with a Realtor® in your preferred area.
That person actually likes the Realtor® enough to recommend them. You’d be surprised how many people could not wait to ditch their Realtor® once the transaction was completed!
Option #2: Utilize the internet
If you want to find a Realtor® the quick and dirty way, the easiest thing to do would be to search the ‘net. There is no shortage of Realtors® looking for leads. All you need to do is search ‘Realtors® in Miami/Kendall/Pinecrest’ etc, and you will be presented with hundreds of search results.
But then what?
How do you find a Miami Realtor® who is an expert in your desired neighborhood, works in your price point, and is able to give you the attention you deserve?
This is where things get tricky.
While it’s rather easy to find a list of licensed real estate professionals in Miami, what isn’t easy is sifting through that list to find the one that’s right for you.
We’ve all been in situations where we hired someone who did not live up to our expectations. If you’ve ever hired a plumber, handyman, dog groomer, or tailor, and received less that stellar results, you know what I’m talking about.
Think of it this way: do you want to rely solely on an internet search for what is probably the biggest sale or purchase of your life? I think not!
Option #3: Utilize a referral brokerage
Referral brokerages exist for the sole purpose or pairing customers with the top Realtors® in any given area. They often employ licensed Real Estate Referral Agents to help make those connections happen.
Referral brokerages match prospective customers with Realtors® in any of the 50 states, ensuring the recommended Realtor® has the knowledge and expertise needed to work with that particular customer.
Because referral agents are not involved in the transaction itself, their hands-off nature allows them to focus more on the relationship-building and less on the sales aspect.
In fact, referral agents tend to be more protective of their referred customers, as they typical consist of family members, friends, colleagues, or clients the agent has worked with in the past.
Referral agents are compensated through a referral fee, which is charged to the Realtor® paired with the customer. Outside of that, they really don’t involve themselves in the transaction, other than to ensure their customer is well taken care of.
So which option should you choose?
We might be biased, but we prefer Option #3, obtaining a referral from a referral brokerage. Using a referral agent takes the stress out of trying to find the right Realtor® on your own, and places that job into the hands of a licensed professional.
Great referral brokerages like Mint Refer don’t haphazardly give out referrals like candy, but really take the time to hand-match customers with the best possible Realtor® for their transaction. And because most Realtors® thrive off of their referral business, they are almost always more than open to this process.
Because referral brokerages are not paid a standard commission, they conduct business a bit differently than traditional real estate referral brokerages.
Referral brokerages work to facilitate the most successful type of professional relationship between a buyer or seller and a Realtor®. They have chosen to stay out of the sales game, removing the pressure of always trying to close.
They value the relationships they have with both customers and Realtors®. When done right, a referral brokerage knows that the connections they help facilitate can change the lives of all parties involved, while also removing some of the stress of finding the right Realtor®.
If you are looking to buy or sell a property in Miami, and are in need of a Realtor® referral, contact Mint Refer by sending us a message, or emailing us as info@mintbrokerage.co. If you would like to join Mint Refer as a Referral Agent, please visit mintrefer.com/join or email us at join@mintbrokerage.co.