7 Best Questions to Ask a Realtor in 2026

Before you hire a realtor, you should ask them questions to determine their experience, legitimacy, trustworthiness, and suitability for your needs as a buyer or seller.

We asked real estate agents and industry experts for the most important questions you should ask your potential realtor before you commit to working with them. The answers to these questions should help you make an informed decision.

If you're looking for agents to interview, we can match you with top-rated realtors in your area who have experience relevant to your sale or purchase. Just answer a few quick questions, and we'll email you profiles of agents who might be the right fit for you. This service is free, and there's no obligation to move forward with an agent.

Questions to ask a realtor whether you're buying or selling

1. How many homes have you helped clients buy or sell in the past 12 months?

Generally, you want to work with a realtor who has closed at least 10 transactions within the last year.

This typically signals that they're successful, working full-time, and in touch with what’s actually going on in your local real estate market. You want an agent who knows what they're doing, has time to dedicate to you, and can help you strategize based on local market conditions.

However, take location into account when evaluating transaction volume. For example, a successful agent in a major city is likely to close more transactions than an agent in a rural community.

2. Can I speak to some of your previous clients?

Speaking to a realtor’s previous clients is a great way to verify the agent’s legitimacy. It can give you insight into the agent’s communication style, strengths, and weaknesses.

Ask the agent’s previous customers questions like:

• Did the agent put in a strong effort when you were trying to buy/sell?
• Did they respond to your calls, texts, and emails in a timely manner? 
• How long did it take the agent to sell your house or find you the right property?
• Was the agent a strong negotiator? Did they get you a good deal?
• How did the agent handle any unforeseen challenges during the process?

You might be tempted to skip reference calls to save time, but it only takes a few minutes, and they’ll tell you if there’s any reason not to work with the realtor.

Watch out for agents who refuse to refer you to previous clients. This could be a sign they don’t have any experience or they don’t have any strong references they’re comfortable sharing.

3. What's your availability like?

Successful realtors are busy, but your agent should still have time to answer your questions, effectively market your property or show you houses, review paperwork, and communicate with other parties in the transaction.

Someone who seems overwhelmed or rushed when they talk to you might not be the best fit. If that's the case, you may want to choose an agent with a lighter workload.

If you’re a buyer, look for an agent who can accommodate your schedule to show you houses when you're available. For instance, if you can only tour homes on the weekend, but the agent isn’t available then, they may not be the best fit.

If the agent replies, "I’m available whenever you need me," follow up with a specific request, like "Can we tour a house with you on Thursday evening?" Specific scheduling questions will tell you if a buyer’s agent is available or willing to adjust their schedule when you need them.

4. How will you communicate with me?

A competent real estate agent should communicate proactively through daily updates and prompt responses to your questions. They should also accommodate your preferred method of communication, whether that’s phone, text, or email.

Agents may claim they’re excellent communicators, but you should test their responsiveness to make sure.

After your first meeting with the agent, send them a follow-up question via email or text. See how quickly they respond and whether they address the question personally or delegate it to a team member.

Frequent communication is crucial when buying or selling a property. You want your agent to notify you as soon as there's news so you don't miss out on opportunities to find the right buyer or home.

5. What's your cancellation policy?

You might need to part ways with your real estate agent if they act unethically or if their performance doesn’t meet your expectations. It's best to understand the cancellation policy and know your options before signing a contract.

Most agents want to protect their reputation and may allow you to terminate the contract without issue. But some of them might charge a cancellation fee to compensate them for their time or upfront costs. Any fees should be noted in the contract.

6. What's your commission rate?

Ask the agent about their commission rate to ensure you're getting a fair deal.

The nationwide average commission rate is 2.88% for listing agents and 2.82% for buyer's agents.

However, realtor fees aren't fixed. They vary by location, the home's value, local market conditions, and other factors.

Sellers may be able to pay less by negotiating a reduced rate or using a low-commission agent who already charges below-market rates.

Sellers also usually cover the buyer's agent fee, but it's still smart for the buyer to understand how the commission structure works. You might be able to negotiate to get some of the commission back as a home buyer rebate.

7. What sets you apart from other realtors?

Any real estate agent might claim to be the best local agent. But a top realtor should be able to give you a good reason to choose them, like:

• "I live in this neighborhood and know how to effectively market these homes to buyers." 
• "I was born and raised here, so I know the community very well."
• "I’ve sold more houses than anyone in this ZIP code."
• "I offer a lower commission rate than my competitors, with top-notch service."

It's a good idea to ask the agent to support any of these claims with tangible evidence. For example, an agent claiming to be a top producer should present you with their home sales data from the multiple listing service (MLS).

Sellers, in particular, should look for a real estate agent who can make a great case for hiring them — this shows that they’re a persuasive salesperson.

Questions to ask a realtor when selling

1. What's your marketing plan?

Work with a listing agent who has an active marketing approach. Your listing agent should present you with a detailed plan for selling your house. This might include:

• Running paid ads on social media
• Hosting an open house
• Reaching out to local agents
• Staging your home

Top listing agents are savvy marketers who can get as many eyeballs as possible on your home, which means they’ll do more than put up a sign in the yard and list the home on the multiple listing service (MLS). Great marketing can help you find buyers quickly and get the best possible sale price.

2. How much is my house worth?

A competitive listing price will attract buyers to your home and maximize your profits.

A real estate agent should look at recent sales data from comparable homes in your neighborhood to establish a competitive listing price. This is called a comparative market analysis (CMA).

Your realtor will consider variables like the age and condition of your home. For example, if you’ve renovated your home recently, it could be worth more than your neighbor’s that’s roughly the same size and age.

Ask the realtor to walk you through their pricing methodology instead of stating the price without explaining.

3. Have you sold other houses in this neighborhood?

An agent with experience in your area will know how to price your home competitively based on recent local sales and how to market your home in a way that appeals to local buyers.

Find out more about the agent’s previous sales in the neighborhood with follow-up questions, like "How much did the homes sell for compared to the original listing price?" Look for an agent who typically sells at or above the listing price. Also ask how recent the sales were to make sure they know current market trends.

4. How long will it take to sell my house?

A real estate agent should be able to estimate how long it will take to sell your house based on their pricing strategy and local market trends.

It takes just over a month on average to receive and accept an offer — plus another 30–45 days for the typical closing period. But homes in certain locations might sell faster than homes in other places.

You can’t expect a realtor to know exactly how long it will take to sell your house, but their estimate should be based on local sales data.

For example, a listing agent who knows what they’re doing might say something like, "Houses in this neighborhood are under contract within 25 days of listing, on average. Since your home is priced below the median home value in the neighborhood, I would expect that it will sell in less than 25 days."

Watch out for agents who promise to sell your house faster than anyone else, like within a week. They might just be telling you what you want to hear so you'll sign a contract. They may also try to underprice your property to speed up the sale, which could lead to a lower profit. Carefully evaluate the agent's strategy to see if it meets your goals.

5. What does your commission rate include?

Realtors earn commission — a percentage of the final sale price — when you close the deal. The commission often covers everything that goes into a home sale, such as: 

• Professional photography and video
• Marketing and advertising the property, including promoting the home online on various real estate websites
• Coordinating with buyer's agents and their clients to arrange and manage home showings
• Negotiating offers and handling contracts
• Administrative support, including filling out and managing important paperwork required to close

Make sure you understand what services they're committing to provide so you can ensure they meet your needs.

Questions to ask a realtor when buying

1. Do you have experience buying or selling in the area?

Buyer’s agents who have previous transactions in a neighborhood tend to know more about:

• How long the home buying process usually takes in that particular area, which can help you plan and manage your expectations
• Off-market and upcoming opportunities, which may give you an upper hand in finding the right home
• Common repair issues to prepare for potential expenses and evaluate the condition of properties you're considering
• What motivates local sellers the most (quick sales, lower closing costs, and so on) to help you write an offer that boosts your chances of offer acceptance
• If sellers are generally willing to negotiate on price, or offer credits to cover closing costs, which can help you make more competitive offers and save money

If you don’t know what neighborhood you’d like to live in, it’s best to work with a local agent who knows a few neighborhoods really well. They can tell you about the features of several locations and recommend a neighborhood that meets your criteria.

2. What can you do to make my offers more competitive?

Many buyers in competitive markets worry about being outbid on their dream home, but a top buyer’s agent knows how to make your offers stand out.

Rather than offering as much money as possible and hoping for the best, a buyer’s agent should be able to put together a compelling offer, even if it isn’t necessarily the highest one.

A realtor’s strategies for making your offers more appealing to sellers might include:

• Writing a personal letter to the seller expressing your interest in the property, creating an emotional connection, and helping you make your offer stand out
• Submitting your offer with a pre-approval letter and proof of down payment funds to show that you're a serious, qualified buyer
• Offering a larger earnest money deposit to demonstrate that you have a significant investment in the transaction
• Choosing a specific closing date that might be more convenient for the seller
• Shortening your due diligence or home inspection period to speed up the sale process
• Offering a limited home inspection contingency to cover major components only (roof, HVAC, structure, etc.) to signal that you won't haggle over minor repairs

3. Do you have a network of local professionals?

Buying a home involves a lot of people: loan officers, inspectors, appraisers, contractors, lawyers, escrow agents, and more.

Working with a buyer’s agent who has connections with these professionals can save you a lot of time and headaches. For instance, if you’re buying a home that needs an inspection before closing, your agent might be able to connect you with a local inspector they’ve worked with and trust.

Questions to ask a realtor FAQ

Related reading