Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Buyer's Agent

Most first-time buyers don't interview agents at all. They meet one from Zillow or an Open House and then sign. That's a risk when the agent you hired isn't the right fit and you're in the middle of the most significant financial transaction of your life.

Here are the questions that actually tell you what you need to know.

About Experience and Specialization

How many buyers or sellers did you work with in the last 12 months?

This tells you whether first-time buyers are a meaningful part of their business or an occasional one-off. An agent who has mostly listings may not be a great fit for a buyer.

What neighborhoods do you know best, and why?

You want specifics. Not 'Charlotte in general' or 'the metro area.' Which streets? Which buildings? Which pockets have appreciated well vs. which haven’t yet? An agent who knows their market well will answer this with specific detail and enthusiasm. .

Have you worked with buyers in my price range recently?

An agent who primarily works in the $600K-$800K range may be less connected to the inventory, programs, and seller dynamics in the $275K-$400k first-time buyer range. Market knowledge is price-range specific as well as location.

About Down Payment Assistance and Programs

What down payment assistance programs are available in this area and do you work with buyers who use them?

This question separates agents who actively help first-time buyers access assistance from those who aren't connected to these resources. A good first-time buyer specialist can name the NC Home Advantage Mortgage, House Charlotte, and lender-specific programs without hesitation. Vague answers here are a real signal.

About the Process

Can you walk me through what happens between an accepted offer and closing?

Ask them to explain it without being prompted. A confident, experienced agent walks through inspections, the appraisal, underwriting conditions, the Closing Disclosure, and closing day as a coherent sequence. An agent who stumbles or gives a surface-level answer needs more experience.

How do you handle a low appraisal or a problem inspection?

Problems come up. You want to know this person has navigated them before and has a clear approach. 'We'll deal with it when it happens' is not a good answer. Neither is 'don't worry, it usually works out.' Specific experience with specific scenarios is what you want.

About Communication

How do you prefer to communicate, what's your typical response time and what are your working hours?

This seems simple but it's not. In a fast-moving market, a 24-hour response time from an agent can cost you a home. Know when your agent turns their phone to DND since being available 24/7 isn’t realistic for any profession. However, hard stops on a specific day or times may be a yellow flag. Real estate doesn’t stop just because your agent wants to take every Sunday off. Know upfront what you're getting.

Will you be the one I'm working with throughout, or will I be handed off to someone on your team?

Some agents run large teams and hand buyers to junior agents after the initial meeting. Some agents use showing agents so you’ll never actually walk through a house with the agent you meet. Some hand you off after you’re under contract and you then start working with a whole new team member. That's not inherently bad but you deserve to know it going in. Make sure you know that you can call your agent and they will at least be your main point of contact the entire way.

About Compensation

How are you compensated and how does the August 2024 rule change affect our transaction?

Any good agent will answer this clearly and directly. You should understand what you're agreeing to in the Buyer Agency Agreement before you sign it. If an agent is evasive about this, that's a red flag.

About Their Approach to Your Situation

What do you think is the most important thing for me to know as a first-time buyer in this market?

This is an open question that reveals a lot. Are they focused on you and your situation? Do they give you something specific and useful? Or do they default to generic encouragement? The answer tells you about their listening skills and whether they're actually paying attention to what you've told them.

Questions to Ask Yourself After the Interview

• Did they listen more than they talked?

• Did I feel like I could call this person with a dumb question?

• Did they explain things or assume I already knew?

• Did they give me information I didn't already have?

• Do I trust them to tell me the truth if a home I love is a bad deal?

When I connect buyers with agents across the country as part of my matchmaker work, I have them ask most of these questions during the first call. The answers reveal everything. An agent who answers all of them confidently and specifically is the right call. An agent who deflects or gives generic responses is the wrong one, no matter how much you like them personally.

FAQ

What if I feel awkward asking these questions?

It’s ok to feel awkward but don’t let it stop you from asking. You're interviewing someone for a job that involves one of the most significant financial decisions of your life. A good agent welcomes these questions. An agent who seems put off by them or can’t answer is telling you something important.

How many agents should I interview?

At least two, ideally three. The comparison changes your perspective. You'll notice things in one interview that you wouldn't have noticed if it was the only one.

What if an agent I like doesn't specialize in first-time buyers?

Think carefully. There's a meaningful difference between someone who loves working with first-time buyers and someone who tolerates it. If your options are an agent who knows your target neighborhood but rarely works with first-time buyers, vs. a first-time buyer specialist who knows it less well, those are tradeoffs worth thinking through.

I'm Laura Shinkle, a Realtor in Charlotte, NC specializing in first-time homebuyers. I also help buyers across the country find the right local agent. If you want help figuring out who to work with in your market, reach out. 828.575.6067 or [email protected].