Do People Actually Interview Realtors® Anymore Before Choosing One?

It's a fair question, and one we hear from buyers and sellers all the time. The honest answer: some do, and a lot don't. Many people pick the first agent they meet at an open house, take a friend's recommendation without a second thought, or go with whichever name answered on Zillow first. Sometimes that works out fine. But your home is likely the biggest financial decision you'll make, and the agent you choose shapes the entire transaction. A short interview is the best insurance you can buy, and it costs nothing.

The Seller's Agent and the Buyer's Agent Aren't Always the Same Type of Person

One reason a conversation matters is that the strongest agent for a seller is not always the strongest agent for a buyer. The skill sets overlap, but the priorities are genuinely different. For sellers, the things that matter most are pricing strategy, marketing and staging, negotiation, understanding buyer psychology, and honest feedback on what deserves attention before the home goes live. For buyers, the priorities look different: communication, patience, a sharp eye during walkthroughs, a realistic sense of renovation costs, no rushing, and an agent willing to say "this could get expensive later." An interview is how you find out which of those strengths you are actually hiring.

Questions Worth Asking

If you do decide to interview, here are the questions we think are worth asking. Notice that none of them are about who has the biggest ads. They are about how you will actually be treated, and what happens when things do not go perfectly.

If you're selling:

• Walk me through your last two listings. What was the initial price, how long did it take to get an offer, and what did you do in week one versus week three when it didn't move?
• What is your photo, video, and floor plan process? What do you pay for, and what do you do yourself?
• How do you handle price reductions? What triggers one, and how do you communicate it?
• What is your communication cadence? How often do you check in, and how do you report activity?
• Will I actually be working with you after I sign? Or will I be handed off to someone else on the team?

If you're buying:

• Are you full-time? Will you answer on a Friday night when the right home hits the market?
• How do you handle a fast-moving situation? What is your process when a home draws multiple offers?
• Will you point out problems in a home even if it means I walk away?
• Do you have experience with the kind of home I'm after, whether that's new construction, a 55+ community, VA financing, or a first home?

Personality Fit Is Real

Personality fit is real, and it matters more than most people expect. Some buyers want aggressive and fast-paced. Some want calm and educational. Some sellers want constant communication, some just want results. Neither is wrong. The interview is how you find the match, and you'll be in this working relationship for months, so it should feel right. If the first conversation feels rushed or forced, that feeling rarely improves after you sign.

A Few Red Flags Worth Noting

Interviews are also a chance to listen for warning signs. A few worth noting:

• An agent who quotes a high price just to win the listing.
• Phone-only photos, with no professional photography plan.
• Vague answers about marketing or communication.
• A team lead who disappears the moment you sign.

Our Take

We think interviewing is a good sign. We'd rather you ask the hard questions up front. We'll show you our process, our marketing plan, and our numbers, and let you decide if we're the right fit. If we're not, we'll tell you that too. A conversation costs nothing, and it is the best first step we know toward a calm, confident decision.