Interviewing a Realtor: The five questions to ask when looking for a realtor

You’re ready to begin the real estate process and find your dream home. Do you need a realtor? Should you set up interviews or find a home you like and contact the real estate agent representing the home? 

Imagine you need brain surgery. Would your first step be going to a neighborhood clinic for the operation? Would you try to do it yourself? Or would you interview the best possible brain surgeons?

It seems like an odd comparison, but buying a home is one of, if not the biggest, financial investments you will make in your life. Why would you not consult an expert?

That said, not every realtor will be the right match for you. Even here at Fine Point Homes Real Estate, we acknowledge that we aren’t the best solution for everyone looking to buy or sell a home. 

As far as interviewing realtors or meeting one at a home you like, we highly recommend interviewing first. This way, the realtor is focused on selling themselves, not a house. You’ll have the opportunity to better understand them as people and how they work. Ideally, this should help you find a partner who will bring insights and comfort to your journey.

We love to share insider tips to make buying a new home as easy and enjoyable as possible. So much so that Leah actually cowrote a book filled with them! With that in mind, we prepared five questions you should ask every realtor you interview before signing on the dotted line.

1. Can you tell me about your process?

Setting expectations and understanding how the realtor works will make a significant difference in your experience with any realtor. It will also shine light on their strengths and weaknesses, helping you find someone who matches well with what you prioritize.

A great example of this is understanding who is on their team. You want to be sure the realtor you pick has great relationships with lenders, title companies, home inspectors, insurance brokers and other real estate agents. There is far more to the job than simply showing you homes and you want to be sure the person you work with has the relationships in place to craft a smooth experience for you.

2. What is your plan in a seller's market to make winning offers?

A prepared realtor should have a specific plan for every market. It’s imperative they know how to use the full range of negotiating tools at their disposal, as opposed to simply relying on price point. Offering a faster close, nontradtional closing terms, etc can help you reach an agreement without having to raise the offer value as high as other potential buyers. 

3. What is your plan in a buyer’s market to make winning offers?

This is, of course, simply a flip of question two. However, it’s important to ask both. Understanding how your realtor can work both sides of the market to either protect your wallet or beat out competition will help you find and get your dream home.

4. How do you find homes, including those that may be listed off market?

Back to our surgeon analogy, we want to be sure a realtor is providing additional value and expertise you don’t have. Ideally, they should have the relationships in place to find the right home options for you, even if they’re not listed on the MLS.  

5. What are your hours? When do you work? What is your plan if you’re on vacation?

Once you know a realtor’s process for finding your dream home and negotiating the best terms on your behalf, you need to understand how they work on a more practical level. Like any other profession, every realtor has a time of day they are off the clock. We, like you, take vacations. 

Understanding how quickly you can expect a response, when your realtor will be available to you and what their out of office or backup plan looks like will help you build trust, respect and a better overall experience with them. 

At Fine Point Homes Real Estate, we highly recommend asking yourself one question before beginning the process of interviewing realtors - what do you want? Think about what you’re looking for in a realtor, communication style, an ideal availability for your schedule, etc. As you interview, continue to refine this thought process. 

Discovering your desires and needs, along with what will create the best experience for you. Find a realtor that can reduce the stress of the home buying process as opposed to adding to it.

Fine Point Homes believes in cutting through the confusion around your perfect home - whether that’s buying new or upgrading your existing house. We simplify the process and stay in touch during every aspect so that you always know what comes next. 

If you’re interested in setting up an interview with our real estate team, contact us here.