How to Choose a Realtor in Oakland County — 2026 Guide

The Honest Truth About Choosing a Realtor

Most buyers and sellers in Oakland County pick a realtor based on one of three signals: a sign in someone's yard, a referral from a friend, or whoever sent the prettiest mailer. None of those are bad starting points, but none of them tell you whether that agent will actually negotiate well, communicate clearly, or handle the inevitable curveball in your transaction. Here's how to pick a realtor on signal, not noise.

Six Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything

1. How many homes have you personally closed in the last 12 months in my price range and area? Volume matters less than relevant volume. An agent with 30 closings in Royal Oak under $400K knows that market cold. An agent with 100 lifetime closings spread across five counties does not.
2. Walk me through how you'll price (or value) my target homes. Listen for adjusted comps, days-on-market analysis, and price-per-square-foot reasoning. If the answer is "I'll pull comps from Zillow," keep looking.
3. What's your communication style and response time? The right answer is specific — text within 30 minutes during business hours, same-day return on calls, a written weekly update. Vague answers ("I'm always available") usually mean nobody's accountable.
4. What's your negotiation training? Most agents have none beyond what they picked up on the job. Coaches like Glover U, Tom Ferry, and Mike Ferry teach actual frameworks. If your agent has formal training, it shows in the offer letter.
5. Who is on your team and what do they do? Solo agents juggle everything. Teams have transaction coordinators, marketing leads, and showing specialists. Neither is wrong — but you should know who's actually doing what.
6. Show me three sample listing presentations or buyer consultations. If they can't, that tells you everything about how organized the actual transaction will be.

What Red Flags Look Like

Walk away if you hear: "I'll list it at whatever price you want." "I don't believe in inspections — they kill deals." "Don't worry about taxes, the seller's bill is what you'll pay." "I'll cover both sides of the deal myself" (dual agency limits your representation). "Reviews online aren't real" (everyone gets one negative review; how they respond tells you the truth).

Solo Agent vs Team — Which Is Right for You?

Solo agents give you one consistent point of contact and often more personalized attention, but their bandwidth is finite. Real estate teams (like the Justin Ford Real Estate Team at eXp Realty) trade some personalization for systems, depth, and broader market knowledge. For complex transactions — luxury, relocation, investor purchases, or unusual financing — teams usually deliver better outcomes. For straightforward residential sales in a familiar neighborhood, a strong solo agent is often perfect.

Why My Background Matters for Your Outcome

I started my real estate career on The Perna Team under Michael Perna, one of Michigan's top-producing brokers. That's where I learned listing discipline — accurate pricing, professional presentation, and consistent seller communication. I now work directly under Justin Ford, a top Glover U coach mentored by Jeff Glover. Glover U is one of the most respected negotiation training programs in real estate. The combination means I bring Perna Team listing systems plus Glover U negotiation frameworks to every transaction — most Oakland County agents have neither.

What to Expect From My Process

For buyers, I start with a 30-minute consultation to map out your situation honestly — budget, timing, must-haves vs nice-to-haves, school district priorities, and commute realities. From there, we build a target list, tour smart, and write offers that protect you. For sellers, I deliver a data-driven CMA, a clear pricing recommendation with three scenarios, a written marketing plan, and weekly updates while you're listed. Full process here.

If You're Interviewing Multiple Agents

Good. You should. Ask each agent the six questions above and compare answers side by side. Pick on substance — the agent who can explain their pricing methodology, their negotiation approach, and their communication standard wins, regardless of brokerage size. If you want me on that list, reach out for a no-pressure conversation.