These days it seems like everyone is a Realtor® and you likely know several! But, there is a big difference between someone who has their real estate license and a true Real Estate Professional who works in real estate full time and runs their business like a business (not a hobby). The turnover rate in the industry is about 90% every 4 years. This means 9 out of 10 people who try to have a career in real estate will find another job within 4 years.

If you choose a Realtor at random, you have a greater than 50% chance of being their very FIRST sale! With so many options, it can feel impossible to make sure you are hiring a true professional. Luckily, I have 2 simple tools to help you narrow down your options!

First, make sure any Realtor® you hire has been in the business longer than at least 4 years; over 8 years would be even better. Since Realtors renew their license every 4 years, you will know they made it through at least 1 cycle. This is the reason the dropout rates are so high at 4 years- they likely stop working in the industry sooner, but we just know they don’t renew their license at 4 years. To find out how long your agent has been licensed visit the California Department of Real Estate: https://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp

Second, verify the Realtor® is at least in the top 10% of all agents. I say this because it is pretty easy to reach this level in the industry- I made Masters Club my very first year in the business! The Sacramento Association of Realtors recognizes the top 10% of Realtors through an organization called Masters Club. You can scan the list to make sure the agent your considering is on there: https://sacrealtor.org/documents/masters_club/roster/2023_MCRoster_Mar23FINAL.pdf

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to ask for referrals from friends that had a FANTASTIC experience with their real estate agent and then verify they meet these 2 categories. You can ask to interview an agent- I do this all the time through buyer or seller consultations. If you do not click, keep going until you find a agent that you feel will work in your best interest!