Proximity
This might sound like a given, but many real estate agents think their knowledge in one area will easily translate into another in the luxury real estate world. And that’s simply not a good strategy. Instead, ensure your agent lives and works in the Tahoe region, allowing them to have easy access to new listings, local happenings, and insider knowledge of the local real estate etiquette and practices. In addition, Tahoe is a unique real estate market with unique processes and policies which constantly evolve—your agent should be your eyes and ears, providing you with all of the market, regional, and policy information possible to make the best-informed decisions.
Connections
Proximity typically brings stronger and more established relationships. Your luxury real estate agent should know about off-market sales, coming soon homes, the history of each community, and the data-driven projections for the market. Strong luxury real estate agents should have an extensive and equally knowledgeable network that can be easily tapped into. Agents should not only be connected with other luxury agents in Truckee-Tahoe but also with their local chamber of commerce, developers, lenders, HOAs, and builders. Real estate agents should make these connections easy for you to find on their website (if not, that's a red flag) but do not hesitate to ask a potential agent to give you an overview of their network and differentiators from other Tahoe agents as well.
Accreditation and Affiliation
Another way to ensure your luxury real estate agent is reputable and knowledgeable is their accreditations and affiliations. As we’ve learned, luxury real estate is a niche market that requires agents to have a much more in-depth understanding of their buyers, market, and intricate details involved in luxury real estate transactions. Look for affiliations with top-tier media partners for specialized marketing, membership in exclusive real estate organizations, a solid track record through public testimonials, as well as special designations and community accreditations (like a California.com recommended business!) and being on boards of directors, and other areas of community involvement.