By Mike Giordano Jr. | Coldwell Banker | Winter Park, FL

How to Find a Realtor in Central Florida Who Actually Listens

Let me be direct: most people choose a Realtor the wrong way, and they do not find out until the deal falls apart or they end up in the wrong neighborhood. After 25+ years in real estate and business development across Central Florida, I have seen the same mistakes happen over and over. This post is my honest guide to finding an agent who will actually fight for you.

1. Stop Choosing Based on Personality or Because They Are Family

The most common mistake I see is people going with whoever their friend or family member recommends without interviewing anyone. They assume all Realtors are basically the same. They are not.

The bigger problem? A lot of those referrals are to part-time agents. Real estate is their side gig. They are not in the grind every day, they do not know which listings are about to hit the market, and they are not building relationships with other agents that move deals forward.

I treat every client like a partner because we are in this together. That is not a tagline. That is how I operate. The difference shows up when a deal gets complicated.

2. A Good Agent Fights for You Even When It Is Uncomfortable

About 40% of my new clients come to me after a bad experience with another agent. The most common story I hear? Their agent would not negotiate.

I am not talking about aggressive tactics. I am talking about basics like picking up the phone and having a real conversation with the listing agent about a property that is slightly over their budget. Most agents will not do it. They assume the answer is no before they even ask.

Here is my philosophy: the worst case is they say no. So why not ask? Over the last three years, I have watched a shift in this industry. Agents are no longer as eager to fight for their buyers. They do not want to put in the work. That costs their clients real money and real opportunities.

3. Real Listening Changes Everything: A Client Story

I have two ears and one mouth. My job is to ask the right questions and truly hear the answers.

Here is a recent example. A couple came to me looking for a 5-bedroom in Lake Nona under $800K. After sitting with them for about an hour, I noticed the husband kept coming back to one thing: his commute to his job in Orlando. The fifth bedroom was not really about space. It was about a dedicated home office so he could work from home and avoid the drive.

We ended up finding a 4-bedroom in Maitland with more square footage, a larger lot, and a perfect home office setup at $75,000 under their budget. They have been there for two years now and could not be happier.

If I had just searched the MLS for 5BR Lake Nona under $800K and sent them the listings, I would have failed them. Listening is the job.

4. Three Questions to Ask Any Realtor Before You Hire Them

Most people never interview their agent. Start here:

• Are you a full-time Realtor? You want someone who lives and breathes this market every single day, not someone squeezing showings in between another job.
• How many clients are you currently working with? An agent juggling 30 active clients will not give you the attention you deserve. Know what you are signing up for.
• How do you communicate, and how often? Do they call, text, or email? Do they update you proactively, or do they wait for you to chase them? This one reveals a lot about how the relationship will go.

5. Central Florida Is Not One Market. It Is a Dozen.

This is the part most out-of-state buyers miss entirely. Central Florida is not one market. It is a dozen micro markets. Lake Nona moves completely differently from Kissimmee or Winter Garden. Inventory, pricing, pace, and buyer competition all vary dramatically by zip code.

We also have a huge influx of relocators from the Northeast, the West Coast, and the Midwest who do not know the difference between Oviedo and Orlando. And why would they? If your agent is not asking the right questions about your commute, your kids’ schools, and your lifestyle, they are not advising you correctly. And you will not know it until you are already living there.

A great Central Florida agent does not just know the market. They know which specific pockets of it fit your life.

Ready to Work With an Agent Who Actually Listens?

If you are buying or selling in Central Florida and want a partner, not just an agent, I would love to connect.