Where Can You Find a Good Real Estate Agent?
July 28, 2026
July 28, 2026
You can find a good real estate agent through trusted referrals, local brokerage websites, recent neighborhood sales, open houses, and your state’s real estate license database. In Riverside County, Grove Realty is a helpful place to start, especially for buyers and sellers looking for experienced local guidance from Marni Jimenez, who has been licensed since 1990.
Finding an agent is easy. Finding the right agent for your situation takes a little more thought.
Start by asking friends, relatives, neighbors, or coworkers who recently bought or sold a similar type of property. A referral can tell you how the agent communicates, handles problems, explains documents, and follows through after the offer is accepted.
You can also search local brokerage websites, read client reviews, attend open houses, and look at agents who have recently listed or sold homes in your neighborhood.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends choosing an agent with experience in your preferred neighborhoods, price range, and property type. It also notes that some large real estate websites earn money through agent advertising, so the first agent shown may not always be the best match.
Your real estate agent may help you price a home, prepare it for sale, evaluate properties, write offers, negotiate repairs, review disclosures, and manage deadlines.
Local experience matters because conditions can vary between cities and even nearby neighborhoods. An agent who regularly works in your area should understand local buyer expectations, common property concerns, pricing patterns, and the factors that can affect a sale.
It is also important to understand who the agent represents. California agents must provide a disclosure explaining whether they represent the buyer, the seller, or both parties as a dual agent. That relationship can affect the advice and representation you receive.
A first-time buyer
A first-time buyer may need an agent who explains each step, helps them stay within a comfortable price range, and works closely with their lender. Grove Realty’s Home Buyer’s Guide can provide a helpful starting point before touring homes.
A homeowner preparing to sell
A seller should look for an agent who can explain the home’s likely market value, recommend practical preparation, create a clear marketing plan, and discuss how offers will be reviewed.
Someone downsizing or relocating
A homeowner making a major move may need more than basic listing services. The right agent should understand timing, family concerns, moving logistics, home preparation, and how the sale connects to the next living arrangement.
Interview two or three agents before deciding. Ask each agent about recent experience in your area, their communication style, their marketing or home-search process, and who will handle the daily details of your transaction.
California buyers should also ask about the written buyer-broker agreement. The agreement should clearly explain the services being provided, the agent’s compensation, when compensation is due, and how long the agreement lasts. Compensation and other terms are negotiable, and you should not sign anything you do not understand.
Before hiring an agent, verify that the person has an active California real estate license. The California Department of Real Estate provides a public license lookup that can confirm an agent’s license status and brokerage affiliation.
Schedule a short conversation with Marni Jimenez at Grove Realty and ask how she would approach your specific buying, selling, or moving plans.
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.