Claire ThompsonFew decisions in life require wiser moves than buying, selling, or investing in real estate—don’t you think? That house with a swimming pool could be your home, that sale might give you a fresh start, and those properties could be your safety net down the road.
But in a world of scams, unfair tactics, and shady negotiations, one mistake can cost you everything. That’s why it’s so important to have someone on your side who knows the ins and outs of these transactions—securing good deals, qualified buyers, and solid opportunities.
We’re talking about none other than the best real estate agents in Columbus. With their local expertise, trusted guidance, and valuable connections, they make the journey easier for homebuyers, sellers, and property investors.
How much does hiring a real estate agent cost in Columbus?
Hiring a real estate agent in Columbus typically doesn’t cost buyers anything, since commissions—about 5% to 6% of the home’s selling price—are paid by the seller.
If you’re the seller, expect to cover this percentage, split between your agent and the buyer’s.
1. Vision Reality
Address: 4608 N High St
Phone: +1 614 532 4073
Business hours: Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Vision Reality has helped clients buy their second investment property, put their home on the market and sell within days, and make their first-ever home purchase possible. Many of them thank agent Donald Payne Jr.’s real estate knowledge, dedication, and attention to detail.
That often comes with step-by-step guidance, quick responses, sound advice, and trusted contractor contacts. However, there are those who felt less supported than they’d hoped, pointing to occasional shallow market analysis and instances of rude customer service.
Their website is a definite upside, allowing browsing from both a buyer’s and seller’s perspective. For the former, daily updated home listings are readily accessible; for the latter, tips on pricing your home and a home sale calculator are available.
As a side note, their Columbus listings feature single-family and luxury homes, as well as condos and townhomes. These properties are located in neighborhoods such as the Arena District, Dublin, German Village, Bexley, and New Albany.
Knowledgeable in various real estate aspects, easy to work with, and has sound advice
“Donald Jr at Vision Realty has been an amazing help for us over the past year. He has helped guide us through upgrading our existing home to put it on the rental market while also navigating a new build. Not only is he knowledgeable about so many various aspects of real estate, but he is so easy to work with and has sound advice. Working with him and his team, you don’t feel like just a client – they truly care about you and what’s best for your situation. He’s gone out of his way to help answer our questions, meet face to face to discuss options, and track down additional resources for us. Our housing journey would have been so much more difficult without Vision Realty – thanks to them we are now in a home we absolutely love. We cannot recommend Donald Jr enough – he is truly top tier!”
- Amie Forsha, Google Review
Top-notch marketing of my home—many interested buyers and sold within days
“Don Payne and team are amazing! The marketing of my own home was well above my expectations which led to an overwhelming number of interested buyers and selling of my home within days!! He put together a spreadsheet of offers and was excellent at explaining and advising me through the process. I have used Vision Realty twice now, as a buyer and seller, and I have received top-notch service in both instances. Would definitely recommend!”
- Minka Schofield, Google Review
2. Homes That Click Realtors
Address: 4400 N High St #407
Phone: +1 614 268 7653
Business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
A lot of clients are drawn to the fact that Homes That Click closes over $70 million in home sales annually and has been a Business First “Top 25 Real Estate Company” since 2004. Plus, sellers can list for as low as 1% commission—paying less while still receiving full service.
By full service, we mean support from listing through closing, including preparing the home to sell, advice on improvements, helpful resources, showings, and all necessary paperwork. This applies to buyers, too, with the added benefit of “getting exactly what you want”.
With the team’s confidence, kindness, and responsiveness in doing so, some have actually used Homes That Click for both buying and selling. That said, a few sellers were disappointed by a lack of interested buyers for months and by certain realtors refusing to show a property.
Still, people choose to stay or be a repeat customer, partly because most of their agents rank in the top 3% nationwide. They’re out there selling homes and assisting buyers throughout the Columbus metro area and surrounding counties like Delaware, Franklin, and Fairfield.
Used them for both buying and selling homes—they listen and get exactly what you want
““Amazing realtors” doesn’t cover Deb and Jerry. We’ve used them for both buying and selling homes. They listen to what you have to say, and do everything in their power to get you exactly what you want. They are easy to get ahold of, answer every question so you can easily understand it, and are two of the most kind people! You won’t regret using Homes That Click!”
- Jenna Russell, Google Review
Impressed with the experience, solid advice in every aspect, and responsive team
“I have been very pleased with Homes That Click. It was the best experience I have had with a real estate company—it was a smooth, seamless process from beginning to close. I have been impressed with the experience and knowledge you have and demonstrated in the sale of my house. Deb and Jerry were wonderful to work with, offering solid advice in every aspect of the selling process. Everyone in the office was helpful, friendly, professional and responsive. Thank you!! I will be a repeat customer.”
- Teresa Gosser, Google Review
3. Ritchie Realty Group
Address: 502 S 3rd St
Phone: +1 614 595 0732
Business hours: Monday-Sunday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Homebuyers who’ve worked with Ritchie Realty Group recall the journey as a great, stress-free, and smooth experience. The best price is tirelessly negotiated, appraisal and inspection taken care of, and the agent clearly understands what the client needs or wants.
Meanwhile, sellers highlight the short time—an average of eight days—their homes spent on the market and the efficient, knowledgeable team behind it. Add the 3D/virtual tours and Facebook ads used to showcase the property, making the selling process feel effortless.
Communication is also said to be always open for clarifications, but some did face delays in updates that affected potential buyers or slowed supposedly quick closings. Even so, clients say they often find favorable solutions, like extending deadlines or arranging extra showings.
The neighborhoods they cover include Short North, German Village, Clintonville, Grandview, and Downtown Columbus. On the group’s website, buyers can easily search homes in these areas and gain insights to see which one is the right fit.
Fought for a good deal, made the process easier, and communication was always open
“Lee represented us as the buyer and she consistently exceeded our expectations at every step of the way. The knowledge and experience she brought to the table was PRICELESS. Lee was extremely supportive through tough decisions and fought really hard for us to get a good deal. Buying a home can be really stressful, but having Lee as our realtor made the process so much easier. We had so many questions and unknowns, but the line of communication was always open. I would highly recommend Lee to anyone trying to find a home in Columbus!”
- Andrew Holloway, Google Review
Couldn’t have asked for a better guide—sold my condo quickly and very attentive
“I had a wonderful experience working with Lee Ritchie! She sold my downtown condo incredibly quickly, demonstrating her expertise and market knowledge. Throughout the entire process, Lee was personable, smart, and exceptionally attentive. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide through the sale, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell a property!”
- Garrett DeOre, Google Review
4. Joseph Speakman Real Estate
Address: 800 N High St
Phone: +1 614 607 3691
Business hours:
- Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
What many clients like about Joseph Speakman is his ability to show homes in the best light. Whether it’s strategizing and executing a sale for sellers or guiding buyers through Columbus neighborhoods, success stories prove how the results are consistently rewarding.
We’re talking quick sales and great deals in urban areas like Victorian Village, Harrison West, and Clintonville. Beyond Speakman and his team’s strong communication and can-do attitude during the process, they also provide property staging, photography, and 3D tours.
Some buyers just don’t like it when they’re rushed to make an offer, especially one that’s more than they could reasonably afford. Situations like this have also led others to feel the agents prioritize commissions over client understanding.
In a positive turn, prospective clients browsing Joseph Speakman’s website appreciate the online home valuation tool. By simply entering a property address and details, they can find out what their home is worth—fast, easily, and for free.
Gave us a tour of Columbus, made recommendations, and helped us secure a condo
“Way above and beyond… sincerely impressive. I cannot adequately express how much Joe knows his stuff. Joe was the first to contact me after I made an online inquiry about a property. He was able to accommodate my schedule as my wife and I were coming into Columbus from out of town. Over the course of our 3 day trip Joe showed us 8 properties, answered all questions, gave us a tour of Columbus and it’s neighborhoods, made recommendations and eventually won us an offer on a condo. We could not be more happy with the result of the negotiations and we are now happily owners of a condo that, even after closing, Joe helped to secure. There is no doubt in our minds Joe Speakman is right for your next real estate transaction.”
- Robert Petro, Google Review
Extensive real estate background—provided invaluable insights and responsive
“We had a fantastic experience working with Joe during our property purchase. From start to finish, he was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire process and provided invaluable insights about the area, helping us feel confident in our decision. Joe’s extensive background in real estate really showed, and he was always available to answer our questions—often even late at night. His responsiveness, professionalism, and dedication made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. We would definitely recommend his services to anyone looking to buy a property!”
- Kristina Korshunova, Google Review
5. Wayne Woods
Address: 800 N High St
Phone: +1 614 636 4230
Business hours: Monday-Sunday, 24 hours
Clients of Wayne Woods often express no regret in choosing him as their realtor. One reason is that they feel he always has their best interests in mind or at heart—listening to every need, taking time to explore neighborhoods, and working around their schedules.
Sellers particularly praise Wayne’s diligence, market knowledge, and experience that led to quick sales and full-price offers. Homes in Westerville, German Village, Upper Arlington, and beyond were sold with all preparation and contractor coordination handled.
Buyers also navigate the process well-informed and satisfied with their final choice. Some have even been working with Wayne and his team for years, never pressured in decision-making, and enjoying a service that covers mortgage approvals as well as home inspections.
Despite all the positives, certain sellers who agreed to low-commission deals—as little as 3% to 4%—noted fewer marketing efforts from the team. Their homes were sometimes listed with limited photos, reduced online visibility, or less emphasis on staging and advertising.
Listened to my needs, educated me, and I’m very satisfied with where we ended up
“Wayne has been extremely helpful and patient during this whole process. He listened to my needs and requirements, and educated me about the real estate buying process as well as the different neighborhoods in Columbus, what to expect with prices and what to look for in a house. His expertise has been a huge value in finding the right place, and I am ultimately very satisfied with where we ended up, and excited to be living here! I’d recommend Wayne to anyone looking to buy a home, and will hopefully be able to reach out again in the future!”
- Michael Kekedy, Google Review
Has your best interest in mind—helped us sell our old home and find a house we adore
“Where to begin? Wayne is more than just a realtor. He will treat you with a kindness and honesty level that most only reserve for good friends. He will have your best interest in mind throughout your whole experience. He is top tier. We started our journey over a year ago when my husband and I decided it was time to move out of our tiny house. We spent almost every weekend with Wayne, touring hundreds of houses, and finally found a house we adore. Then, he helped us sell our old home. It was a much longer journey than anyone had anticipated with curveballs we did not anticipate, but Wayne was always there for us with a word of reassurance and hope. In the end, we got the job done! If are looking for a realtor, your search should end with Wayne Woods. He’s the best. Give him a call. You’ll be glad you did.”
- Melissa Dinzeo, Google Review
