How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Today's Market: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Buying or selling a home is a big deal. For most people, it's one of the largest financial decisions they'll ever make. And yet, many people spend more time researching a new television than they do choosing the person who will help them buy or sell their home.
Think about that for a second.
You might spend hours comparing prices, reading reviews, and watching YouTube videos before buying a $1,500 television. But when it comes to a home worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, you might hire an agent because a friend recommended them, you saw their sign in a neighbor's yard, or they promised they could sell your house for more than anyone else.
Those things aren't necessarily bad starting points. But they're not enough.
After more than 14 years in real estate, I've learned that the right agent can make a complicated process feel manageable. The wrong agent can make an already stressful experience even harder.
The good news? You don't need to know everything about real estate to choose a great agent. You just need to know what questions to ask, what answers to look for, and which warning signs shouldn't be ignored.
Whether you're buying your first home, selling the home you've raised your family in, or making your next move, here's how to find the right real estate agent for you.
1. Don't Just Look at How Long They've Been in Business
Experience matters. But years in the business don't automatically make someone the right person for your transaction.
An agent who's been licensed for 20 years might have tremendous knowledge and negotiation skills. Another agent who's been in business for five years might have developed an excellent process, understand today's technology, and be highly effective in your local market.
The important question isn't simply, "How long have you been a real estate agent?"
It's, "What have you learned, what have you accomplished, and how will that experience help me?"
Look for relevant experience
If you're selling a home in a neighborhood where properties have been sitting on the market, you want an agent who understands how to price and position your property competitively.
If you're buying in a competitive market, you want someone who can evaluate comparable sales, help you structure an offer, and explain the risks of different strategies.
And if you're selling a unique property, buying an investment property, or navigating an estate sale, relevant experience can be especially valuable.
Ask this question: "Can you tell me about a recent transaction similar to mine and explain how you helped your client navigate it?"
Pay attention to how they answer. Do they explain their thinking, the challenges they encountered, and the results? Or do they simply tell you how many homes they've sold?
Numbers can be impressive. What matters is whether the agent knows how to put that experience to work for you.
2. Make Sure They Understand Your Local Market
Real estate is local. Sometimes, it's even more local than people realize.
National headlines might say home prices are rising, falling, or holding steady. But that doesn't necessarily tell you what's happening in your neighborhood.
A home in one part of Waukesha County might attract multiple offers, while a similar property a few miles away could sit on the market for weeks. Differences in school districts, property condition, neighborhood amenities, inventory, and price range can all influence buyer demand.
A good agent understands those differences.
If you're selling, ask how they'll price your home
Your agent should be able to explain how recent comparable sales, competing listings, property condition, and current buyer demand influence your asking price.
Be cautious if an agent suggests a high price without showing you the data to support it.
I understand why a high suggested price is tempting. If one agent says your home is worth $425,000 and another says $450,000, it's natural to be curious about the higher number.
But here's the catch: An asking price is a strategy, not a guarantee of what your home will sell for.
Overpricing can reduce early interest, increase time on the market, and eventually lead to price reductions. Meanwhile, a well-supported pricing strategy can help attract serious buyers from the beginning.
If you're buying, ask how they'll evaluate a property
You want an agent who can help you understand whether the asking price makes sense based on comparable sales and current competition.
They should also help you think beyond the purchase price. Property taxes, maintenance, insurance, potential repairs, and future resale considerations can all affect the true cost of homeownership.
The goal isn't to predict the future perfectly. It's to make a decision based on the best information available.
3. If You're Selling, Ask for a Real Marketing Plan
Here's a question every homeowner should ask before hiring a listing agent:
"What are you actually going to do to sell my home?"
Putting a property in the multiple listing service (MLS) is important. It can distribute listing information to participating agents and real estate websites. But getting a property online is only one part of a successful marketing strategy.
You need to know how your agent plans to make your property stand out.
What a good marketing plan should include
Depending on the property and the market, a thoughtful plan may include:
Professional photography and, when appropriate, video or virtual tours.
A compelling property description that highlights the home's most attractive features.
Floor plans and useful property information that help buyers understand the layout.
Recommendations for cleaning, decluttering, staging, or making strategic improvements.
Online exposure through the MLS, real estate websites, social media, and other relevant channels.
A showing strategy that makes it practical for qualified buyers to visit.
Regular reviews of showing activity, buyer feedback, competing listings, and online engagement.
Your agent should be able to explain why these activities make sense for your home rather than simply handing you a generic marketing checklist.
For example, a vacant home might benefit from staging, while a well-maintained home that's already beautifully presented may need very little preparation. A unique property might require more targeted marketing than a typical home in a high-demand neighborhood.
The strategy should fit the property.
Ask what happens if the plan isn't working
This question is just as important as asking what the agent will do initially.
What happens if your home receives very few showings? What if buyers visit but nobody makes an offer? What if similar homes begin selling for less?
A good agent doesn't just launch a listing and hope for the best. They monitor what's happening, explain the results, and recommend adjustments when the evidence supports them.
No agent can guarantee a sale price or promise that a particular marketing campaign will produce a buyer. But they should be able to explain how they'll measure performance and respond when circumstances change.
4. If You're Buying, Look for More Than Someone Who Opens Doors
Technology has made it easier than ever to search for homes online. You can browse photos, compare asking prices, explore neighborhoods, and receive listing alerts from your phone.
So what value should a buyer's agent bring?
Quite a bit more than scheduling showings.
A strong buyer's agent helps you make sense of the information, evaluate your options, and avoid decisions that could become expensive mistakes.
Look for someone who will help you think strategically
Your agent should help you:
Clarify your priorities and identify which features are essential versus optional.
Understand your budget and coordinate with your lender about financing.
Evaluate asking prices using comparable sales and current competition.
Develop an offer strategy that considers both price and contract terms.
Understand inspection, financing, appraisal, and other contractual contingencies.
Recognize potential concerns that deserve further investigation by qualified professionals.
Navigate negotiations without losing sight of your financial goals.
Imagine finding a home you absolutely love. The kitchen is perfect, the backyard is beautiful, and you can already picture your family living there.
It's easy to become emotionally invested.
A good agent helps you enjoy that excitement while still asking the practical questions. Does the price make sense? Are there signs of potential maintenance issues? Are you comfortable with the proposed terms? What happens if the appraisal comes in below the purchase price?
The right agent doesn't make the decision for you. They help you understand the decision you're making.
Understand buyer representation before signing
Before agreeing to work with a buyer's agent, ask about the representation agreement.
Understand what services the agent will provide, how long the agreement lasts, whether it applies to specific properties or a broader search, and how either party can terminate it.
Also ask how compensation is determined, what amount is agreed upon, and who is contractually responsible for paying it. Seller-paid compensation may be available in some transactions, but you shouldn't assume that it will be offered or that it will automatically cover your entire agreed obligation.
Read the agreement carefully and ask questions before signing.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to the Reliance Real Estate Team today!
414-659-6965 / [email protected]
If you’d rather listen instead of read, check me out on Spotify:
🎧 Listen on Spotify or Listen on Apple Podcast
Perfect for your commute, workout, or coffee break!
#RealEstateTips #PodcastLife #HomeSellingAdvice #HomeBuyingTips #RealtorLife #WisconsinRealEstate #MilwaukeeRealEstate #WaukeshaCounty
Check out this article next
