How to Choose a Real Estate Agent: Questions to Ask & Qualities You Want

We all know that buying or selling a house can be stressful. You want the best people in the biz advocating and working for you to land the house of your dreams or to sell your existing home. Having a great agent can alleviate much of the stress that comes  with the home-buying or home-selling processes. So, how do you choose?

Here are some  great questions to ask:

Is real estate your full-time job? 

First thing’s first, you want someone with experience on your side. Your cousin or niece that just started a little real estate “side hustle” might not be the best option to land your dream home. Real estate is a fast-paced, fast-moving industry. Often houses are listed and sold in a matter of days, and even hours, depending on the market. You want someone who will respond quickly to your concerns or someone with a team of people ready to assist in various facets of the home-buying or selling process. Bottom line: you want someone to give you a full-time effort.

How many clients have you helped? 

This is a much better question than asking how many years someone has been in the business. Some may only have a few years of experience, but have sold 20+ houses a year, while others may have been in 10+ years, but have only helped a handful of families. Asking for numbers is a better indicator of success; however, the higher the number isn’t always the best. You want someone with enough experience, but also someone who has time for you as well. It can be off-putting to many to have an agent treat them like a number instead of a valued client who is treated more like a friend. A great follow-up question to this is “How many clients are you currently working with?” as you want them to have time for you– especially if you’re looking to buy or sell in peak season.

What types of properties do you typically work with? Whether or not a real estate agent has experience buying or selling a particular type of home should be considered as well. They may have helped many clients in the past (if you asked the question above), but they may have dealt mostly with investment properties or condominiums. Ensure your potential agent has experience with assisting clients in the same manner as you.

Who is on your real estate team? You want to know who is all involved and who your agent considers part of their team. Do they work solo or is there someone else to answer questions and assist with getting your house ready for market or walking you through inspection? You also never want to work with someone who pushes a lender or broker on you, but you want someone who is respected in the area and works well with others. Who else will be involved in the home-buying or selling experience?

Where are your personal reviews? 

Does this agent have a good quality score from others on Google or posted on their website? Who has a great experience with them? Does anyone not? Look for transparency with your realtor. Why do people enjoy working with them? See what others say sets them apart. 

How will you negotiate on my behalf?

Again, you want someone to work for you and your best interests, but you don’t want someone who is constantly taking advantage of others either. Negotiating is an art and skill that is honed over time and experience. You want someone who can read a situation, analyze it, and then decide what the best approach or option is from there. This is especially important if you will not physically be in the area yet. You want someone who knows your budget limitations, deal-breakers, and timeline or flexibility. 

How do you handle potential conflicts of interest? 

If you’re looking in an area where your potential agent often sells or vice versa, you want to ensure there’s a plan to handle a conflict of interest. What would happen if you were interested in purchasing a property that the agent was already representing?

Will you attend the home inspection?

If the answer is no, run. You want your real estate agent to be your guide and offer advice at every step of the home-buying process-- not just the showing and closing. You want someone who can be involved and give insight should a less than ideal situation come up that needs addressed. 

What makes you different from other agents?

This is a great question to ask because you want a person or team that is going to fit your specific needs. Some people just may not be a good fit, and some may turn you down as well-- this interview can work both ways. Does your agent work with a team to offer additional benefits like staging your home or advocating on your behalf if you happen to live out-of-state? Do they show houses virtually or use the latest technology to market your house? See what they have to offer and what sets them apart! Bottom line: why should I choose you over others?

In addition to the questions above, you want to ensure you have an agent who is knowledgeable, professional, and has integrity. You want an agent with excellent communication skills but also some empathy and understanding for your situation. Attention to detail and a knack for negotiating are also among the top qualities one should look for in a realtor. 

If you don’t like what you hear as a response to any of the questions above or don’t see them exhibit the qualities you value most, go with someone else. Buying a home isn’t something you do every day, and having the right people on your team could make or break the sale for you. 

If you’re in need of an agent who possesses all of the above qualities and more, give us a call. We’d love to help you answer the questions listed above and determine who on our team would be a great fit for your real estate needs.