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Guide· Independently researched

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

Learn how to choose a real estate agent with expert tips on interviewing, verifying credentials, and comparing experience for buyers and sellers.

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

Start with the problem you need the agent to solve

Buyers and sellers both need assistance, but not always the same assistance. A seller needs someone who can price, market, manage showings, negotiate repairs and keep the contract moving to closing. A buyer needs someone who can identify workable properties, structure an offer and explain deadlines.

That distinction matters because an agent who is productive in one role may not be equally experienced in the other. Ask whether the person primarily represents buyers, sellers or both, and how many closed transactions they completed in each category during the past 12 months. [12][14][15]

A full-time agent commonly closes 15 to 30 transactions annually, according to The Realtor Rankings. That is not a pass-fail threshold, since price ranges and local market conditions vary, but it gives you a number to discuss rather than relying on vague claims of experience. [12]

For a buyer, describe your financing position early. Say whether you are preapproved, your intended down payment, your target monthly payment, your preferred closing date and whether you may need seller credits. Those details determine whether an agent can help you write a realistic offer.

For a seller, state the non-negotiables before the interview: target move date, cash needed after closing, property condition, appetite for repairs and whether you need a sale contingency. An agent cannot build a credible listing strategy without those constraints.

I am not a licensed real estate agent, lender or financial adviser. This is a practical framework for comparing service and contract terms, not a recommendation to buy, sell or refinance.

Verify the basic credentials before discussing strategy

Start by confirming that the agent holds an active license in the state where the property is located. Licensing rules vary by state, so use the applicable state regulator’s license lookup rather than assuming a brokerage website profile is current. [3]

Ask whether the agent is a National Association of Realtors member if that matters to you, but do not confuse membership or a title with proof of skill. Verify the license first, then examine recent transaction experience, client references and the proposed plan.

Designations can be useful signals when they match your needs. The Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation is oriented toward buyer representation, while Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate, REALTOR Institute designations indicate additional residential real estate education. [4][5]

They are not a substitute for asking detailed questions about your transaction. The research brief found no evidence that general licensing or these designations alone establish specialized expertise in escrow administration, mortgage underwriting, inspections or closing-cost calculations.

If you are buying a rural, older or non-standard property, ask for examples involving homes that did not fit a straightforward conventional-loan profile. Rural home prices have risen 60% to 70% since 2019, while affordability has worsened, and some properties may not qualify for conventional financing. [19]

Build a shortlist from evidence, not just a referral

Personal referrals can be useful, but they should start the screening process, not end it. Choosing a family friend or colleague without comparing qualifications is a documented selection mistake, particularly when a more experienced local agent is available. [18]

Online research now plays a central role in agent selection. Florida Realtors reported that 36% of sellers and 33% of buyers found agents online in 2025, while LocalREBrand reported that 88% of clients value online reviews as much as personal recommendations. [23][24]

Read recent reviews for operational details rather than star ratings alone. Look for recurring comments about missed calls, unexplained contract terms, surprise fees, unsupported pricing promises or trouble getting repair negotiations resolved. Those are more relevant than broad praise.

Check the agent’s active and recently closed listings where available. A seller should look for evidence that the agent works in the property’s price range and neighborhood. A buyer should look for successful purchases in the communities and property types they are targeting.

Social media can provide a window into local knowledge, but it is not proof of transaction competence. Research cited by Artic Agency says socially active agents generate 2.7 times more leads, and 84% of buyers check an agent’s online presence before reaching out. [25]

That can show whether an agent regularly explains neighborhood inventory, local amenities and listing conditions. It cannot tell you whether they can read an inspection response, coordinate title work or negotiate a financing contingency under a deadline.

Interview agents before you compare fees

Schedule comparable interviews with at least three agents. This is not busywork. It allows you to compare each person’s answer to the same questions about local inventory, pricing, communication, contracts and likely obstacles. [12][14][15][18]

Ask each candidate: “How many homes did you close in the last 12 months, and how many were like mine?” Then ask for the average sale price, areas served and examples of recent transactions that required difficult negotiation. [12]

For sellers, ask for a proposed list price, the comparable sales supporting it, anticipated days on market and a reduction strategy if the property does not attract credible offers. Do not accept a price recommendation without seeing the reasoning behind it.

Overpricing is not harmless optimism. Own Luxury Homes estimates that stale listings and subsequent price cuts can cost sellers $25,000 to $40,000 on a $500,000 home. The exact loss depends on the market, condition and original pricing decision. [20]

For buyers, ask how the agent evaluates list price against comparable sales, what they do when an appraisal comes in low and how they handle inspection findings. A good answer should distinguish between negotiation possibilities and guarantees that no agent can make.

An appraisal gap has a direct cash consequence. If a buyer agrees to pay $500,000, the appraisal is $475,000 and the lender bases an 80% loan on the appraisal, the loan would be $380,000, not $400,000. The buyer would need $120,000 in cash before other costs, assuming no price change or other concession.

That example is illustrative, not a prediction of your financing. Your lender’s loan-to-value calculation, mortgage type, appraisal rules, reserve requirements and contract language control the actual number. Ask your agent how they would coordinate with your lender when that happens.

Agree on communication before the offer or listing goes live

Responsiveness is not a soft preference when contract deadlines are involved. Qualitative reporting from Redfin indicates that prompt communication helps negotiations, offer acceptance and closing processes move more smoothly, although no direct quantitative evidence establishes the exact number of days saved.

Ask for a communication agreement in plain terms. Who answers urgent questions after business hours? How quickly should you expect a reply? Will you communicate by call, text or email? Who covers when the agent is unavailable?

Also ask who performs the work. A high-volume agent may have a showing assistant, transaction coordinator, marketing staff or team member managing parts of the process. That can be efficient if responsibilities are clear, but you should know who has authority to advise you.

Technology can support follow-through, but it is not the service itself. Real Estate News reported that two-thirds of agents using artificial intelligence for content creation save about one hour weekly, while one-third save four or more hours. [26]

Ask how the agent tracks deadlines, documents offers and keeps clients updated. Transaction-management platforms, customer relationship systems and scheduling tools may reduce administrative mistakes, but the practical question is whether you will receive timely, understandable updates. [27]

Negotiate the fee structure with the service scope attached

The 2024 National Association of Realtors settlement changed an important part of the process: MLS platforms can no longer display offers of buyer-agent compensation. Compensation discussions now need to happen directly among the parties involved. [1][6][22]

That does not mean commissions disappeared or that every transaction costs less. Axios and subsequent reporting found that traditional arrangements persisted in many cases, partly because many consumers remained unaware that compensation can be negotiated. [1][9]

The reported average total commission rate in 2026 is 5.70%, with a typical range of 4.5% to 6%. On a $500,000 sale, those percentages equal $22,500 to $30,000, before considering any negotiated allocation between agents. [8]

Do not assume a traditional even split applies to your deal. If a hypothetical $28,500 total commission were divided equally, each side would receive $14,250. After the settlement changes, however, buyer-agent compensation is a separate point for negotiation, not an MLS default.

Ask each listing agent for a written fee proposal showing the listing-side fee, any proposed buyer-agent concession, marketing costs, administrative fees and circumstances in which you could owe compensation. Ask what services change if the fee changes. [6][10]

Buyers should ask for the buyer-representation agreement before committing. Identify the agent’s compensation, term length, geographic scope, cancellation terms and what happens if the seller offers less compensation than the agreement contemplates. These are contract questions worth reading line by line.

Nolo recommends negotiating by interviewing multiple agents, defining expected services and considering structures such as flat fees or tiered fees. [10] A lower fee can be useful, but only if it does not remove services you need during pricing, inspection, appraisal or closing.

Select the agent for your market and timeline

In urban markets, local pricing knowledge may be especially valuable because new urban homes are reported to cost about 78% more than existing homes. That premium can affect whether a buyer compares new construction, resale homes and financing incentives. [28]

For an urban buyer, ask the agent to explain how they compare a builder’s advertised incentives with the resale alternative. A lender credit or rate incentive may reduce an upfront cost, but it does not automatically make the total purchase price or monthly payment lower.

For sellers, timeline planning is part of the selection decision. National Home Buyers USA estimates a typical 2026 sale takes 60 to 90 days from listing to closing, including one to four weeks of preparation, about 49 days active and four to six weeks under contract. [11]

If you need to close on a fixed date, ask the agent to map the work backward: repairs, photography, listing launch, offer review, inspection period, appraisal, loan approval and closing. No agent can guarantee those events, but they should identify the dependencies.

A pre-listing inspection is one decision to discuss with a seller candidate. Own Luxury Homes estimates that skipping it can result in $8,000 to $15,000 of buyer-requested credits or repairs later. [20] That does not mean every seller should inspect first, because condition and market leverage vary.

The useful question is: “What would an inspection likely change in my pricing, disclosures and repair strategy?” Choose the agent who explains the tradeoff with local examples and numbers, rather than one who promises the highest price or the fastest deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I ask when interviewing a real estate agent?

Ask whether the agent primarily represents buyers, sellers, or both, and how many closed transactions they completed in each category in the past 12 months. Request a written explanation of their pricing, inspection, and negotiation plan. Also, discuss your specific needs, such as financing details if you are a buyer or move dates and repair appetite if you are a seller.

How do I verify a real estate agent's credentials?

Start by confirming that the agent holds an active license in the state where the property is located using the state regulator’s license lookup. You can also ask if the agent is a National Association of Realtors member and check for relevant designations like Accredited Buyer’s Representative or Certified Residential Specialist, but licensing and recent transaction experience are more important.

How many agents should I interview before choosing one?

You should interview at least three agents before signing any agreement. About 75% of consumers choose the first agent they contact, which can prevent exploring better pricing, communication styles, and fee options.

What experience should a good real estate agent have?

A full-time agent commonly closes 15 to 30 transactions annually, but relevant local transaction experience and responsiveness are more critical. The agent should have experience with the type of transaction you need, such as rural or urban properties, and be able to provide examples of handling similar cases.

How can I assess a real estate agent's negotiation skills?

Ask the agent to explain their negotiation plan and provide examples of how they have successfully negotiated pricing, repairs, or contract terms in recent transactions. Their ability to communicate a clear strategy and responsiveness during the interview can also indicate negotiation effectiveness.

How we researched this

This article was assembled from 28 cited references.

Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.

Sources

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