Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent 

What should you ask a realtor before you hire them? Here are 15 great questions to ask your real estate agent to ensure they will be a good fit. 

Working with an experienced real estate agent is the best thing you can do if you are buying or selling your home. Whether buying your home for the first time in today's market or relocating to a new neighborhood, you will need to work with an agent familiar with the market and the area you want to buy. 

With so many real estate agents to choose from, finding one that fits your needs can be overwhelming. To ensure you hire the right realtor for the job, it is essential to ask the right questions. Here are 15 great questions for your real estate agent. 

1. How Long Have You Been a Realtor? 

Before choosing an agent, asking how long someone has been a realtor should be one of your first questions. Experience is a positive thing, and a real estate professional with years of experience under their belt will mean that they are familiar with the market and are not afraid to negotiate. 

Experienced agents are good with communication, can quickly determine their client's needs, and can even predict trends. Even though an agent with experience is highly desirable, you should still consider a newer agent willing to prove themselves. 

Real estate agents have to start somewhere, so if you find someone who you want to work with but is new to the market, it might be your sign to give them a chance. New agents will have fewer clients, which means that they will prioritize you and your home sale. 

2. Are You a Full-Time Agent? 

Figuring out whether an agent is full-time or part-time can be the deciding factor when choosing a real estate agent to work with. Full-time real estate professionals will dedicate more time to helping their clients than a part-time agent will. Most part-time agents sell homes alongside another job and consider marketing homes for sale or searching for homes a side hustle. 

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, a full-time agent will be able to direct their full attention to you and your needs. While working with a part-time agent is possible and can yield the same results, a full-time agent will most likely be able to offer consistent communication and a flexible schedule. 

3. How Many Clients Do You Work With at a Time? 

Most real estate agents work with more than one client at a time to make a living. While this is normal, if a realtor has too many clients, they might not have much time to dedicate to you and your home. If you are looking for an agent who can give you the one-on-one attention you are looking for, choose a real estate professional who is juggling only a few clients at a time. 

4. What is Your Availability? 

Knowing an agent's availability upfront will give you an idea of how long it might take them to answer your calls, emails, or texts. If you would like to be able to meet in the early mornings, evenings, or on the weekends, this is also important to know. At the same time, it is not reasonable for you to always expect an immediate response, choosing an agent that can communicate well and easily align with your schedule might be preferred. 

5. Do You Work With a Team? 

Sometimes, experienced agents work with a team to maximize their time, generate leads, and improve their skills. Real estate professionals who work with a team generally receive more support than those who work alone. If you choose to work with an agent who is part of a team, you can expect to meet with multiple people throughout the home buying or selling process. 

Working with a real estate team is becoming more common for agents since they receive professional support and guidance from other agents. Knowing whether or not the agent you want to work with is part of a team will determine how many people you will be dealing with. 

6. Can You Provide Client References? 

An experienced and professional realtor should have no problem providing you with client references. It is easy for realtors to boast about their success and claim that they have many satisfied clients. Still, it is another to hear from past clients about their personal experience working with the realtor.

Successful realtors should have client references ready, so do not hesitate to ask. Please reach out to as many previous clients as you wish before choosing to work with the agent. If you'd like to work with a new agent who has yet to compile a list of client references, please don't hesitate to ask instead for professional references. 

7. How Many Homes Have You Sold? 

The easiest and most convenient way to find out how many homes a realtor has sold is to ask. Whether you are talking to an experienced realtor or a new agent, determining how many homes they have sold within the past year is a good measure of success. 

When choosing a real estate agent to work with, you want someone with the knowledge and ability to help sell your home. If you think the number of homes the agent you are talking to is too low, that might be your sign to consider working with someone else who can help get the job done. 

While volume is not the only way to determine a successful real estate agent, it is an excellent place to start. If you do not want to take their word for it, you can find an agent's previous MLS listings online. 

8. How Will You Market My Home? 

Asking how an agent will market your home is one of the most important questions you could ask since this is a real estate agent's most significant job. A successful and good agent should be able to communicate their marketing plan for the home with you, which should include a listing on your area's MLS. This private database provides data about properties for sale. 

You should communicate with your potential agent their plan for holding open houses, creating virtual tours, networking with other agents, utilizing digital marketing, and using social media to market your home. Being aware of their marketing process will keep you on the same page and give you an idea of what to expect. 

9. How Much Do You Charge? 

Real estate agents earn commission on the sale or lease of property and typically get paid between 5% and 6% of the final sale price. Agents work under brokers, and the commissions are paid directly to the broker, then split between the buyer's agent, buyer agent broker, listing agent, and listing broker. Typically, the seller pays the commission, and many sellers factor the commission into the asking price. 

The real estate agent commission is always negotiable, but when choosing a real estate agent, it is important to go with the one who can get you the most money for your home sale and not necessarily the cheapest one. 

10. Do You Represent the Buyer or the Seller? 

Working with a buyer's agent who can better represent your interests is best if you buy a home. If you are selling your home, working with a seller's agent is preferred for the same reason. While there is nothing wrong with working with an agent representing both parties, you must ensure that their other clients are not the ones you are negotiating with. 

Knowing who the real estate agent represents will show you where their priorities are and can ensure you are receiving fair representation and the best treatment, whether you are buying or selling a home. 

11. What is the Best Way to Reach You? 

Communication is key when it comes to working with a real estate agent. Knowing the best way to reach your agent is the first step to a successful experience when buying or selling your home. Most agents prefer to communicate with their clients through text at 94%, while 92% choose phone calls and 90% choose emails. 

Establishing a form of communication at the first meeting is crucial. Once you know the best way to stay in contact, staying up-to-date with one another and planning meetings will be easy. Make sure that you are comfortable with their preferred level of communication before moving forward. 

12. Can You Make Recommendations to Increase the Selling Price? 

Most experienced realtors will be able to make recommendations to increase the selling price of your home if want to try to make the most money out of your sale. Many home improvements can increase value, whether it be updating your kitchen or increasing curb appeal. 

13. Do You Specialize in This Neighborhood? 

Having a local real estate expert can make a big difference for home sellers. If a real estate agent has experience in your area or if they have even sold a home in your neighborhood before, there is a good chance that they are the most qualified. 

14. What Property Types Do You Specialize in? 

Knowing what property types a real estate professional specializes in can tell you whether or not you will be a good fit before choosing to work together. Real estate agents can have many specializations, so picking one familiar with your property type can make all the difference.

You probably do not want a commercial real estate agent selling your single-family home. Knowing whether or not an agent works with first-time homeowners or luxury property owners can make all of the difference when it comes time to buy or sell. 

15. What Sets You Apart From Other Agents? 

Why should you choose this one agent over others? There are over three million active real estate licenses in the United States, so choosing an agent that is right for you in such a competitive market can be hard. Most of the time, many homebuyers and sellers choose a real estate agent based on word of mouth or referrals from friends and family. 

Interviewing agents before choosing to work with them is a great way to determine what sets them apart and what they can do for you. Knowing an agent's values, how they like to work, and how they communicate can go a long way in helping them stand out from their competitors. 

Methodology 

We used data and information from multiple sources, including Investopedia and the National Association of Realtors, and our own knowledge as a real estate company to determine the best questions to ask your real estate agent. 

FAQs 

Is it a good idea to interview realtors? 

Interviewing a realtor before hiring one is recommended to ensure a smooth buying and selling experience and that they fit your needs well. 

When should you start talking to a realtor? 

The best time to start talking to a realtor is about four to six months before your target closing date, but it is never too soon to start the process. 

How many realtors should you interview? 

When interviewing realtors, it is best to interview a minimum of three different agents as you look for the person who is the best fit for the job. 

Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent - Final Thoughts 

Whether you are buying or selling a home, asking a real estate agent questions before choosing to work with them is not only important but smart. You want to choose an agent who aligns with your goals and can get you the best results. 

If you are ready to get in touch with a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent, contact the experts at UpHomes. We are here to help and answer all of your questions.