Best Real Estate Agent in Puyallup: How to Choose

I am a real estate broker in Puyallup, so I am not going to pretend to be neutral on this question. I am also not going to tell you I am the best. Nobody can prove that claim, and you should be suspicious of anyone who makes it.

What I can do is tell you how I would choose a broker if I were hiring one. Use it on me and on anyone else you talk to.

What a good broker does for a seller

• Prices the home from evidence, not from what you hope to hear
• Tells you what to fix and what to leave alone
• Presents the home well: photos, description, and timing
• Screens offers for strength, not just price
• Keeps the deal together through inspection, appraisal, and closing
• Shows you the net, in writing, at every step

For a buyer, the job is knowing the neighborhoods, spotting problems before you fall in love, and negotiating terms that protect you.

Eight questions to ask

1. What have you sold near me in the last year? You want specific addresses, not a number. Someone who works Puyallup knows the difference between the valley and South Hill and between one subdivision and the next.

2. How did you arrive at this price? Ask to see the comparable sales. A good answer walks through recent sold homes in your neighborhood and adjusts for size, condition, and view. A bad answer is a big number and a smile.

3. What would you have me do before listing, and what would you skip? You are listening for restraint. A broker who wants you to remodel the kitchen before selling is spending your money.

4. What will I net? Ask for a written estimate with every line: excise tax, fees, title, escrow, and payoff.

5. What is your fee, and what does it include? Brokerage fees are negotiable. There is no standard rate. Get the amount and the services in writing.

6. Who will I actually be dealing with? On some teams the person you meet is not the person who answers the phone later.

7. What happens if it does not sell in 30 days? A good broker has a plan and has already told you what the market is likely to say.

8. Can I talk to two recent clients? Then call them.

Answers that should worry you

• The highest price in the room. Some agents win listings by quoting a number they know is too high, then ask for a price cut three weeks later. Roughly 38% of Puyallup listings end up cutting their price, according to Opendoor's market data. Overpricing to win the listing is one reason.
• No comparable sales. If they cannot show you how they got the number, they did not get it from anywhere.
• Pressure to sign today.
• Vague answers about fees.
• No bad news at all. Every house has something.

Check the license

Real estate brokers in Washington are licensed by the Department of Licensing. You can confirm that a license is active on the state's license lookup page.

Mine is license number 21036843. Look it up. I would expect you to do the same for anyone else.

Understand the paperwork

Washington requires a written services agreement between you and a brokerage. It spells out what the broker will do, how long the agreement lasts, and how the broker is paid. Read it before you sign. Ask what happens if you want to end it early.

That applies to buyers too. If you are touring homes with a broker, you should have an agreement that says what they will do for you and what it costs.

Local knowledge is not a slogan

Here is what local knowledge means around Puyallup:

• Knowing which addresses are in the city and which are in unincorporated Pierce County, because permits, utilities, and rules differ
• Knowing which neighborhoods are on septic and what a buyer's lender will ask for
• Knowing where the floodplain is
• Knowing how a Mount Rainier view prices, and how it does not
• Knowing which builder built which subdivision, and how those homes have held up
• Knowing what inspectors here flag: roofs, crawl spaces, and furnaces

Ask a broker about your street. You will know in two minutes whether they know it.

How I work

Since you are reading this on my site, here is the short version.

I start with a comparative market analysis using sold homes from your subdivision, close to your square footage, from the same builder when possible. That gives a price range, usually a spread of $10,000 to $15,000. The day before we go live, I run a net sheet and we lock the list price together.

I tell sellers what an inspector is going to find before the buyer's inspector finds it, because a rough inspection report kills more deals than anything else I see.

And I think about your home the way a financial advisor would think about any large asset. The goal is not just to sell it. The goal is for the move to leave you better off.

I work with my wife, Allena Robertson, who is also a broker. We serve Puyallup, Bonney Lake, and the area from Tacoma to Seattle.

Interview more than one

Talk to two or three brokers. Ask each the same questions. The right one will be obvious, and it may not be the one with the most signs around town.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a good real estate agent in Puyallup?

Interview two or three brokers. Ask each for recent sales near you, the comparable sales behind their price, a written net estimate, and their fee in writing. Then call two past clients.

How do I check a real estate broker's license in Washington?

Use the Washington State Department of Licensing's license lookup page to confirm the license is active.

Are real estate commissions negotiable in Washington?

Yes. Brokerage fees are negotiable and are set in a written agreement between you and the brokerage. There is no standard rate.

Should I pick the agent who suggests the highest price?

Not for that reason. A price above what the comparable sales support usually leads to a price cut and a longer time on the market.

Related reading

• Cost to Sell a House in Puyallup
• What Is My House Worth in Puyallup, WA?
• What Repairs Should I Make Before Selling My House?
• How Long Does It Take to Sell a House in Puyallup?

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.