What Questions Should I Ask a Realtor Before Hiring Them?

The single most valuable thing an agent brings is knowledge of your specific area. Ask how many homes they have helped buy or sell in the neighborhoods you care about, and how recently. A great agent in a different part of the region is less useful than a good agent who knows your target block's pricing, schools, and quirks.

Ask for a few recent examples: what did a comparable home sell for, how long did it take, and what made the deal tricky? The specificity of their answers tells you whether they really work the area or just claim to.

Make sure the agent's working style matches yours. Ask how they typically communicate: text, phone, or email, and how quickly they respond. Ask how often you can expect updates and whether they work full time in real estate or fit it around another job.

If you are buying, ask how they find homes beyond the public listings: off-market opportunities, coming-soon inventory, and how they vet properties before you spend time touring. If you are selling, ask how they price, market, and handle showings and feedback.

Money and paperwork should be discussed openly at the first meeting, not discovered later. Ask exactly what services are included, what the compensation is, and whether you will sign a buyer representation agreement or a listing agreement, and for how long. Under the newer buyer agency rules, the compensation agreement for buyers is an important part of this conversation.

Ask what happens if things do not work out: how can you end the agreement, and what, if anything, would you owe? A straightforward answer builds confidence; a vague one is a warning sign.

Many agents work in teams, so confirm who is handling your deal day to day. Ask whether you will work directly with the agent you are meeting or with a teammate, and who will be available for showings, questions, and at closing. There is nothing wrong with a team, but you should know who to expect before you commit.

Also ask about support: does the agent coordinate inspections, appraisals, attorneys, and lenders themselves, or does a transaction coordinator handle the paperwork? Clarity on roles keeps the process smooth from start to finish.