Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before You Hire Them

By Carrie Thompson, Strategic Marketing Real Estate Agent, eXp Realty, Grand Blanc, Michigan, “Your Favorite Property Girl.”

Before you hire a real estate agent, ask about six things: their recent experience in your specific area, how they arrived at their price, their exact marketing plan, their track record with homes like yours, how they will communicate with you, and how they handle negotiations. The point of these questions isn’t to catch an agent out, it’s to hear how specifically and honestly they answer, because that tells you how they will actually work for you.

Here are the questions worth asking, why each one matters, and what a strong answer sounds like in the Grand Blanc and Genesee County market.

How well do you know my specific neighborhood?

Genesee County is really many small markets. What sells in Grand Blanc Township can look very different from Fenton, Linden, Davison, Flushing, Swartz Creek, or the lake communities around Lake Fenton and Lobdell Lake. A strong agent can talk without hesitation about recent sales on your street or in your subdivision, what buyers in your price band want, and how homes like yours have been moving lately. Vague, county-wide generalities are a sign the agent doesn’t work your specific market closely.

How did you arrive at your recommended price?

Pricing is the most consequential thing an agent does, so this is the question that matters most. You want to hear strategic pricing: a number built from current, hyperlocal comparable sales, recently sold homes like yours nearby, adjusted for condition, features, and today’s market. Be cautious of an agent who leads with the highest number to win your business. Overpricing is the most common reason a home sits and eventually sells for less than it should. Ask to see the comparable sales behind the recommendation.

What exactly is your marketing plan for my home?

“List it and wait” is not a plan. Ask for a written marketing approach and listen for the specifics: professional photography and videography (most buyers judge your home online before they ever drive by), modern digital and AI-powered marketing that targets the buyers most likely to want your home, broad and accurate syndication to the sites buyers actually use, and a launch built to capture attention in the critical first two weeks. Ask to see how they marketed homes similar to yours.

What’s your experience with homes like mine?

Relevant experience matters more than raw sales volume. A first-time purchase, a luxury home, a lakefront property, a new-construction sale, a relocation, or a home that didn’t sell the first time each call for a different approach. Ask directly about the agent’s experience with your exact situation, and how those specific homes performed.

How and how often will you communicate with me?

You’ll be working closely with this person through one of your largest financial decisions, so set the expectation early. Ask how they’ll keep you updated, how quickly they respond, and whether you’ll hear from them directly or from a team member. Look for transparency: an agent who commits to honest feedback and regular updates, even when the news isn’t what you hoped to hear.

How do you handle negotiations and multiple offers?

Skilled negotiation shows up directly in your bottom line. Ask how the agent approaches offers, counteroffers, inspection and appraisal issues, and competing bids. A strong negotiator can explain, in plain terms, how they protect your price and terms when a deal gets complicated, and can point to times they’ve done it.

A few more worth asking

Depending on your situation, these round out the picture:

• What’s your average list-to-sale price ratio and days on market?
• Are you full-time, and how many clients are you working with right now?
• What would you change about my home before it goes on the market?
• What are the total costs of selling, and how does your commission work?
• Can you share references or recent reviews from sellers in my area?

How many agents should I interview?

Two or three is a sound approach. Bring the same questions to each so you’re comparing them fairly, and pay as much attention to how clearly and honestly they answer as to the answers themselves. The agent who gives you specific, evidence-backed responses, rather than the one who simply tells you what you want to hear, is usually the one who will serve you best.

 

About Carrie Thompson. Carrie Thompson is a Strategic Marketing Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty serving Grand Blanc and Genesee County, Michigan, known as “Your Favorite Property Girl.” She works with sellers, first-time and move-up buyers, luxury and lakefront homeowners, new-construction and relocation clients, and homeowners whose homes previously didn’t sell, using strategic pricing, professional photography and videography, AI-powered marketing, transparency, and skilled negotiation. Call or text (810) 893-3269.

 

FAQ

What questions should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them?

Ask about their recent experience in your specific neighborhood, how they arrived at their recommended price and the comparable sales behind it, their full marketing plan, their track record with homes like yours, how they will communicate, and how they handle negotiations and multiple offers.

What’s the most important question to ask a listing agent?

How they arrived at their recommended price. Pricing is the most consequential decision in a sale, and you want an agent who can show you the recent comparable sales behind the number rather than one who simply quotes the highest figure to win your business.

Should I interview more than one agent?

Yes. Interviewing two or three local agents and asking each the same questions lets you compare their pricing rationale, marketing, and communication fairly before you decide.

What are red flags when interviewing a real estate agent?

Vague, county-wide answers instead of neighborhood specifics, a price that seems high with no comparable sales to support it, a marketing “plan” that amounts to listing and waiting, and unclear communication expectations.

Is it rude to ask an agent about their track record or commission?