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How to Interview a Real Estate Agent
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    Home Buying Hiring an Agent

    How to Interview a Real Estate Agent

    Questions to Ask an Agent Before Hiring

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    By Elizabeth Weintraub
    Updated June 18, 2017

    Smart consumers interview potential real estate agents before deciding which agent to hire. Just as you are sizing up the potential for a good fit, rest assured that the real estate agent will likely be interviewing you, too. Be wary of agents who don't ask you questions and probe for your motivation. You wouldn't work with just any agent off the street, and good agents are just as selective about their clients, too.

    Caution: Don't interview agents from the same company.

    Moreover, for the first meeting, either interview the agent over the phone or meet at the agent's office. Don't expect a top producer agent, for example, to necessarily meet at your home in order to give you free advice before you have made a selection.

    Not all real estate agents will welcome an opportunity to be interviewed and top agents likely don't want to fill out a survey, so try to limit your questions to only the most important for you and your needs. Below are 10 great questions to ask a prospective real estate agent. 

  • 01
    How Long Have You Been in the Business?

    Business executive discussing with her clients
    ••• ONOKY - Eric Audras/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

    The standard joke is there's nothing wrong with a new agent that a little experience won't fix, but that's not to say that freshly licensed agents aren't valuable. Much depends on whether they have access to competent mentors and the level of their training. Newer agents tend to have more time to concentrate on you. Some agents with 20 years of experience repeat their first year over and over. Other 20-year agents learn something new every year.

    There is no bar exam for real estate agents and no school to attend that teaches agents how to handle problems in a transaction. They learn on the job. The more sales an agent has completed, the more she knows.

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 02
    What Is Your Average List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio?

    raise the sales price
    ••• © Big Stock Photo

    Realize that the agent's average ratio depends on the market. Excluding sizzling seller's markets, a good buyer's agent should be able to negotiate a sales price that is lower than list price for buyers. A competent listing agent should hold a track record for negotiating sales prices that are very close to list prices. Therefore, listing agents should have higher ratios closer to 100%. Buyer's agent ratios should fall below 99%. Sometimes market value has no bearing on the asking price and, in that that event, ratios are meaningless. Don't put too much emphasis on ratios.

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 03
    What Is Your Best Marketing Plan or Strategy for My Needs?

    home selling sites
    ••• © Big Stock Photo

    As a buyer, you will need to know:

    • How will you search for my new home?
    • How many homes will I likely see before I find a home I want to buy?
    • Will I be competing against other buyers?
    • How do you handle multiple offers?
    • Do you present offers yourself?

    As a seller, you will need to know:

    • Specifically, how will you sell my home?
    • Is a direct mail campaign appropriate? Why or why not?
    • Where and how often do you advertise?
    • What kind of photography do you offer?
    • How do you market online?

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 04
    Will You Please Provide References?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• Caiaimage/Martin Barraud/OJO+/Getty Images

    Everybody has references. Even new agents have references from previous employers.

    • Ask to see references.
    • Ask if any of the individuals providing references are related to the agent.
    • Ask if you can call the references with additional questions.

    It is important to note that if an agent has tons of reviews online, you may not need references. Experienced agents can also feel insulted if you ask for references, but a new agent most likely will not.

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 05
    What Are the Top Three Things That Separate You From Your Competition?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• MiltonBrown/Cultura/Getty Images

    A good agent won't hesitate to answer this question and will be ready to fire off why she is best suited for the job. Everyone has their own standards, but most consumers say they are looking for agents who say they are:

    • Honest and trustworthy
    • Assertive
    • Excellent negotiators
    • Available by phone or e-mail
    • Good communicators
    • Friendly
    • Analytical
    • Able to maintain a good sense of humor under trying circumstances

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 06
    May I Review Documents Beforehand That I Will Be Asked to Sign?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• © Big Stock Photo

    A sign of a good real estate agent is a professional who makes forms available to you for preview before you are required to sign them. If at all possible, ask for these documents upfront.

    As a buyer, ask for copies of the following:

    • Buyer's Broker Agreement (is it exclusive or non-exclusive?)
    • Agency Disclosures
    • Purchase Agreement
    • Buyer Disclosures

    As a seller, ask to see:

    • Agency Disclosure
    • Listing Agreement
    • Seller Disclosures

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 07
    How Will You Help Me Find Other Professionals?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• Getty Images/Pamela Moore

    Let the real estate agent explain to you who she works with and why she chooses these professionals. Your agent should be able to supply you with a written list of referring vendors such as mortgage brokers, home inspectors and title companies. Ask for an explanation if you see the term "affiliated" because it could mean that the agent and her broker are receiving compensation from one or all of vendors, and you could be paying a premium for the service.

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 08
    How Much Do You Charge?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• © Big Stock photo

    Don't ask if the fee is negotiable. All real estate fees are negotiable. Typically, real estate agents charge a percentage, from 1% to 4% to represent one side of a transaction: a seller or a buyer. A listing agent may charge, for example, 3.5% for herself and another 3.5% for the buyer's agent, for a total of 7%. The adage you get what you pay for tends to hold true in real estate. Top agents may tend to charge more.

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 09
    What Kind of Guarantee Do You Offer?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• © Big Stock Photo

    If you sign a listing or buying agreement with the agent and later find that you are unhappy with the arrangement, will the agent let you cancel the agreement? Will the agent stand behind her service to you? What is her company's policy about canceled agreements? Has anybody ever canceled an agreement with her before?

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

  • 10
    What Haven't I Asked You That I Need to Know?

    interview real estate agent
    ••• © Big Stock Photo

    Pay close attention to how the real estate agent answers this question because there is often something else you may need to know. You want an agent to take her time with you -- to make sure you feel comfortable and secure with her knowledge and experience. She should know how to listen and how to counsel you, how to ask the right questions to find out what she needs to know to better serve you.

    See more: Answers to Agent Interview Questions

    At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, BRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.

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