I want to start with a story.
Over the last two weeks, my team went through one of the strangest experiences I’ve had in 13 years of doing this.
We were helping a buyer try to purchase a property that had been sitting on the market for over four months. No price drops. No movement. Just sitting there.
We ran the numbers every way we could. Cap rate, rent, cash flow, future value. At the price we offered, it was an okay investment at best. Not a terrible property. Just not a great deal either.
We went back and forth with the other side. We got close, but not close enough. So we stepped away and left the door open. A few days later, we came back with the same offer. At first, the other agent was friendly and said they thought we could make a deal happen. We had a deadline to get an answer. That deadline came and went.
Then nothing.
Calls. Texts. Emails. No response.
This was the second time we had been left hanging during the same deal.
I actually brought in one of my partner agents to handle the communication. Not because I thought I did anything wrong. But because I wanted to make sure my clients had every chance possible to get that home. That’s what we’re here for.
Here’s the part that bothers me most. I don’t think the sellers even knew what was happening.
That’s the problem.
Why This Matters
Real estate is an easy industry to get into. The test isn’t that hard. The fees to stay licensed are low. That means you get a wide mix of people doing this job. Some are incredible. Some treat it like a weekend hobby.
Most agents I know in Northern Colorado are serious professionals. I have a lot of respect for the people doing this job well here.
But every market has agents who don’t respond, don’t communicate, and don’t protect their clients. And when you’re spending $500,000 or $1,000,000 or more, you can’t afford to find that out the hard way.
So here’s what I would do if I moved to a new city and needed to find a buyer’s agent.
Look for Experience AND Recent Activity
I’m not looking for someone who has been in real estate for 25 years. Being around a long time doesn’t mean much on its own.
What I want is someone with at least five years of experience AND someone who is busy right now. I’d want to see at least 10 to 15 deals per year on average.
Here’s why that number matters. An agent closing 10 or more deals a year knows what is going on in the market. They know what offers are winning. They know what homes are actually selling for, not just what they’re listed at. They know where things are headed before most people do.
Someone who did a lot of deals five years ago but has barely worked since then is not the same thing. You need someone who is active today.
Ask for Three References and Actually Call Them
Any good agent will give you references. Yes, they’ll give you their happiest clients. That’s fine. What matters is what you ask those people.
Get their phone numbers. Call them. Have a real conversation.
The most important question I would ask is simple. How was the communication?
Did the agent respond quickly? Did they follow through on what they said they would do? If they promised to call by the end of the day, did they? If something went wrong, did you hear about it from the agent first, or did you find out some other way?
Good communication is the foundation of everything. Skills and knowledge matter. But if an agent is hard to reach or goes quiet when things get tough, none of the rest of it matters. And deals always get tough at some point.
Read Their Google Reviews, But Pay Attention to the Bad Ones
Every experienced agent has at least one or two bad reviews. Real estate is stressful. Sometimes deals fall apart. Sometimes people are unhappy.
What I care about is how the agent responded to that bad review.
Did they get defensive? Did they blame the client? Or did they respond calmly, acknowledge what happened, and handle it with class?
How someone handles criticism tells you a lot about how they’ll handle pressure. And there is plenty of pressure in real estate.
Ask Them to Lower Their Commission. Not Because You Want Them To.
This one might seem strange, but it is one of the best tests you can run.
You’re not actually trying to get a discount. You’re watching how they respond.
If an agent immediately folds and agrees to cut their fee the moment you ask, think about what that means. When they’re sitting across from a seller who doesn’t want to budge on price, are they going to fight hard for you? Or are they going to fold again?
A good agent will listen to your request, explain what they do and why their fee is worth it, and hold their ground. That’s exactly what you want them to do when they’re negotiating on your behalf.
This isn’t about money. It’s about whether they’ll stand up for you when it counts.
Ask Them About Their Goals
This one is easy to skip. Don’t skip it.
Just ask: What are your goals as a real estate agent?
You want to hear that this is their main focus. That they have a plan. That they are building something and care about getting better.
You don’t need the top agent in the country. But you need someone who treats this like a real career. Not a side job they do when they have time.
The agents who take this seriously are always learning. They stay on top of the market. They care about every deal because their reputation is on the line every time.
If You’re Buying an Investment Property, Make Sure They Understand Investing
This topic deserves its own full blog post, and I’ll write that one soon. But here’s the short version.
If you’re buying a rental property or an investment, your agent needs to understand how investing works. Can they look at a cash flow statement with you? Do they understand what a cap rate means? Do they own investment property themselves?
If the answer is no to most of those, find a different agent for that deal.
They Should Own a Home, or Be Working Toward It
This one matters more than most people think.
If your agent doesn’t own a home and isn’t trying to, that’s a red flag. You want someone who believes in what they’re selling. Someone who has been through the buying process themselves and knows what it feels like.
It also tells you something about how much they believe in the market they work in. If they’re not willing to buy there themselves, that says something.
The Bottom Line
There are great agents in every market.
But buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. It deserves more than picking the first name that shows up on Google.
Take the time to ask real questions. Call the references. Watch how they handle pushback. Find someone who treats this like the serious job it is.
The best agents are not the best because every deal goes smoothly. They’re the best because when things go wrong, and they will, they know how to handle it. They keep you informed. They protect you. They keep the deal from falling apart.
That’s the standard. Make sure your agent meets it.
FAQ: Finding a Buyer’s Agent in Fort Collins, Colorado
How do I find a good buyer’s agent in Fort Collins? Start with referrals from people who have actually bought a home in Northern Colorado. Ask them who they used, how the communication was, and whether they would use that agent again. From there, check Google reviews, look at how active the agent is, and have a real conversation before you sign anything.
How many homes should a Fort Collins buyer’s agent sell per year? I would look for at least 10 to 15 closed transactions per year. The Fort Collins market moves fast and changes often. An agent doing that kind of volume knows what is happening right now, not just what happened a few years ago. Activity is just as important as experience.
Is the Fort Collins real estate market hard to navigate as a buyer? It can be. Fort Collins is one of the most desirable cities along the Front Range, which means good homes move quickly and competition can be strong. Having an agent who knows the neighborhoods, understands the pricing, and can write a strong offer is a real advantage here.
What neighborhoods in Fort Collins are best for buyers? It really depends on what you are looking for. Families often look at areas near top-rated Poudre School District schools. People relocating for work at CSU or downtown tend to look closer to Old Town. Buyers who want more space and newer construction often look at areas along the east side of Fort Collins or into Timnath and Windsor. A good local agent will help you figure out which area fits your life and your budget.
How is the Fort Collins market different from other Colorado cities? Fort Collins has a strong local economy driven by Colorado State University and a tight-knit community feel that draws a lot of relocating families and professionals. It tends to hold its value well and has shown strong long-term appreciation. A local agent who tracks the data will give you a much clearer picture than anyone looking at it from the outside.
Do I need a local Fort Collins agent or can I use someone from Denver? I would strongly recommend a local agent. Fort Collins has its own market dynamics, neighborhood quirks, and community knowledge that someone working primarily out of Denver will not have. Things like which streets back up to busy roads, or where new development is planned nearby, that kind of knowledge only comes from being active in the market every day.
What questions should I ask a Fort Collins buyer’s agent before hiring them? Ask how many homes they closed in the last 12 months. Ask for three references and actually call them. Ask how they prefer to communicate and how fast they typically respond. Ask them what they would do if an offer fell apart. And ask them what their goals are as an agent. The answers will tell you a lot.