How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent (and What Those Letters After Their Name Mean)
When you need help with something that matters, you usually look for a professional who’s done it before and has invested in their craft. Real estate is no different. The tricky part is that “real estate agent” is a broad label. Some agents spend most of their time helping first-time buyers. Others are strongest on the listing side. Some handle relocations every week. And some have extra training that fits certain situations, like military moves, tough negotiations, or pricing a home accurately in a changing market.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps people buy and sell property. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and agrees to follow its Code of Ethics. In everyday conversation, people often use the terms interchangeably, but that ethics commitment and membership is the technical difference.
You’ll sometimes see letters after an agent’s name, which usually point to certifications or designations earned through extra coursework. Credentials can be a helpful shortcut, especially if your situation is specialized, but the letters alone don’t guarantee a great experience. The best way to use them is to narrow your shortlist and then rely on interviews and reviews to make your final choice.
One certification you may see is the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) designation. If you’re active duty, a veteran, or moving as part of military life, MRP is worth paying attention to because it signals training built around the realities of military moves, including common PCS timing challenges, remote transactions, and the basics of VA financing. You may also come across buyer-focused designations that suggest additional training on guiding buyers through touring, offer strategy, and contract-to-close steps, or seller-focused designations that emphasize pricing, preparation, marketing, and negotiation from the listing side. Other credentials may relate to negotiation, pricing strategy, investment property, or even international clients. The main point isn’t to get stuck on the alphabet soup, but to ask the agent what the training covered and how it actually shows up in their day-to-day work for clients.
A smart place to start your search is with referrals from people you trust, especially those who recently bought or sold and had a good experience in a situation similar to yours, whether that’s a first purchase, a relocation, or selling after you’ve already moved. From there, it helps to shortlist agents who actively work with your type of client and your type of move. Then take a few minutes to review recent client feedback. Online reviews aren’t perfect, but patterns are meaningful, and you’ll usually see whether communication, responsiveness, and problem-solving are strengths or weak spots.
Even if you like the first agent you talk to, it’s worth interviewing at least three. A good fit is partly experience and partly working style, and two excellent agents can still be a mismatch if their communication habits don’t line up with what you want. In those conversations, notice whether the agent answers directly, explains the “why” behind their recommendations, sets realistic expectations, and respects your time and budget.
Instead of asking a general question like “Are you experienced?”, ask how often they work with clients like you and what their recent year looks like. You can also ask how you’ll communicate, what their typical response time is, and how they handle evenings, weekends, or clients in different time zones. Another valuable question is how they evaluate homes and price strategy in today’s market, because whether you’re buying or selling, you want someone who uses current data and can explain it clearly, including comparable sales, days-on-market trends, and appraisal risk. Finally, ask who’s in their professional network, because a strong agent usually has reliable lenders, inspectors, contractors, and closing partners they can recommend when needed. You’re never required to use their vendors, but it’s a good sign when they can point you toward people who communicate well and consistently perform.
If you’re relocating, especially if you’re doing it on a tight timeline or from out of state, your agent’s systems matter as much as their personality. A capable relocation agent should be comfortable with virtual showings and video walkthroughs, remote paperwork and closing coordination, and helping you make decisions efficiently without rushing you. If your relocation is military-connected, it helps to work with someone who understands how unpredictable schedules can be, and credentials like MRP can be a plus when they’re paired with real-world experience.
At the end of the day, the right agent isn’t just someone who opens doors. They help you make good decisions, avoid preventable surprises, and stay steady when the process gets noisy. If you’re buying or selling in Hampton Roads and want to talk through your situation, I’m happy to help you map out a plan and point you in the right direction.
