Selling a home in Santa Fe is rarely just about putting a property on the market and waiting for an offer.
Every transaction involves moving parts—showings, buyer questions, negotiations, inspections, appraisals, title work, financing, deadlines, and sometimes unexpected problems that need attention quickly.
That is why one of the questions sellers should consider when choosing a Realtor is not simply whether someone is licensed, but how much time, attention, experience, and professional focus they can consistently bring to the transaction.
For me, real estate is my full-time career. My working day is built around my clients, their properties, and the Santa Fe market.
And for sellers, that full-time commitment can make a meaningful difference.
Availability When the Transaction Needs It
Real estate does not always operate on a predictable nine-to-five schedule.
A showing request may come in during the middle of the day. An inspection issue might need to be discussed quickly. A buyer’s agent may call with questions about a property or an offer that requires a timely response.
Once a home is active or under contract, there are often periods when several professionals are working on the transaction at the same time—agents, lenders, inspectors, title representatives, appraisers, contractors, and attorneys.
That is why availability matters.
Sellers should ask any Realtor they are considering:
- How quickly do you typically respond?
- Who handles your business when you are unavailable?
- How are showing requests managed?
- How closely do you monitor an active transaction?
Because real estate is my full-time profession, my schedule is structured around those responsibilities.
Experience Built Through Repetition
Transaction experience matters because no two real estate deals unfold exactly the same way.
One transaction may involve a straightforward inspection. Another may uncover a major repair issue.
One appraisal may come in exactly where expected. Another may require additional documentation or negotiation.
Some offers are simple. Others involve complicated financing, contingencies, timelines, or competing priorities.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2026 Member Profile, the typical individual REALTOR® completed nine transaction sides in 2025, while REALTORS® with six or more years of experience completed a median of ten.
The number itself is not a scorecard for whether an agent is good or bad. Different markets, price points, specialties, and business models can produce very different transaction counts.
But repeated exposure to real transactions gives an agent more opportunities to develop judgment, recognize patterns, and work through problems when they arise.
After more than seven years in real estate and more than 80 transactions, I have seen many different situations—and every transaction adds another layer of experience that I can bring to the next client.
Staying Current in a Changing Industry
Real estate practices continue to evolve.
Recent years have brought significant changes involving buyer representation, written agreements, MLS practices, contracts, and how real estate professionals communicate compensation and services.
For sellers, that makes ongoing professional education increasingly important.
Regardless of whether an agent works independently, as part of a team, or balances real estate with other professional responsibilities, sellers should ask how that agent stays current with:
- contracts and forms;
- MLS policies;
- continuing education;
- industry changes;
- local market conditions.
As a Certified Santa Fe Specialist, Accredited Buyer’s Representative, and Pricing Strategy Advisor, continuing to learn is an important part of my business.
Those credentials are not simply letters after my name. They represent time invested in becoming better prepared to advise the people who trust me with their real estate decisions.
A Professional Network Built Over Time
Real estate is also a relationship business.
A transaction may involve another Realtor, lender, title company, inspector, contractor, appraiser, photographer, attorney, or other professional.
Working in the business every day creates ongoing opportunities to build and maintain those relationships.
That network does not replace good marketing or strong representation, but it can help communication move more efficiently when questions arise or a transaction becomes complicated.
For sellers, the question is not simply, “Who does my Realtor know?”
A better question is:
Does my Realtor have the relationships and professional resources necessary to help move my transaction forward?
Knowing the Santa Fe Market Beyond the Numbers
Santa Fe is not one uniform real estate market.
Conditions can look very different depending on the neighborhood, property type, price range, architectural style, and buyer.
The needs of someone purchasing near the Plaza may be very different from someone considering a property south of town, near Museum Hill, along Agua Fria, or in one of Santa Fe’s newer communities.
Current market data is important, but so is understanding the context behind that data.
I was born and raised in Santa Fe. This is not simply the market where I work—it is the community I know.
That local familiarity gives me another layer of perspective when I am helping a seller think about positioning, pricing, presentation, and what may matter to the buyers considering their property.
Full-Time Commitment Is About More Than Hours
Working in real estate full time does not automatically make someone the right Realtor for every client.
And working another job does not automatically mean an agent cannot provide excellent service.
What matters is what a Realtor can consistently deliver.
For sellers, I recommend looking at the complete picture:
- availability;
- responsiveness;
- recent transaction experience;
- local market involvement;
- professional education;
- marketing strategy;
- negotiation experience;
- reviews and client relationships;
- understanding of your specific property.
My full-time commitment to real estate is valuable because it allows me to continually work on those areas.
It means my professional attention is centered on the market, my clients, and the transactions I am responsible for.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Realtor
Before choosing someone to represent your home, ask direct questions.
Is real estate your full-time profession?
How many transactions have you handled recently?
Transaction volume is only one consideration, but recent activity can help you understand how actively an agent is working in the market.
How do you stay current on market and industry changes?
Ask about continuing education, professional designations, MLS involvement, and other training.
How quickly can I expect communication from you?
Establish expectations before your home is listed.
How will you market my specific property?
A thoughtful answer should go beyond simply putting the home in the MLS.
What experience do you have in my area or price range?
Local experience can help an agent understand how your home fits into the broader Santa Fe market.
The goal is not to find the Realtor with the longest list of credentials.
The goal is to understand how that Realtor works and whether their level of service matches what you need.
The Value of Full-Time Representation
Selling a home is both a financial decision and, very often, an emotional one.
You deserve representation from someone who can give your transaction the attention, preparation, and professional focus it requires.
For me, being a full-time Realtor means being continually involved in the Santa Fe market, continuing my education, strengthening professional relationships, working through real transactions, and being available when my clients need guidance.
Combined with more than seven years of experience, more than 80 completed transactions, and decades of familiarity with Santa Fe as someone who was born and raised here, that commitment shapes the way I serve my clients.
If you’re thinking about selling a home in Santa Fe or Santa Fe County, I’d be happy to talk through your goals and help you understand your options.
Lori Montoya
Associate Broker | Barker Realty
505-577-8750
SantaFeWithLori.com
Honest. Local. Personal. The way real estate should be!