5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Buying or selling a home can be one of the most expensive and stressful decisions that you will make in your lifetime. The process can be riddled with jargon, unfamiliar terms, and tricky negotiations, which is why I work hard to simplify the process for my clients. 

However, a good Realtor will walk you through the process every step of the way whether you're buying a house or selling a home. 

For these reasons, it's important to find an agent who has knowledge about the market, is trustworthy, and shares your priorities for buying or selling a home.  Plus, a real estate broker that has experience working with buyers and sellers is always a positive. I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built over the years, which you can get a sense of in my testimonials.  

I've been in the business for 14 years as a listing agent and buyers agent, and I’m proud to share that I’m a Top 1% Realtor for Chicago.  It's allowed me to have so many rewarding experiences with clients.  I'm always happy to answer a potential client's questions as I think it's really smart to interview your Realtor.

If you're thinking about hiring a Realtor, here are five questions to ask so you can avoid major red flags.

1. What is your experience with the housing market in my area of interest (location)?

Realtors should have experience in your specific housing market. For instance, I have listings all over the city of Chicago.  This ensures that they are familiar with the local trends, communities, and prices so you don't waste time looking at houses out of your price range.  In my opinion, it’s about determining the lifestyle you want and letting that guide your budget.    

Specifically, the city of Chicago and Chicago suburbs are two very different animals.  Some agents handle both, but oftentimes, an agent works full time in the city or the burbs.  

When you ask this question, make sure to be clear about your housing market location, and if you're flexible on location.

For example: What is the average price range for homes in my area? Where are most of the community amenities like shopping centers and restaurants located? How are the walkability and transportation? 

Specific criteria are very helpful.  You can even ask a Realtor to take you on a tour of several homes in your area so that you can share feedback about specific properties.  Seeing properties makes it much more real.  My team and I are always happy to take potential buyers out on home tours.  

This is helpful information for all home buyers, but it's especially useful if you're new to an area or moving from another state.

Oftentimes, it can help shorten the amount of time it takes to find your future home because you'll be very clear on what you want.

2. How long have you been working as a Realtor in this area? What are some of your previous successes or failures that I should know about before hiring you to represent me in buying/selling my home or investment property(s)?

You want to make sure that your realtor has experience in the specific market you are looking to buy or sell. If they do not, it could be a recipe for disaster.

There is no better person than someone who's been there before and knows what works best when buying/selling properties in this area of town.

Be cautious with a Realtor that's new to the area unless they have a seasoned Realtor working with them. It will cost you more time, money, and effort in your real estate transaction.  

3. Can you provide any referrals?

Specifically, ask about other clients who can attest to their abilities and professionalism in negotiating contracts for their properties.  For example, a testimonials page or references sheet can be helpful. 

When you're starting the process of searching for an agent, it's important to ask them about their experience in your local area.

If you're looking to sell a house quickly and easily, they should be able to provide specific examples of how they've helped other people do so. Feel free to contact these references before hiring anyone else!

4) Do you have any specialties when it comes to certain aspects of the process - such as commercial buildings versus residential homes?

It is important to ask this question in order to help narrow down the search. Some Realtors work primarily with commercial properties, while others specialize in residential homes.

If you are looking for a certain type of property, it will be necessary to hire someone who specializes in that area.  My team and I specialize in residential real estate.  

5) Please give me three references so that I can contact them directly.

It is important to ask for references in order to get a better idea of how the real estate agent has performed. You can contact these people directly and ask them about their experience with this person, which will help you gauge whether or not they are good at what they do.

After asking three questions before hiring a realtor who has experience in a specific housing market.