Choose a Realtor Before You Sign: Buyers and Sellers
Fanus GonethReal Estate Broker, Capitol Realty & Investments9 min read
Choose a Realtor Before You Sign: Buyers and Sellers
Pick an agent who can show block-level local sales, communicates clearly, and puts a transparent written agreement in front of you. Build a shortlist of three candidates from referrals, recent local sales, and agent listings, then interview each one. Before you sign anything, confirm the agent's license and references, and read the NAR consumer guide and the BBB's advice.
TL;DR:
- Shortlist at least three agents, then compare recent sales on nearby streets, focusing on your price range and property type rather than career length.
- Ask every candidate the same questions about recent deals, role, response schedule, fees, and cancellation, then verify claims with sales records and references.
- Since August 17, 2024, agents ask buyers to sign a written agreement before tours; its services and compensation terms are negotiable.
- Reject pricing far above nearby comparable sales unless the agent explains adjustments, and get fees, agreement length, services, and exit terms in writing.
Table of Contents
- What qualities should you look for in a realtor?
- How do you research and shortlist real estate agents?
- What should you ask in an agent interview?
- How do you compare agent proposals on marketing, pricing, and fees?
- What quick tips apply to buyers and to sellers?
- What should a written buyer agreement and consumer protections cover?
- What matters most when choosing an agent, from a local broker's view?
- How can we help you choose with confidence?
- FAQ
- Sources
What qualities should you look for in a realtor?
Great agents share a handful of traits, and each one is easy to test if you know what to look for. The BBB notes that professional realtors are ethically obligated to prioritize client interests, and that responsiveness, transparency about their business model, and references from past clients show whether an agent listens and solves problems.
- Responsiveness: Notice how fast they answer your first call or email, and agree on a channel (text, phone, email) and a typical reply window before you commit.
- Local market knowledge: A strong agent can talk about specific streets, recent comparable sales, and why one block prices differently from the next.
- Negotiation skill and recent volume: Ask how many deals similar to yours they closed lately. Experience in your price range and property type matters more than a long career in general.
- Specialization: Some agents mostly work with buyers, others mostly with sellers. Condos, new construction, and older single-family homes each have their own quirks.
- Professionalism: Confirm an active license and ask whether they are a REALTOR®, which means they are bound by a code of ethics. Not every licensed agent is a REALTOR®.
Pro Tip: Send a short, specific question by email before you ever meet, such as asking about recent sales on your street. The speed and quality of the reply tell you what working together will feel like.
How do you research and shortlist real estate agents?
Research saves you from wasting interview time on poor fits. Aim to end with at least three candidates and a few notes on each.
- Gather names. Ask friends, coworkers, and neighbors who recently bought or sold. Then browse agent websites, open houses, and "sold" signs in the areas you care about.
- Check listing history. Look at recent sold listings on public portals or MLS-backed sites. Note the price ranges, neighborhoods, and whether the agent represented the buyer or the seller.
- Review marketing samples. Look at photos, descriptions, and floor plans from their active listings. If their own listings look rushed, yours probably will too.
- Read reviews across several platforms. One glowing site proves little. Look for patterns in comments about communication, honesty, and handling of problems.
- Verify the license. Use your state real estate commission's license lookup to confirm the agent is active and see any disciplinary actions. Each state runs its own lookup tool, so search for yours by name.
- Build your list. Write down three or more candidates with their strengths, a couple of sold examples each, and any concerns.
A consumer-facing six-step checklist from Navy Federal follows a similar path of referrals, interviews, and track record checks, so you are not alone in using this approach.
What should you ask in an agent interview?
Treat the interview as a working session, not a sales pitch. Bring the same questions to every candidate so you can compare answers side by side.
- How many buyers or sellers like me have you represented recently, and in which neighborhoods?
- What was your role on those deals: lead agent, or part of a team?
- What is your average time on market, and how close do your sales usually land to list price?
- How will you market my home, or how will you find homes before they hit the major portals?
- Who will I actually talk to day to day, you or an assistant?
- How often will you update me, and by what channel?
- What exactly is your compensation, how long is the agreement, how do I cancel, and is the fee negotiable?
Ask for proof, not promises. Request a past comparative market analysis (with client details removed), samples of marketing work, and two or three reference contacts.
Pro Tip: Ask each agent to explain one recent deal that went wrong and how they handled it. Honest, specific answers beat polished ones.
Watch for red flags: pressure to sign on the spot, vague answers about fees, a refusal to share references, or a price opinion that is far above everyone else's with nothing to back it up.
How do you compare agent proposals on marketing, pricing, and fees?
Once you have two or three proposals, compare the concrete pieces rather than the confidence of the pitch. A credible comparative market analysis lists recently sold, nearby homes with similar size, age, and condition, and explains each adjustment. A price that sits well above those comparables with no explanation is a warning sign.
Check the marketing plan against a simple list:
- Professional photography and floor plans
- Online syndication to the major listing sites
- Open houses and broker tours
- Paid promotion, if any, and who pays for it
Compensation comes in several forms, such as a percentage, a flat fee, or a split between buyer-side and seller-side payments. Every format has negotiation room, so ask what is flexible. Whatever you choose, get it in writing: the scope of services, the length of the term, the explicit compensation, and how you can exit if things go badly. For sellers, our guide on selling a house in Seattle shows what a detailed marketing plan looks like in practice.
What quick tips apply to buyers and to sellers?
Buyers and sellers need different things from the same professional, so tailor your questions.
- Buyers: Confirm the agent will represent you, not just show homes. Ask how tours work, whether they push a particular lender, and what your written buyer agreement will say. Our buying guide walks through how buyer representation works.
- Sellers: Demand a clear marketing plan, a pricing rationale backed by comparables, and a timeline. Ask for examples of staging budgets that paid off. Our selling page outlines what we prepare before a listing goes live.
- Both: Keep exclusive agreements to a reasonable length, and make sure you can end the relationship if service falls short.
What should a written buyer agreement and consumer protections cover?
A written buyer agreement defines what your agent will do and how they get paid. The National Association of REALTORS® says that as of August 17, 2024, consumers will be asked to sign one before touring a home with an agent, and that the agreement should define services and compensation and is negotiable.
Federal law also protects you. Under RESPA, referrals must be based on your best interests, steering is prohibited, and affiliated business arrangements must be clearly disclosed. In practice, insist on explicit compensation language and ask whether the agent has any affiliate relationships with lenders, title companies, or inspectors.
What matters most when choosing an agent, from a local broker's view?
When I sit across from a client, the best predictor of a good outcome is whether the agent knows the block, not just the city. Ask every candidate to show you sold homes within a few streets of yours, and to explain what separated the winners from the also-rans. Print the checklist above, bring it to each meeting, and take notes. The agent who welcomes that scrutiny is usually the one worth hiring.
— Fanus
How can we help you choose with confidence?
We offer buying, selling, and home valuation services built on block-level comparables and personalized consultation, so you see how a local agent works before you decide anything.
Ready to talk through your plans? Request a local market valuation on our home valuation page, or start a conversation about buying or selling in the Seattle and North Sound area.
FAQ
How do you pick between two realtors?
Compare them on the same criteria: recent local sales, a written plan, clear compensation terms, and the quality of their references. If it is still close, choose the one who communicates more clearly and answers hard questions directly.
How can you tell if a realtor is good?
A good realtor responds quickly, explains pricing with local comparables, and shares references without hesitation. The BBB advises checking past client references to see whether the agent listens and solves problems.
What should a written buyer agreement include?
It should define the services the agent will provide, how and how much they will be paid, and how long the agreement lasts. NAR notes that these terms are negotiable, so ask questions before signing.
Is it better to hire a local agent or use an online platform?
For most people, a local agent offers neighborhood context that automated tools cannot. The FTC cautions against relying solely on automated platforms and points toward local professionals who provide personalized detail.
Sources
Claims are cheap, so confirm the essentials before you commit.
- BBB Tip: How to choose a real estate agent
- Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements
- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN