Buying and/or selling your home is a big deal; one that requires a lot of thought and research. While it may be tempting to go with the first recommendation you receive, it is recommended you “shop around” for a REALTOR®. Whether you are buying or selling, the REALTOR® you choose plays a significant impact on your real estate journey. How do you go about finding the right real estate agent? First, ask family members and friends for their recommendations. These recommendations are a great place to start because they help you narrow down the list of REALTORS® available in your area. After compiling a list, take it a step further and interview the potential choices. What questions should you ask in the interview? Below are interview questions for both a listing and buying agent; happy interviewing!

Interview Questions to Ask a Listing Agent:

1. What is your experience, education, and qualifications?
2. What’s the price range of most of the homes you have sold?
3. How many homes did you sell last year? The year before?
4. In which neighborhoods do you primarily work? How many homes have you sold in my neighborhood?
5. On average, how close to the asking price is the final sale price of homes you have sold? (aka, the list-to-sales-price ratio)
6. How will you market my home? What marketing tools will you utilize?
7. Do you work on your own or as part of a team?
8. How many clients are you currently representing?
9. What support staff and resources do you use?
10. How will you keep me informed on progress?
11. Can I see your references?

Interview Questions to Ask a Buying Agent:

1. What is your experience, education, and qualifications? Are you a full-time agent?
2. Do you typically work in my price range?
3. How many homes did you sell last year? The year before?
4. In which neighborhoods do you primarily work? How many homes have you sold in my neighborhood?
5. Can you help me with the loan process? Do you have a list of lenders, home inspectors, insurance agents, and other professionals to recommend?
6. How often will you supply me with properties that meet my criteria? How will you get them to me? Will you point out all the negative aspects of each property as well as all the positive aspects?
7. Do you work on your own or as part of a team? What support staff and resources do you use?
8. How many clients are you currently representing?
9. Please tell me how you represent buyers to help them get the best price and terms.
10. How will you communicate with me? How often?
11. Can I see your references?

Choosing the right REALTOR® can mean a world of difference on your real estate journey. Bottom line: Before hiring a real estate agent, ensure you conduct an interview and feel comfortable with the answers the real estate agent gives you.

Do you need a REALTOR® in the DFW area? Give us a call; we would be honored to set up an interview to answer any and all questions you may have.