12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Reviews and sales figures will get you to two or three agents worth meeting. The meeting is where you find out whether the agent's strengths match your situation. Ask all twelve of these, in person or on a call, and write the answers down so you can compare.

About their experience

1. How many homes did you personally close in the last twelve months? You want a number, and you want "personally." Team leaders often quote the team total.

2. What was the typical price, and what was the highest? The answer should bracket your home or your budget. An agent who works mostly at half your price point may not know your buyer pool or your competing listings.

3. Which neighborhoods did those sales happen in? Real estate is local down to the street. An agent with twenty sales across the county may have none in your school district.

About how they work

4. Who will I actually be dealing with? On a team, showings, paperwork, and negotiations may each be handled by a different person. Ask who does what, and whether you'll meet them before signing.

5. How many clients are you working with right now? There is no perfect number, but an agent with thirty active clients cannot give you the same attention as one with eight.

6. How do you prefer to communicate, and how fast do you reply? Then test it. Send a follow-up question after the meeting and time the response.

7. What happened the last time a deal fell apart, and what did you do? Everyone has one. The story tells you how they handle pressure and whether they take responsibility.

About your specific situation

8. If you were selling this house, what would you do in the first two weeks? A good agent has a plan for pricing, preparation, photography, and launch timing, and can explain why. Vague answers about "marketing" are a warning sign.

9. What would you price it at, and what would you say to me if it didn't get offers? You're testing for honesty and for whether they'll push back on you when needed.

10. For buyers: how do you help me win in a multiple-offer situation without overpaying? Look for specifics: escalation clauses, appraisal gap strategy, inspection timing, relationships with listing agents.

About money and terms

11. What are your fees, and what's included? Get it in writing. Ask what happens to the fee if you find the buyer yourself, or if you cancel.

12. How long is the agreement, and how do I get out of it? A confident agent will offer a reasonable term with a cancellation clause. One who insists on a long lock-in is telling you something.

What to do with the answers

Compare the three agents side by side. The one with the best reviews is not automatically the winner; the one whose sales, neighborhoods, and working style fit your transaction is. If nobody fits, interview two more. Choosing an agent is the highest-leverage decision in the whole process, and an extra week spent choosing well costs far less than a bad listing launch.