Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before Hiring Them

Most people spend more time researching a refrigerator than they spend interviewing the agent who will handle the sale of their most valuable asset. The conversation before you sign a listing agreement is your best opportunity to evaluate whether an agent is actually the right fit. Here are the questions worth asking.

How many homes have you sold in this neighborhood in the past 12 months?

Local activity matters. An agent who has closed 10 transactions in Highlands Ranch in the past year has direct knowledge of what buyers are paying, what deals are falling apart, and what micro-location factors are driving value right now. An agent who covers all of Denver but rarely works your specific area does not have that context.

What is your suggested listing price and what comparable sales support it?

Ask for the specific comparable sales they are using and whether they can walk you through how they arrived at the number. An agent who gives you a price without showing their work is either guessing or inflating to win your listing. The data should be transparent and defensible.

What is your commission rate and what does it include?

Get a direct answer on what they charge and exactly what that covers. Professional photography, lockbox, MLS listing, showing coordination, negotiation, and transaction management should all be part of the service at any commission level. If an agent charges 3% and outsources photography or limits their marketing, that is worth knowing before you commit.

How will you market my home beyond the MLS?

Most buyers find homes online, and syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin is standard across all agents. Ask what else they do. Do they use professional video or 3D tours? Do they target buyers actively searching in your price range through digital advertising? Do they have a network of buyers actively looking in Highlands Ranch? The answer tells you whether their marketing is active or passive.

How do you communicate and how often?

Communication style matters over a 30 to 60 day transaction. Ask whether they prefer text, email, or calls. Ask how often they will give you updates during the listing period. Ask what happens when you have a question at 8pm on a Saturday. The answer tells you whether they treat clients as a priority or as a number.

Can you provide references from recent sellers?

Any agent worth hiring will have clients willing to vouch for them. Ask for two or three references from people who sold in the past six months, and actually call them. Ask whether the home sold at or above the suggested price, whether the agent communicated well, and whether they would hire that agent again.

What is your list-to-sale price ratio?

This number shows how close the agent's final sale prices are to their original asking prices. A ratio consistently at or above 99% indicates they price homes accurately and negotiate effectively. A low ratio indicates a pattern of overpricing followed by reductions, or weak negotiating at the table.

What is your average days on market?

Homes that sit reflect either overpricing or weak marketing. Compare the agent's average days on market to the current neighborhood average. If their listings consistently sit longer than the market average, that is a meaningful data point.

A Note on How LOGO Real Estate Answers These Questions

At LOGO Real Estate, I charge 1% to list and sell your home with full service. I have been licensed in Colorado since 2001, working exclusively in the Denver metro and Douglas County market. I am glad to answer every question on this list directly and show you the data behind each answer.

Kevin Hays | LOGO Real Estate | 303-683-0008 | www.logorealestate.com