Finding a real estate agent is easy. Finding someone you trust to guide one of the largest financial decisions of your life requires a little more research.
A trustworthy agent should do more than appear at the top of a search result or have an impressive social media presence. They should have relevant local experience, verifiable credentials, strong client relationships, and a clear process for helping you make informed decisions.
This is especially important in Los Angeles, where property values, housing styles, buyer demand, and market conditions can vary significantly from one neighborhood to the next.
Whether you are buying, selling, or doing both, use these steps to find a trustworthy real estate agent in your area.
1. Begin With People You Trust
Personal referrals are a helpful starting point because they give you insight into what it is actually like to work with an agent.
Ask friends, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues whether they have recently worked with an agent they would recommend. Instead of asking only whether they liked the agent, ask more specific questions:
- Was the agent responsive?
- Did they explain the process clearly?
- Did they provide honest advice?
- How did they handle problems?
- Did the client feel pressured?
- Would they hire the agent again?
- What could the agent have done better?
A referral carries more weight when the person had goals similar to yours.
An agent who helped a friend purchase a condominium may not necessarily be the best choice for selling a historic home in Hancock Park. Similarly, an agent who primarily represents sellers may offer a different experience from one who regularly guides first-time buyers.
Use referrals to develop a list of candidates, not to make the entire decision for you.
2. Look at Recent Local Experience
A trustworthy local real estate agent should be able to demonstrate meaningful experience in your market.
Review the agent’s recent sales, active listings, neighborhood content, and property marketing. Look for experience related to your:
- Neighborhood
- Property type
- Price point
- Buying or selling goals
- Expected transaction complexity
Local knowledge means more than being familiar with the major streets and popular businesses.
In areas such as Hancock Park, Larchmont Village, Windsor Square, and surrounding central Los Angeles neighborhoods, an agent may need to understand historic architecture, preservation considerations, street-by-street value differences, lot characteristics, buyer preferences, and the lifestyle that attracts people to the area.
Ask prospective agents how they evaluate value and what they believe is currently influencing the local market. Their answers should be specific enough to demonstrate real familiarity with the area.
Questions to ask
- Which recent sales are most relevant to my property or search?
- How does this neighborhood differ from nearby areas?
- What types of homes have been attracting the most interest?
- What concerns commonly arise with properties here?
- How would local conditions affect my buying or selling strategy?
A trustworthy agent will not pretend to know everything. If they need to research a question, they should be comfortable saying so and following up with a well-supported answer.
3. Verify the Agent’s California License
Before hiring an agent, confirm that their California real estate license is active and in good standing.
The California Department of Real Estate provides a public license lookup that allows consumers to verify an agent or broker. The department specifically recommends checking an agent’s license before hiring them.
When reviewing the record, confirm:
- The agent’s full name
- License number
- Current license status
- Brokerage affiliation
- License expiration date
- Any publicly reported disciplinary action
You can verify a license through the California Department of Real Estate.
An active license does not tell you everything about an agent’s experience or service, but it is an essential first step in the vetting process.
Marlyse Scherr’s California real estate license number is DRE #01943031.
4. Review Recent Sales in Context
Transaction history can help you understand an agent’s experience, but numbers need context.
A large sales total does not automatically mean an agent is the right fit for you. Consider whether the agent has recently represented:
- Buyers or sellers like you
- Properties similar to yours
- Homes in the relevant neighborhood
- Transactions within your price range
- Situations with similar challenges
Ask the agent to explain their role in a few recent transactions.
For a seller, that could include how the home was prepared, priced, marketed, and negotiated. For a buyer, it might include how the agent evaluated the property, structured the offer, or responded to issues uncovered during inspections.
You are not looking for confidential client information. You are looking for evidence of judgment, strategy, and relevant experience.
5. Read Reviews for Patterns
Online reviews can be useful, but the average star rating only tells part of the story.
Read enough reviews to identify recurring themes. Look for repeated comments about:
- Responsiveness
- Honesty
- Local knowledge
- Attention to detail
- Negotiation
- Patience
- Problem-solving
- Organization
- Availability
- Follow-through
Detailed reviews are generally more useful than short statements such as “great agent” or “highly recommend.”
Pay attention to how clients describe difficult moments. A smooth transaction is positive, but an agent’s value often becomes clearest when something does not go according to plan.
Look for examples of how the agent handled inspection concerns, appraisal issues, competing offers, financing delays, or changes in the client’s circumstances.
You can also compare reviews across more than one platform when possible. Consistent feedback is more informative than relying on a single source.
6. Ask for Recent Client References
A trustworthy agent should be willing to provide references from recent clients when appropriate.
Request references from people whose experience resembles yours. For example, if you are selling a historic home, ask to speak with a recent seller of a similar property. If you are buying in a competitive price range, ask for a buyer who recently navigated similar market conditions.
Consider asking the reference:
- What made you choose this agent?
- How did the agent communicate?
- Did their recommendations feel well supported?
- How did they handle unexpected problems?
- Was there anything you wish you had known beforehand?
- Did the agent deliver the services they promised?
- Would you work with them again?
The goal is not to hear a perfect story. It is to better understand the experience and determine whether the agent’s approach fits your needs.
7. Interview More Than One Agent
Even when you receive a strong referral, consider speaking with two or three agents before deciding.
Interviewing multiple agents allows you to compare:
- Local market knowledge
- Communication styles
- Availability
- Experience
- Pricing or offer strategy
- Marketing quality
- Services
- Professional approach
- Overall fit
Use the same core questions in each conversation. This makes it easier to compare the substance of the answers rather than being influenced only by personality or presentation.
Be cautious if an agent pressures you to make an immediate decision or discourages you from interviewing anyone else.
A trustworthy professional should be confident in explaining their approach while respecting your need to make an informed choice.
8. Look for Honest Discussion of Risks and Tradeoffs
Trust is built through honest advice, not constant reassurance.
A strong agent should be willing to discuss what could go wrong, what remains uncertain, and what each decision may involve.
For sellers, that may mean explaining:
- Why a desired list price may be difficult to support
- Which improvements may not produce a meaningful return
- How showing restrictions could affect buyer interest
- What a particular offer’s contingencies mean
- Why the highest offer may not be the strongest
For buyers, that may mean discussing:
- Concerns about property condition
- Whether the comparable sales support the price
- The risk of reducing or removing contingencies
- Potential appraisal issues
- The limitations of an inspection
- When it may be better to walk away
An agent should help you understand both the opportunity and the risk.
Be cautious of anyone who guarantees a particular price, promises a specific result without evidence, or tells you only what you want to hear.
9. Evaluate How the Agent Communicates
You can learn a great deal about an agent before signing an agreement by paying attention to their communication.
Consider:
- How quickly do they respond?
- Do they answer your actual question?
- Are their explanations clear?
- Do they follow up when promised?
- Do they listen before recommending a solution?
- Are they comfortable discussing difficult subjects?
- Do they make you feel rushed?
Fast responses are helpful, but transparent communication is more important than speed alone.
A trustworthy agent should distinguish between facts, professional opinions, estimates, and unknowns. They should explain the reasoning behind their recommendations and give you space to ask questions.
You should also understand how communication will work once you become a client. Ask whether you will communicate primarily with the agent or with other members of a team, how often you will receive updates, and what happens when the agent is unavailable.
10. Review the Agent’s Marketing and Professional Presence
A polished website or social media account does not automatically prove that an agent is trustworthy. However, the quality and consistency of their professional presence can provide useful information.
Review:
- Current and past listings
- Property photography and video
- Listing descriptions
- Neighborhood guides
- Market commentary
- Client testimonials
- Professional biography
- Brokerage information
- Contact details
- License information
Look for accuracy, substance, and consistency.
Does the agent provide helpful information or only promotional claims? Is their experience described clearly? Does their marketing reflect the quality of representation you expect?
For sellers, review how the agent presents individual properties. The marketing should feel specific to the home, not like the same template is used for every listing.
11. Understand the Agreement Before Signing
Before entering a working relationship, make sure you understand the written agreement.
Ask the agent to explain:
- The services being provided
- The length of the agreement
- Whether the relationship is exclusive
- How compensation is structured
- Who will represent your interests
- Whether other agents or team members will be involved
- How cancellation works
- What happens if you decide to pause your search or sale
Do not sign a document you do not understand.
A trustworthy agent will take time to answer your questions and will encourage you to review the agreement carefully. If you need legal advice about the contract, consult an attorney.
Red Flags to Watch For
While no single personality trait determines whether an agent is trustworthy, certain behaviors deserve additional scrutiny:
- Pressure to sign immediately
- Vague answers about local experience
- An inactive or unverifiable license
- Promises of a guaranteed sale price
- An unsupported recommendation to list far above comparable sales
- Reluctance to explain services or compensation
- Poor communication before the agreement is signed
- Negative comments about every competing agent
- Unwillingness to provide references
- Marketing examples that do not match what was promised
- Avoidance of potential risks or property concerns
- Verbal promises that are not reflected in writing
Trust your instincts, but support them with research and specific questions.
Trust Is About More Than Credentials
Licensing, experience, and sales history matter. But trust is ultimately built through behavior.
The right real estate agent should make you feel informed rather than pressured. They should explain their recommendations, acknowledge uncertainty, protect your confidentiality, and be candid when a decision carries risk.
You should feel confident that the agent understands your goals and will continue advocating for them when the transaction becomes complicated.
Finding a Trusted Real Estate Agent in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is not one uniform real estate market. It is a collection of neighborhoods and micro-markets, each with its own housing styles, buyer expectations, pricing patterns, and lifestyle.
Working with someone who understands those distinctions can help you make more informed decisions.
Marlyse Scherr brings more than a decade of Los Angeles real estate experience, sharp market insight, a designer’s eye, and a highly personalized approach to every client relationship. Her work is grounded in clear communication, thoughtful strategy, confidentiality, and a commitment to making the buying or selling process feel supported from beginning to end.
If you are considering buying or selling in Hancock Park, Larchmont Village, or greater Los Angeles, schedule a no-pressure consultation with Marlyse. It is an opportunity to discuss your goals, ask questions, and decide whether the partnership feels right for you.
