19 Important Questions To Ask A REALTOR® Before You Commit To One

Whether you’re buying or selling a house, working with an experienced real estate agent can make the process go much smoother than if you were doing it yourself.

If you can find the right professional for the job, REALTORS^® hold a wealth of knowledge valuable to buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. They have access to the multiple listing service (MLS) and they know your local real estate market.

Let’s get into the essential questions to ask a REALTOR^® to make sure they’re up to the task.

General Questions To Ask A REALTOR^® Or Real Estate Agent

Buying and selling a house requires different strategies for success. Whether you’re looking for a real estate agent to buy or sell a home, there are some questions you should ask any agent to see if they’d be a good fit. Here are some upfront questions to help you find the best real estate agent.

1. How Long Have You Worked As A REALTOR^®?

Experience goes a long way in any career. Someone on the job for several years should have enough experience to anticipate potential problems and head them off before they arise. A seasoned real estate expert can apply proven negotiation skills to get you the best deal.

2. Are You A Part-Time Or A Full-Time REALTOR^®?

Real estate isn’t every agent’s passion. Some professionals only dedicate part of their schedules to the job or treat it as a side hustle. If your priority is for the process to go faster, ask upfront whether an agent will dedicate themselves to you full-time. If a part-time agent doesn’t fit your style, keep looking for one who can do what you want in the time you want it done.

3. Do You Work Primarily With Buyers Or Sellers?

Knowing an agent’s area of expertise will tell you right away if they’re the right person to help you buy a home or sell your house. Some agents may be better as buyer’s agents than seller’s agents. For some clients, the best-case scenario can be finding an agent who specializes in both sides of real estate transactions and can offer insights into both sides of the process.

4. Do You Work Individually Or With A Team?

Many agents work with a team to maximize their availability for clients. Some home buyers or sellers may prefer working one-on-one with their agent. That’s why you should check upfront whether you’ll be working directly with your agent or another agent or assistant on their team.

5. How Many Clients Are You Currently Representing?

An agent’s answer to this question may hint at what your working relationship may look like. On one hand, an agent working with multiple clients at once may be qualified but can’t offer the time you need. On the other hand, it may be a sign to keep looking if an agent has fewer or no clients. If you’re not sure how many clients are too many, any more than 10 could mean the agent won’t be available to fully commit to your needs.

6. Can You Provide A List Of References?

Any successful professional will have a short list of satisfied clients. Ask for a list of references and reach out to them. An agent who can’t provide references can’t guarantee a satisfactory experience.

7. What Are Your Hours Of Availability?

Real estate agents are people, too. Like any professional, they’re allowed downtime from their jobs. But if an agent doesn’t work on weekends, when most open houses happen, that’s something you should consider before you give them the job.

8. What’s The Best Way To Reach You?

Emergencies can spring up at any time. So, a great agent should only be a phone call away. If the agent says they only communicate through text or email, you can’t be sure you’ll reach them when you need them.

9. How Will You Be Paid?

While this may seem like an odd question, it makes sense to learn how your agent expects to be compensated. A buyer agent's fee is usually rolled into the seller's closing costs. The seller pays their broker, and the broker splits the commission with the buyer’s agent. Confirming upfront that this is how your agent operates should mean no surprises later.

Questions To Ask A REALTOR^® When Buying A House

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned buyer, a REALTOR^® can help you with everything from finding the right neighborhood to submitting and negotiating purchase offers. A buyer’s agent can provide valuable knowledge about houses in the neighborhood you want to live in and information about property taxes and zoning laws. If you want to hire a REALTOR^® to buy a house, consider vetting your prospects with these questions.

1. How Do You Help Buyers Stand Out?

In a competitive real estate market, standing out from other buyers is vital to purchasing the house you want. Ask an agent how they make their clients stand apart from the rest. An experienced agent should have one or more reliable strategies to employ in different scenarios.

2. How Many Homes Have You Closed On In The Past Year?

Ask them about their success rate. If they’ve successfully found and closed on multiple homes in the past, they can likely do the same for you. An agent with a consistent success rate will likely be more reliable than one with a spottier track record.

3. What Is Your Average List-To-Sales Price Ratio?

A home’s listing price often differs from the final sales price due to expert negotiating. Ask an agent about their ratio for success in this area to get a good idea of how they can negotiate down a steep sales price.

4. What’s The Neighborhood And Surrounding Area Like?

Find an agent who knows the area or neighborhood you’re looking in. Aside from offering insight into how safe a neighborhood is, their answer should also reflect how much they know about the area.

Questions To Ask A REALTOR^® When Selling Your Home

Selling a house can be complex for homeowners, so partnering with an expert can help them better navigate the process. Selling a house without a REALTOR^® typically requires much more legwork from the seller. If you want to outsource that work, consider interviewing agents and asking these seller-specific questions.

1. What’s Your Marketing Plan Or Strategy?

Different houses will likely require different strategies. An experienced agent should have several strategies available to manage any situation. Do they work with a certain photographer to get the best photos for listings? Do they use social media and email blasts to get the word out about homes? Are they using emerging technology and noticing buyer preferences by organizing virtual tours? Without a good marketing plan, your home may sit on the market for a long time.

2. Have You Sold Homes In This Area Before?

You’ll likely experience some peace of mind knowing an agent has experience selling in your area. Understanding the neighborhood and the pool of home buyers can prove valuable when marketing a home.

3. How Many Homes Have You Sold In The Past Year?

Knowing a prospective agent’s track record with clients can help you decide whether to work with them. Agents with more sales in a year are usually more attractive candidates.

4. How Did You Arrive At Your Listing Price?

A very high listing price can scare away potential buyers. Ask an agent how much your home is worth and how they estimated its value, whether through a comparative market analysis (CMA) or by looking at comparable area sales. A professional REALTOR^® can tell you how they arrived at their suggested asking price.

5. Will You Also Represent The Buyer?

When an agent represents the buyer interested in your house, it can create a conflict of interest. An agent working both sides of a transaction can’t conceivably represent your interests and a buyer’s interests at the same time. They will inevitably favor one client over the other to get one client the best deal – which, after all, is an agent’s primary job.

6. How Can I Prepare My House To Sell?

Your job doesn’t stop after you’ve hired a real estate agent. An agent worth their salt can tell you how to make your house more attractive to potential buyers, which can mean focusing on home renovations buyers love, replacing older appliances and deep cleaning your home for virtual or in-person showings. If an agent can’t help you prepare to sell your home, you can’t be sure they can sell it or get the best deal.

FAQs On Interviewing A REALTOR^®

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, there are many questions you can ask a real estate agent or REALTOR^®. But here are some frequently asked questions about the interview process.

Can I talk to multiple REALTORS^® or real estate agents?

Unless you’ve signed an exclusive contract, you can talk to multiple REALTORS^® or real estate agents. It’s a smart idea to interview at least three candidates from different brokerages before hiring one. Use the interview process to find the REALTOR^® who most closely meets your needs.

What should I do before meeting with a REALTOR^®?

Outline your goals, including where you want to live and the type of home you want, before you meet with a REALTOR^®. Getting a mortgage preapproval would also be helpful if you’re buying a home. You’ll know how much home you can afford, and your REALTOR^® can focus on finding homes in your budget range.

After you contact a REALTOR^® and schedule an interview, prepare relevant questions from this article to ask during the interview.

Can I change REALTORS^®?

If you uncover red flags or are dissatisfied, you can change your REALTOR^® at any time. See if discussing your concerns with the agent or their broker will resolve your issues. If that doesn’t work and you’ve already signed a buyer’s agreement, read through the terms and look for anything about penalties or cancellation fees. If you’re a home seller and switch agents without giving your current agent enough notice, they can sue you for damages.

Switching REALTORS^® can be inconvenient and cost you money. Explore all possible solutions with your current REALTOR^®. If that doesn’t work, make sure your new agreement outlines all your expectations.

The Bottom Line

There’s a lot you need to know before you can entrust someone with finding you your dream home or selling your old one. If a REALTOR^® can confidently answer the questions listed above, then they just might be the right one for the job.

Are you ready to begin the home buying or selling process? Before choosing how to move forward with a real estate professional, learn more about the differences between brokers, agents and REALTORS® so you can make the best decision for your situation.