Most advice about choosing a real estate agent tells you to look at sales volume, years of experience, or online reviews. Those things matter, but they miss the actual question you should be asking: who is going to make you feel supported through one of the biggest financial decisions of your life?
The mistake people make
It’s easy to assume the agent with the most listings or the biggest social media following is automatically the best choice. Sometimes that’s true. But volume and attention are often in tension with each other. An agent spread across dozens of active clients has less time for any one of them — including you. That doesn’t make them a bad agent. It just might make them the wrong fit for what you actually need.
What “fit” actually looks like
Fit isn’t a feeling you can’t describe — it’s a set of specific things you can evaluate:
- Communication style. Do they explain things clearly, or do they use jargon that leaves you nodding along without understanding? Do they respond when you have questions, or do you feel like you’re chasing them?
- Availability. Realistically, how much of their time and attention will you get? Ask directly — a good agent won’t dodge the question.
- How they handle stress. Real estate transactions get emotional and complicated. Watch how an agent responds when something doesn’t go according to plan during your very first conversations with them. That’s often a preview of how they’ll handle it when it counts.
- Whether they listen before they talk. An agent who asks real questions about your situation before offering a strategy is usually a better sign than one who launches straight into a pitch.
Why my background shapes how I work
Before real estate, I spent more than 30 years as a healthcare executive. That career required me to manage complex, high-stakes processes, advocate fiercely for the people relying on me, and communicate clearly when things got complicated — all while staying calm under real pressure. Real estate is different work, but it draws on the exact same muscles. I became a REALTOR® in November 2024 because I wanted to keep doing that kind of work, for people navigating one of the most important financial decisions they’ll ever make.
I’m not the agent with the most transactions in Pittsburgh. I’m the agent who’s actually going to be there — answering your questions, explaining every step, and treating your goals as my own.
I don’t work alone, and I don’t want to
Here’s something worth asking any agent you’re considering: what happens when a question comes up that they can’t answer on their own? I’m backed by a brokerage with a full support team, and I can reach my managing broker — someone with more than 20 years as a REALTOR® in this market — and typically hear back within minutes.
I learned to value that early. As a Regional President and Market CEO in healthcare, leading some of the largest organizations in the industry, I saw firsthand that the strongest results never came from one person having every answer. They came from a strong team, and from knowing when to ask instead of guessing. I’ve always loved the saying that you can accomplish almost anything if you don’t worry about who gets the credit. I bring that same mindset here. Working with me means working with everyone standing behind me, too.
A real example
I worked with a client who’d never bought a home before. She made offers on more than 15 different homes before one finally worked out, in a genuinely competitive stretch of the market. There were weeks she was discouraged and exhausted. I was right there with her through every one of those offers — not just at the beginning, and not just at the end. When we finally closed, she told me she didn’t just leave with a house. She left with a genuine friend. That’s the whole job, as far as I’m concerned.
How to actually start the process
Talk to more than one agent. Ask direct questions about their availability, their approach to pricing, and how they’ve handled situations that didn’t go smoothly. Notice how it feels to talk to them — rushed, or genuinely present? Then choose the person you actually trust to have your back, not just the name you’ve heard the most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many real estate agents should I interview before choosing one?
Two or three is usually enough to get a real sense of the differences in communication style, strategy, and availability, without dragging out the process unnecessarily.
Is it bad to choose a newer real estate agent?
Not at all. What matters most is the agent’s background, work ethic, and how present they’ll actually be for you — not simply how many years they’ve held a license.
What questions reveal the most about an agent’s fit for me?
Ask about their current client load, their communication style, and how they’ve handled a transaction that didn’t go smoothly. The answers tell you far more than a sales pitch would.
Should I choose the agent my friend used, even if we want different things?
A referral is a great starting point, but make sure the agent’s approach actually matches what you need. What worked beautifully for your friend’s fast, simple sale might not fit your more complicated situation, or vice versa.
Is it better to hire an agent who works solo or one backed by a brokerage team?
Either can work well, but a strong support system matters. An agent backed by an experienced brokerage — like a managing broker who can weigh in quickly on tricky questions — often means faster, more informed answers for you, without losing the personal attention of working directly with your agent.
If you’re starting to think about buying, selling, or investing in the Pittsburgh area, let’s have a real conversation — no pitch, just an honest look at whether I’m the right person to help you through it.
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