12 questions buyers should ask prospective agents

Interviewing several real estate agents to find the one best suited for your needs is a standard, welcome practice that can make or break a buying experience.

Agents offer different personalities, backgrounds and approaches that could work well for some clients but fall flat for others. Before reaching out to agents, speak with a lender to get preapproved for a loan. From there, you can bring a realistic budget to potential agents.

Many real estate agents feel this way, too, and suggest interviewing a few candidates.

“Once you get past three or four or five, you’re getting into a world where you’re getting the same information but different personalities,” said agent Holly Connors of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Meeting the agent in person is important. It’s a personal experience that requires blending personalities, and that starts with getting to know each other.

“Knowing the person you're working for makes the transaction more streamlined and fun,” said agent Scott Curcio with Baird & Warner in Chicago. “This will be stressful, but our job is to minimize that by leading people through the next steps and also trying to spot out potential issues as early as possible.”

Another positive sign to look out for, noted Curcio, is if an agent asks you as many questions as you ask.

Ultimately, it comes down to how you feel and whether you trust the agent.

“There's not a right way or a wrong way necessarily to do things,” said agent Chris Pero with Max Broock Realtors in Birmingham, Michigan. “I think it's important to find somebody that matches your expectations and find someone that you feel comfortable with. It is an important and personal piece.”

Here are 12 questions buyers should ask a prospective agent:

Working with an agent familiar with the market and your price point can be valuable. The best way to identify knowledgeable agents is to inquire about their sales history, level of experience, and whether they live in the market themselves.

“For example, if someone wants to buy a condo in downtown Chicago and the agent they're talking with has never sold a condo downtown or never sold a condo period, that might be important for the buyer to know,” said Curcio.

The market also goes through cycles. Asking specifically about recent sales helps to know how an agent navigates today’s market.

But having a short resume isn't a sign to give an agent the ax.

"All of us have to start somewhere," said Curcio. "Just because somebody hasn't sold the neighborhood, the type of house, the price point, doesn't mean they won't be the right fit for you. You just want to know that upfront."

This question can reveal how well an agent writes offers, negotiates and communicates with other agents.

"I heard stories that it took some buyers up to 20 offers during the COVID years when our market was super hot," said Brandi Wolff, agent with Guide Real Estate in Denver. "In my own experience, because I know to write a strong offer and I know how to establish rapport with the other agent, .... for my buyers, my maximum I ever submitted for one client was three offers before they got a home."

Reaching out to a past client will help you understand what your homebuying process will look like.

"Believe it or not, buyers rarely get feedback from the past clients of agents they're interviewing. It's very important to not just connect with your agent but also to understand what it's like to work with them from people who have gone through that process," said Wolff.

She suggested asking past clients about the agent's availability for showings, whether the agent was a good communicator, and whether the agent ever felt lost in the process.

Some agents work part-time, while others are at it around the clock. You may prefer texting, while an agent likes phone calls. Setting a baseline early for preferred communication times and methods will ensure you never miss an important note. And it doesn’t hurt to ask how often your agent plans to reach out to you.

“It's important to know that upfront so that you can meet someone where they're at,” said Curcio. “I have several clients right now where they're much better on text, but for me, a lot of times I need to share something with them that's a little more in-depth, [so] it's going to be over email. We've had that conversation upfront that I may text them from time to time and say, ‘Hey, guys, I sent you an e-mail to review this document.’”

It’s one of the most common questions agents say they receive. Working with an agent who understands your goals can help determine how to write an offer you're comfortable with and one that the seller is likely to accept.

“I think [clients] should have a basic understanding of what their anticipated negotiation style is, but a true broker, a true salesperson needs to sell the buyer's offer ... every single time,” added Connors.

Agent commissions vary, as does the level of service provided. This is a common question clients have, given stories about changing commission structures in recent headlines. Pero said commissions have always been negotiable. A significant difference now in commissions is that listings on the Multiple Listing Service cannot say whether the seller will pay the buyer's agent.

It’s common for an agent to work on a team within a brokerage. You could interview one agent but then work with others on that team.

“There's a trend since I've been in the business that a lot of agents are going to a team concept,” said Pero. “One of the complaints that I've heard from people that have had other experiences is that they feel like they're hiring one person and then they're passed off to somebody else.”

You could also be hiring a junior-level agent with less experience or the team leader, Connors said.

Through a large office or well-developed network, it can be easier to locate homes before they hit the market.

“That is the key factor in finding homes for sale right now, " said Connors, when inventory is so low.

Some agents can boast about how many clients they have, but many agents see someone flaunting numbers as a yellow flag. Proceed with caution and inquire about how an agent manages multiple clients.

While nothing is inherently wrong with the phrases "neighborhood expert," "high volume," or "high producer,” most often they’re meaningless and part of a practiced sales presentation," said Michelle Schwinghammer, an agent with West + Main Homes in Denver. "If your interview starts to feel like you’re buying a car, my advice is to keep looking for a different kind of agent."

Inquiring about what’s happening presents an opportunity for the agent to show how they would help you navigate the market.

“Here in the Detroit area, we're in very much a seller's market, which means it's very highly competitive, and a lot of houses are selling in multiple-offer situations,” said Pero. “Understanding as a buyer what you need to do to be competitive and what some of the competition is doing in competitive-offer situations is important to understand.”

The practice of using one agent to represent a seller and a buyer in a single transaction, called dual agency, is not permitted in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming.

It's argued that ethically, the agent cannot serve the best interest of either party in a transaction when representing both. In states where dual agency is permitted, most require signing an agreement beforehand.

Agents could instead be transaction coordinators or brokers in states where dual agency is banned. These coordinators merely facilitate the transaction rather than acting as advisers to a client.

Working off a recommended and vetted list of tradespeople, like plumbers, painters, or electricians, will help you avoid costly or unreliable companies.

"Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you’re likely going to need help from a few contractors and service professionals along the way that you’ve never thought of before," said Schwinghammer.