Interview up to three agents with the same twelve questions and mark each answer as you go. The scorecard keeps your marks on this browser only, and you can print it.
Experience
How many buyers have you represented recently, and in which neighborhoods and price range?
Specific numbers and areas close to where you are looking.Can I speak with two recent buyers you worked with?
Offers names without hesitation.What do you know about these neighborhoods that a listing site would not show me?
Particular streets, common inspection issues, how fast homes have been selling.Pay and the agreement
How are you paid, and what exactly will the written agreement say?
A clear amount or rate in writing, not a range or “whatever the seller offers”.How long does the agreement last, and how can either of us end it?
A length you are comfortable with and clear exit terms.What happens if the seller offers to pay part of your fee?
Explains it cannot push your agent’s pay above the amount in your agreement.Loyalty
Whom will you represent, and what happens if I want to buy one of your own listings?
Explains the agency rules in your state and that you can say no to dual agency.Do you receive anything from the lenders, inspectors or title companies you recommend?
A straight answer, and more than one name for each.Is your license active, and which broker supervises you?
Gives the license number and the broker’s name so you can check them.How they work
Who will show me homes, and how quickly do you usually reply?
A realistic answer and a named backup when they are busy.Tell me about a deal that nearly fell apart. What did you do?
A specific story in which the buyer’s interests came first.What would you do if the inspection turns up problems or the appraisal comes in low?
Talks about contingency deadlines, asking for repairs or a credit, and renegotiating or walking away.Your marks stay in this browser only. The hints describe what a strong answer usually includes; they are not legal requirements, and rules differ by state. More in Questions to Ask a Buyer’s Agent Before You Sign.
How to use the scorecard
Interview at least two agents, ideally three, within a few days of each other so the answers are easy to compare. Ask every agent the same questions in the same order, and mark each answer straight away: a check for a clear, specific answer, a question mark if you are not sure, a cross if the answer was vague or worrying.
Some questions matter more than others. An unclear answer about pay, or about whom the agent will represent, is a bigger problem than a slow reply time. Use the totals as a guide, then read your marks on the agreement and loyalty questions again before you decide.
Before you sign, check the agent's license with your state's real estate regulator. Our guide to How to Check a Real Estate Agent's License and Disciplinary Record shows where to look, and Buyer Agreements and Agent Pay Explained covers what the written agreement must say.
The marks are stored only in this browser. They are not sent anywhere. Use the clear button when you are done, especially on a shared computer.