What to Look For
Experience and track record
Experience and track record
Relevant background:
- Years licensed and active in real estate
- Number of transactions closed
- Transaction volume (sales dollar amount)
- Experience with your property type
- Experience with your price range
- Recent sales in your area
Local market knowledge
Local market knowledge
Demonstrated expertise in your area:
- Active in your neighborhood or target area
- Knows recent comparable sales
- Understands local market trends
- Familiar with schools, amenities, developments
- Relationships with local agents, vendors
- Member of local real estate board
Communication style
Communication style
How they interact with clients:
- Responsive to calls, texts, emails
- Clear explanations
- Proactive updates
- Listening skills
- Availability (evenings, weekends)
- Preferred communication methods
Marketing approach (for sellers)
Marketing approach (for sellers)
How they plan to market your property:
- Photography and staging approach
- Online marketing strategy
- Social media presence and activity
- Print materials and signage
- Open house plans
- Networking with other agents
- Target buyer identification
Reviews and reputation
Reviews and reputation
What past clients say:
- Online reviews (Google, Zillow, etc.)
- Client testimonials
- References available to contact
- Complaints or issues
- Professional standing
Questions to Ask
About their practice
About their practice
- How long have you been licensed?
- How many transactions do you typically close per year?
- What percentage of your business is in this area?
- Do you work full-time in real estate?
- Do you work solo or with a team?
- What is your brokerage?
- What professional designations do you hold?
About their experience
About their experience
- How many properties like mine have you sold?
- What experience do you have with [buyers/sellers] in my situation?
- Can you share recent comparable sales?
- What challenges do you anticipate with this transaction?
- Have you worked in this neighborhood before?
For listing agents (sellers)
For listing agents (sellers)
- What is your recommended listing price and why?
- What is your marketing plan for my property?
- How will you prepare my home for sale?
- How do you handle showings and open houses?
- How often will you update me on activity?
- What is your commission rate and what does it include?
- How long does it typically take you to sell properties?
- How will you communicate with me?
For buyer's agents
For buyer's agents
- How will you help me find properties?
- How quickly can you show me homes?
- How do you research properties and neighborhoods?
- How will you help me make competitive offers?
- What is your strategy for multiple offer situations?
- How do you handle inspection negotiations?
- How will you be compensated?
- What areas do you cover?
About communication
About communication
- How do you prefer to communicate?
- How quickly do you typically respond?
- Who will I work with day-to-day (you or team members)?
- How do you keep clients updated?
- What if I need to reach you after hours?
- Who handles transactions when you’re unavailable?
About their approach
About their approach
- What makes your service different from other agents?
- How do you handle difficult negotiations?
- What challenges have you faced and how did you resolve them?
- Can you provide references from recent clients?
- What do you need from me to be successful?
Evaluating Responses
Listing presentations (sellers)
Listing presentations (sellers)
What to assess:Market analysis:
- Thorough comparable sales data
- Realistic price recommendation
- Clear explanation of pricing strategy
- Market trends and context
- Specific, detailed strategy
- Professional photography/staging approach
- Online and offline marketing mix
- Target buyer identification
- Timeline and milestones
- Prepared and organized presentation
- Property-specific recommendations
- Confident but realistic expectations
- Clear communication
Buyer consultations
Buyer consultations
What to assess:Market knowledge:
- Understanding of target neighborhoods
- Current market conditions
- Price trends and inventory
- Competitive landscape
- Clear steps from search to closing
- Realistic timeline
- Potential challenges addressed
- Role and availability clarified
- Listening to your needs and preferences
- Asking good questions
- Understanding your priorities
- Compatible communication style
Red flags
Red flags
Warning signs to watch for:
- Guarantees specific outcomes
- Pushes for unrealistic listing price (to get listing)
- Vague or generic marketing plan
- Can’t provide references or recent sales
- Poor communication during interview process
- Pressure to sign immediately
- Focuses more on themselves than your needs
- Negative comments about competitors
- Lack of local market knowledge
- Unclear answers to direct questions
Comparing Multiple Agents
Interview at least 3 agents
Interview at least 3 agents
Benefits of multiple interviews:
- Different perspectives on pricing/strategy
- Range of marketing approaches
- Varying commission structures
- Comparison of communication styles
- Better sense of market rates and practices
Take notes
Take notes
Document each conversation:
- Experience and credentials
- Pricing or search strategy
- Marketing or buyer approach plan
- Commission or compensation structure
- Communication preferences
- Timeline estimates
- Your overall impression
Compare systematically
Compare systematically
Create comparison framework:
- Experience level
- Local market knowledge
- Marketing plan quality (sellers)
- Buyer search approach (buyers)
- Commission/fees
- Communication style
- Availability
- References and reviews
- Personal compatibility
Making the Decision
Trust your instincts
Trust your instincts
Beyond objective factors:
- Do you feel comfortable with them?
- Do they listen to you?
- Do they respect your concerns?
- Are they honest about challenges?
- Do you trust their judgment?
- Would you enjoy working with them?
Don't decide on price alone
Don't decide on price alone
Avoid choosing based solely on:For sellers:
- Highest suggested listing price (may be unrealistic)
- Lowest commission (may lack services)
- Lowest commission requested
- Promises of biggest discounts
Check references
Check references
Contact past clients:
- How was communication throughout?
- Did agent deliver on promises?
- How was negotiation handled?
- Were you satisfied with outcome?
- Would you work with them again?
- What could have been better?
- Any surprises or issues?
Verify credentials
Verify credentials
Before hiring:
- Confirm active license (check state licensing board)
- Verify brokerage affiliation
- Check for complaints or disciplinary actions
- Confirm claimed designations
- Review professional standing
Working Relationship
Set clear expectations
Set clear expectations
Establish upfront:
- Communication frequency and method
- Your priorities and deal-breakers
- Timeline and urgency
- Decision-making process
- Role and involvement level
- Acceptable working hours
Maintain open communication
Maintain open communication
Throughout the process:
- Ask questions when unclear
- Voice concerns promptly
- Provide feedback on properties or activity
- Make timely decisions
- Be responsive to agent contacts
- Update agent on changing circumstances
Trust but verify
Trust but verify
While relying on agent expertise:
- Ask for explanation of recommendations
- Review all documents before signing
- Conduct own research when needed
- Seek clarification on concerns
- Don’t hesitate to get second opinions on major decisions