If you've searched for "the best realtor in Lebanon, TN," you've probably found a lot of lists and a lot of agents who all sound great. The truth is, the best agent is the one who fits your move: your price range, your part of Wilson County, and the way you like to communicate. Here's how to figure that out, including the questions we'd ask if we were the ones hiring.
Start with the basics: license and reviews
Every agent in Tennessee is licensed by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission, and you can check any agent's license status in about a minute at verify.tn.gov. Then read reviews on Google and Zillow. Skip the star count and read what people actually say. Did the agent answer the phone? Did they explain things? What happened when something went wrong? The details tell you more than the stars.
Do they really know Lebanon and Wilson County?
Lebanon isn't one market. A townhome near the Square, a new build off South Hartmann, and five acres out toward Watertown all come with different questions. Ask an agent which parts of the county they work in most, and what they'd want you to know about the homes you're looking at. For acreage, that might be septic, wells, easements or zoning. For new construction, it's builder incentives and the agent-registration rules many builders have. For an older home near downtown, it might be inspections and updates. A good local agent will bring these up before you have to ask.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- How many buyers or sellers like me have you helped lately? First-time buyer, relocation, acreage and move-up sales each have their own playbook.
- Who will I actually be working with? On some teams, the person you meet isn't the person who shows homes or handles your paperwork.
- What happens after we're under contract? Inspections, appraisal, repairs and closing deadlines are where deals fall apart. Ask how they keep everything on track.
- How do you like to communicate, and how fast do you respond? Text, call or email is fine, as long as it matches you.
- How do you get paid? More on that below.
Understand the buyer agreement before you tour
Since August 17, 2024, if your agent uses the MLS, you'll sign a written agreement with them before touring homes. That includes live virtual tours. The agreement has to spell out how your agent is paid, and it has to say that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law. A good agent will walk you through it in plain English and answer every question before you sign. If someone rushes you past it, that tells you something.
Red flags to watch for
- Pressure to decide fast, sign fast or make an offer before you're ready
- Vague answers about compensation or what's included
- No local examples, or a lot of talk about themselves and not much about your goals
- Slow replies before you've even hired them. It rarely gets faster later
How we'd suggest choosing
Talk to two or three agents. Notice who asks the most about you, who explains things clearly, and who you'd trust to call when something goes sideways at 6 p.m. on a Friday. That's usually your answer.
If you'd like to talk with us, we'd love that. Lauren spent 12+ years in real estate operations behind the scenes of thousands of closings before moving into sales, and Eric brings sales and property management experience. You can read what our clients say on our reviews page, get to know us on Meet the Garners, or start with our free buyer guides. No pressure, just a conversation.
Sources: Tennessee Real Estate Commission (license lookup at verify.tn.gov); National Association of REALTORS®, "What the NAR Settlement Means for Home Buyers and Sellers" (practice changes effective August 17, 2024). This post is general information, not legal advice.
