10 Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before Hiring Them

Hiring a real estate agent is a decision worth slowing down for. A good interview should tell you more than how many homes an agent has sold: it should show how they would handle your particular search or sale, what you would pay, and what you would be agreeing to. Ask several candidates the same questions, then compare their answers alongside the proposed contract.

1. What experience do you have with homes like mine?

Answer to look for: Relevant work in your neighborhood, price range and property type, with recent examples the agent can discuss. A high transaction count alone does not show whether someone understands a condominium purchase, an older house or a sale with a tight deadline. Ask for their license number and check its status and any publicly available disciplinary history with the appropriate state licensing agency.

2. How would you determine a fair price?

Answer to look for: An explanation grounded in comparable properties, their condition and location, and current competition. Sellers should ask how the proposed listing price supports their goals; buyers should ask how the agent would assess an asking price before making an offer. Be wary of a precise figure offered without supporting examples, especially if it is simply the number you hoped to hear.

3. What would your plan be for my purchase or sale?

Answer to look for: Specific steps rather than a generic promise to work hard. For buyers, that might include how the agent finds suitable homes, schedules viewings and prepares for negotiations. For sellers, ask about preparation, photography, listing exposure, showings and the circumstances that might call for a change in strategy. The plan should fit your timetable and budget.

4. Which services are included, and who will do the work?

Answer to look for: A clear division of responsibilities from the first appointment through closing. Find out whether the person you interview will attend showings, present offers and handle negotiations, or whether those tasks will go to a teammate. Ask what support is available when the agent is away and whether services such as staging or photography cost extra.

5. How much will I pay, and when?

Answer to look for: The proposed fee or rate in writing, what it covers, when it becomes payable and whether there are other charges. Agent compensation is negotiable, not a legally fixed percentage. Buyers should ask what happens if the seller or listing brokerage does not cover some or all of their agent’s fee. Sellers should ask whether any proposed payment to a buyer’s agent is included in, or separate from, the listing agent’s fee.

6. Whose interests would you represent?

Answer to look for: A plain-language explanation of the agent’s role and how potential conflicts would be handled. Ask what would happen if the agent’s brokerage also represents the other side, or if the agent works with competing buyers interested in the same home. Representation arrangements and disclosure requirements vary by location; you should understand the proposed arrangement before agreeing to it.

7. What would the agreement require of me?

Answer to look for: An unhurried walk-through of the agreement’s duration, exclusivity, services, compensation and cancellation terms. Buyers may be asked to sign a written agreement before touring homes with an agent; an initial conversation alone does not require one. Buyers and sellers alike should ask whether fees could still be owed after the agreement ends, including if they later buy or sell a property introduced during its term. Request a copy to review before signing.

8. How and when will you communicate with me?

Answer to look for: An agreed method and realistic response schedule. Ask how often you will receive updates, who your main contact will be and how urgent offers or deadlines will be handled. A seller may want regular feedback from showings; a buyer may need quick notice of suitable listings. Establishing expectations now makes it easier to spot a mismatch before it affects a transaction.

9. How do you handle problems after an offer is accepted?

Answer to look for: Examples of how the agent helps clients track deadlines and respond when an inspection, appraisal, financing issue or title question complicates a deal. The agent should distinguish their role from that of an inspector, lender or attorney rather than promise that nothing will go wrong. Ask how they would explain your options and keep you informed before a decision is due.

10. May I speak with recent clients?

Answer to look for: References whose transactions resemble yours, if those clients have agreed to be contacted. Ask them whether the agent communicated reliably, explained costs clearly and stayed engaged when difficulties arose. A reference is only one perspective, but it can help you test whether the agent’s interview answers match the service clients received.

Before choosing, compare the written terms as carefully as the conversation. The best fit is an agent who can explain their approach without pressuring you to sign terms you do not understand. If a contract provision remains unclear, consider asking a qualified local real estate attorney to review it.