BLOGBlog posted On June 26, 2025
When buying a home, choosing a real estate agent is paramount to a smooth, stress-free loan process. The right agent isn’t just someone setting you up for open houses and sending you listings — they’re your navigator through the often-tumultuous ocean of real estate. They should help set expectations for the process, acting as an advisor as well as an advocate who will go to bat for you if, for example, you’re contending with a particularly obstinate seller. It’s highly recommended you interview at least three potential agents before you make your final decision. Here are a few questions to help you narrow down your decision!
10 Questions
It’s important to establish how long your future agent has been working. Knowing the ins and outs of the business is tied with their years of experience. However, don’t let that dissuade you from working with a newer agent either! There’s benefits to working with someone who’s new and eager to hop on a call versus an older agent; someone with a larger client base and a busier schedule may not have as much time to answer your questions or respond as quickly to your calls.
You’ll want to be on the same page with your communication styles and set expectations with scheduling. You’ll want to know their typical response time, their availability on evenings and weekends, and whether they have an assistant you can reach out to if you can’t reach them.
Another important question, especially if there are specific areas you’re looking at and would prefer to move into. For instance, if you’re looking to move into the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, you wouldn’t want to work with an agent who primarily works within the city itself and only has experience with the downtown real estate market. Or if you’re wanting to take advantage of a USDA Loan or Land Loan and looking to move into a rural area, you want an agent who has geographical expertise.
You’ll want to find out if your future agent has a client specialty, either with buyers or sellers. You’d ideally like your agent to at least work with 60-70% buyers — it’s okay if they have a smaller pool of seller clients. It’s crucial because a buyer’s agent has a different knowledge base than a listing agent. You want someone who knows the buyer side of the business, inside and out.
You’ll want to know whether they’ve actually gotten their buyers to the mortgage finish line. Essentially, can your future agent walk the walk or do they just talk the talk without any substantial deals and closing properties to show for it?
If you’re planning on using a government loan like FHA, VA, or USDA Loans, you’ll want to work with an agent who understands those specific property requirements. Many agents will provide a comprehensive questionnaire to help them find out a client’s home buying criteria, so this survey can help them pinpoint your specific needs, especially with home financing.
When making competitive offers, buyers often have to factor in flexible closing dates, larger deposits, escalation clauses, and appraisal gap coverages. Will your agent be able to explain all of your options and help you craft a reasonable offer? You’ll want to know how they can help you stand out without overpaying, determine whether a home’s asking price is fair, and provide examples of helping buyers win competitive offers.
You’ll want to ask an agent about how they advocate for buyers if repairs are needed. You’ll want them to go to bat for you as a pinch hitter, ready to help you fight for your future dream home. Additionally, can they help you interpret inspection reports? And can they provide anecdotes from prior transactions where they successfully aided a buyer with inspection issues?
Relating back to communications and scheduling, you’ll want to know how busy your future agent is. You want quality service, and you also don’t want to be fighting tooth and nail for your agent’s attention. Of course, it’s a tricky balance. You want someone who’s in high demand, but you don’t want an agent who’s too busy either.
Will the agent just wipe you from the memory bank as soon as the t’s are crossed and the i’s dotted? Or will they actually check in with you after your closing, ensuring that you’re all moved in and answering any post-closing questions you may have? You’ll want someone who genuinely cares, who doesn’t just see you as a number.
Your agent is not only your real estate professional — they’re your navigator, your advocate, and your champion when challenges arise. We hope you found this advice helpful on finding the right agent for you and your family. If you want to work with the rockstars of real estate and lending, we’re waiting, ready with our own reliable referrals as well as advice to prepare you for your homeownership odyssey.
Source: Realtor.com
