Raise this with your agent
- Compensation must be stated as a clear amount or rate, not a range.
- Ask whether conversations stay confidential.
- Ask how the agent handles homes their own brokerage is selling.
Interviewing a buyer’s agent can feel awkward, as if you are questioning their competence. You are not. You are about to sign an agreement and hand someone a central role in what is likely your biggest purchase. A good agent expects questions and answers them clearly. Use the list below and take notes so you can compare candidates afterward.
About their experience
How many buyers have you represented in the last year, and where?
You want recent work in the neighborhoods and price range you are considering. An agent who mostly lists luxury homes may not be the best guide for a first condo, and the reverse is true too.
Can I speak with two recent buyers you worked with?
References from buyers tell you how the agent behaves when it matters: during bidding wars, inspections and delays. Call them and ask what went well and what they wish had gone differently.
What do you know about this area that a website would not tell me?
Strong answers mention specific streets, flood or noise issues, how fast homes have been selling and what usually comes up in inspections.
About how they work
- How quickly can you set up showings, and who will show me homes, you or a colleague?
- How will we communicate, and how fast do you usually respond?
- How do you find homes that are not yet widely advertised?
- How do you help decide what to offer?
- Which lenders, inspectors and closing providers do you suggest, and am I free to choose my own?
The last question matters. You can usually choose providers for several services, and buyers who shop for their own often save money. An agent who insists on one provider for everything is worth questioning.
About pay and the agreement
Since August 17, 2024, agents who use a Multiple Listing Service must have a written agreement with you before touring homes. Ask to see it during the interview, not after.
- How are you paid? The agreement must state the amount or rate clearly, such as a flat fee, a percentage or an hourly rate. It cannot be open-ended or a range.
- What if the seller offers to pay you? You can ask the seller to cover your agent’s compensation as part of your offer, but the agent cannot receive more than the amount in your agreement.
- How long does the agreement last, and does it cover a specific area or type of home?
- How can we change or end it if it is not working?
- Which services are included? Showings, pricing advice, negotiation, inspection support, help through closing.
Tip: Broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law. It is fine to ask whether there is any flexibility in the terms.
About loyalty and conflicts
Whom will you represent?
Agents can represent buyers, sellers or sometimes both. State law can require them to disclose their role. Ask how your agent would handle it if you wanted a home they or their brokerage were selling.
Will our conversations stay confidential?
Your maximum price and your reasons for moving are negotiating information. You want to know that it stays with your side.
Do you receive anything from the providers you recommend?
A straightforward answer is a good sign. Either way, you remain free to shop.
About the tough moments
- Tell me about a deal that nearly fell apart. What did you do?
- How do you handle multiple-offer situations?
- What would you do if the appraisal came in below my price?
- When have you advised a buyer to walk away from a home?
Stories about difficult deals reveal more than any list of credentials. Listen for specifics and for an agent who put the buyer’s interests ahead of closing the sale.
What a good answer sounds like
| Topic | Encouraging | Worrying |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | Specific recent examples in your area | Vague talk about years in business |
| Pay | A clear figure in writing, open to discussion | We will sort that out later |
| Providers | Several options and your choice | You have to use my lender |
| Your budget | Asks about your monthly comfort, not just approval | Pushes you to the top of your preapproval |
After the interviews
Compare your notes the same day while they are fresh. Pick the agent whose answers were specific and whose terms were clear, then read the agreement line by line before you sign it. Our guide to Buyer Agreements and Agent Pay Explained explains what to look for, and How to Choose a Buyer’s Agent You Can Trust covers the rest of the decision.
Before you sign with anyone, look the agent up with your state’s real estate regulator. It takes a few minutes and confirms the license is active and shows any discipline; How to Check a Real Estate Agent’s License and Disciplinary Record walks through it.