Working with a Redfin Agent

If you're using Redfin to search for a home to buy, you already know about our great website, iPhone app, Android app, and other online tools. You've probably also learned that Redfin employs licensed real estate agents who can help you find, tour, and buy the home of your dreams.

But what sets Redfin agents apart from other real estate agents? What can you expect when you buy a home with a Redfin agent?

Our agents are employees, with salaries and benefits. They're not paid a commission to close deals. Instead, Redfin agents are paid when they delight their customers. We'll never pressure you to close the deal on a home that isn't perfect for you. We'd rather see you walk away happy than buy a home and regret it.

In fact, we survey every customer after every deal to make sure they were thrilled with their agent's service. We post the results of every survey on our site, so you'll always know what real customers have to say about their Redfin agent and experience.

The best agents take pride in what they do. They see themselves as an important part of the community, and they know it's a privilege to help build those communities by helping people find and buy the right home.

The best agents take their jobs seriously. They crunch the numbers, do the homework, put in long hours, and work hard to deliver for every client. They stay up to date on trends in the market, both nationally and in their own backyards. They know what to look for, how to negotiate, whom to talk to, and when to push hard or walk away.

The best agents want you to ask questions. They want you to be informed. They want you to buy the right home, not just any old home right now. They want you to feel like a partner, not a paycheck.

Redfin hires only the best agents. We're picky. We screen, we conduct multiple interviews, we test (literally), and we hire agents only after they've met our high standards for honesty, integrity, and outstanding customer service.

When you work with a Redfin agent, you also get a team of dedicated professionals:

• Agent: Responsible for your success, your lead agent is your main point of contact throughout a transaction. Lead agents answer all your questions, write your offer, work hard during negotiations to get you the best deal and stay in close contact all the way to closing.
• Coordinator: Redfin coordinators schedule your home tours and help you get pre-approved. Once a deal is struck, they handle all the details by coordinating property access for inspectors, appraiser, working with escrow, and preparing paperwork to ensure an on-time closing.
• Field Agent: Redfin field agents meet buyers at homes to conduct tours, and also attend open houses and inspections. Since they see an average of 50 – 60 homes a week (many during inspections), field agents are experts on local homes and can offer an eagle eye for problems and issues during tours. Like coordinators, field agents are always in close communication with your lead agent.
• Redfin Partner Agent: Partner agents are employed with other real estate agencies, but have teamed up with us to provide Redfin-quality service to a wider range of customers. We'll refer you to a partner agent when a home is outside of our direct service area or below our minimum list price, or when we're experiencing unusually high customer demand.

Redfin relies on the latest technology to make your home purchase faster and more convenient. Our website lets you create and save your own custom home searches, receive updates on new homes via email, track your favorite homes online, save private notes on any home, schedule tours, select agents, start an offer, and keep track of your purchase with our exclusive Deal Room system.

Whenever possible, we've done away with the fax machine by offering online document signing. This means you can receive, review, and sign your paperwork online, without having to print or fax anything.

When you buy with a Redfin agent, you can save thousands of dollars. That's money you can use to pay off some or all of your closing costs. Our team approach and use of time-saving technology lets us streamline our process to deliver great service at a better value.

Read more to find out how to save money by using a Redfin agent in your area.

If you want more information about Redfin agents, we're happy to help. Every Redfin agent has a profile on our site, complete with reviews from every customer after every deal.

You can even sign up for home tours with no strings attached -- we won't ask you to sign anything unless you make an offer on a home. Even after that, if you decide Redfin's not for you, you can walk away at anytime.