How to Pick a Real Estate Agent: Key Traits to Evaluate
A New Jersey real estate expert outlines the core qualities buyers and sellers should assess when selecting an agent.
Choosing the right real estate agent can make or break a property transaction, and a new guide published by HelloNation aims to help consumers navigate that decision with greater confidence. Glen Rock, N.J.-based real estate expert Nena Colligan contributed her insights to the piece, which breaks down the professional qualities most relevant to both buyers and sellers in today's market.
Among the factors Colligan highlights are experience and demonstrated market knowledge — two attributes that can directly influence how well an agent prices a listing or identifies value in a competitive search. An agent with deep familiarity in a specific market can offer pricing context and neighborhood intelligence that a generalist may lack.
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Communication style is another dimension the guide emphasizes. Clients benefit from agents who set clear expectations around response times, updates, and the overall transaction timeline. Poor communication is among the most common complaints buyers and sellers raise about agents long after a deal closes.
Negotiation skill rounds out the core competencies discussed. Whether securing favorable contract terms for a buyer or protecting a seller's bottom line, an agent's ability to advocate effectively at the table can have measurable financial consequences. The HelloNation article frames negotiation not merely as a personality trait but as a learnable, trackable professional competency that consumers should actively probe during interviews with prospective agents.
Continue reading at Real Estate for the full HelloNation feature and Colligan's complete recommendations.
