Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR®

When you are ready to buy a home, you will want to work with a real estate professional who is qualified, who has a good understanding of the market and the competition and who knows how to find a property that fits your needs. Before you choose the agent with whom you want to work, consider asking him or her the following questions:

  1. How long have you been in real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many professions, is perfected by doing.)
  2. What designations and certifications do you hold? (Designations, such as ABR, GRI, CRS, SIOR, and certifications like e-Pro, require that REALTORS® take additional, specialized real estate training and are held by about one-quarter of real estate agents. To read more about designations and certifications, click here.
  3. What is your real estate specialty? (homes, land or commercial transactions)
  4. How many residential home sales did you participate in last year?
  5. What is your responsibility to me as your client? Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? (While it is legal to represent both parties in transaction, it’s important to understand where the agent’s obligations lie. A REALTOR® will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.) Click here for information about buyer representation.
  6. How will you keep me informed of new listings that I may be interested in? How frequently? Using what media? (This is not a question with a correct answer, but one that reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail or a personal visit?)
  7. Once we have an accepted offer, how will you keep me informed of the progress of this transaction?
  8. What is your commission percentage?
  9. Can you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?

Buying property is a complicated proposition. You need a professional – someone to answer your questions and guide you through the process. Someone who adheres to a strict Code of Ethics. So, make sure you’re working with a REALTOR®.