How to Identify the Realtor Who Sold Houses in Your Neighborhood

When you're interested in a home, you want to know who represented the buyer and who is the successful seller. The task of finding the seller's agent, known as the listing realtor, can sometimes be challenging. Understanding the roles of both the listing and buyers' agents is crucial, as they often fulfill different and essential tasks in the home-selling process.

Understanding the Roles of Realtors

The listing agents, who place for-sale signs in the yards and list homes for sale, play a visible and proactive role. These agents work with homeowners to stage, photograph, and market the properties.

On the other hand, the buyers' agents are usually less visible but equally important, as they represent the buyers and often spend significant time navigating the complex real estate market to find suitable homes for their clients.

How to Find the Seller’s Agent

Search Sold Properties Online

There are several ways to identify the seller's agent. One of the most straightforward methods is to search sold properties on real estate websites. These platforms typically require that the property has been sold, the settlement completed, and the transaction recorded.

Popular websites like Homes for Sale, Mortgage Rates, Virtual Tours, and Rentals can help you find this information. Look for the 'Sold Properties' or 'Recent Sales' section, which often includes the name of the seller's agent, their brokerage, and sometimes even their contact information.

Request Information from a Realtor

If you cannot find the information you need online, the best approach might be to ask a reputable local realtor to pull the data from the multiple listing service (MLS). MLS is a database that lists properties for sale and allows realtors to share information about each listing.

Most realtors are happy to provide this information and can give you a detailed report showing both the listing realtor and the buyers' agent. Typically, these two roles are filled by different individuals, except in rare cases where a realtor might represent both the buyer and the seller. However, such double-ended transactions can raise red flags and may not always be the best for you, especially for higher-priced properties.

Additional Tips and Considerations

When evaluating the performance of a realtor, consider several factors:

Experience and track record Referral rates and commissions earned Client satisfaction and feedback

Additionally, you might want to explore the agent's online presence by visiting their personal or brokerage website. Here, you can usually find information about their past listings, successes, and perhaps testimonials from previous clients.

In my case, I specialize in the West Los Angeles area, but my services extend throughout Greater Los Angeles, handling listings from downtown to more suburban neighborhoods.

Conclusion

Identifying the seller's realtor is a critical step in the home-buying process, as it can provide you with valuable insight into the transaction. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that you have a clear understanding of who represented the seller and whether the transaction was done fairly and transparently.