What Questions Should I Ask My Real Estate Agent?

Choosing a real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you will make when selling your home.

Many sellers ask the obvious questions first: “How much is my house worth?”, “What is your commission?” and “How quickly can you sell it?”

Those questions matter, but they are not enough.

The better question is: what should I ask my real estate agent so I know I will receive the right advice, the right service and the right level of care?

Selling a home is not just about putting a property online and waiting for buyers. A good agent should help with pricing, preparation, marketing, buyer feedback, negotiation, documents, open homes and decision-making.

1. What is your actual plan to get me the best result?

One of the most important questions to ask is:

“What is your actual plan to get me the best result — not just list my property?”

Listing a home is easy. A real strategy takes more thought.

A good agent should be able to explain how they will position your property, attract the right buyers, create competition, handle feedback and negotiate strongly. They should not simply say, “We will put it on the websites and do open homes.”

You want to know there is a real plan behind the campaign.

2. Can you show me the evidence behind your appraisal?

Some sellers choose the agent who gives them the highest price estimate. This can be risky.

A high appraisal sounds exciting, but if it is not backed by evidence, it may only be said to win the listing.

Ask:

“Can you show me the recent sales and comparable properties that support your price opinion?”

A good agent should show recent sales and genuinely comparable homes. That means properties that are similar in location, land size, condition, layout, presentation and buyer appeal.

The question is not only, “What do you think my home is worth?” The better question is, “How did you arrive at that figure?”

3. What is your marketing plan?

Ask:

“What is your marketing plan to reach the right buyers, and how will you make my property stand out?”

Marketing is not just placing the home online. A strong campaign may include professional photos, video, buyer-focused wording, social media, database marketing, signboards, open homes, buyer follow-up and targeted property advertising.

A good agent should also explain what they will do if the campaign is not getting enough enquiry.

Edita’s approach is to provide competitive fees together with strong modern marketing, including AI-powered property promotion, better online exposure, targeted content, professional presentation and consistent buyer follow-up.

You can learn more about AI-powered property marketing with Raine & Horne Amplify.

4. How often will you communicate with me?

Ask:

“How often will you update me, and what will those updates include?”

Communication is one of the biggest differences between an average agent and a very good agent.

In our view, sellers should be updated at least three times per week during the campaign. You should know what is happening, how many calls and emails have come in, how many buyers have inspected the home, what feedback is being received and what the agent is doing behind the scenes.

Sellers should not be left wondering.

5. Will you give me honest buyer feedback?

Ask:

“Will you give me honest buyer feedback, even if it is not what I want to hear?”

A good agent should not hide difficult feedback just to keep the seller happy.

If buyers think the price feels high, the presentation needs work, the home feels dark, the layout is difficult or another property looks better value, the seller needs to know.

But feedback should also be constructive. A good agent should explain what buyers like, what is holding them back and what can be changed to improve the campaign.

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6. How do you negotiate?

Ask:

“Can you explain how you negotiate to get the best possible result, not just the first acceptable offer?”

Negotiation is where a skilled agent can make a major difference.

A good agent should explain how they handle buyer interest, low offers, multiple buyers, conditional offers and serious negotiations. They should understand buyer motivation and know when to push, when to pause and when to protect the seller’s position.

Negotiation is not just passing messages between buyer and seller. It is strategy.

7. What exactly is included in your commission?

Ask:

“What is included in your commission, and how will your service help me keep more money in my pocket?”

Commission should not be judged only by the percentage.

A cheaper agent is not always better if they do less marketing, provide poor communication or negotiate weakly. At the same time, sellers should not have to overpay to receive a strong campaign.

The best value is a combination of fair fees, strong marketing, good advice and skilled negotiation.

8. Do you really know this local area?

Ask:

“Do you actually know this local area from day-to-day experience, or is your office just based nearby?”

This is one of the most common things sellers miss.

An agent may have an office in the area, but that does not always mean they personally understand the suburb. There is a big difference between having a local office and truly knowing the area.

A genuinely local agent understands the streets, schools, buyer preferences, traffic, lifestyle, objections and local market behaviour. They can talk about the area naturally because they live and work with it every day. You can also browse Edita’s West Auckland suburb guides for more local selling advice.

9. Can you show me results from properties similar to mine?

Ask:

“Can you show me recent results that are genuinely comparable to my property and explain what you did to achieve them?”

Do not only look at the biggest sale prices.

Some agents sell beautiful, renovated homes in prime streets. Those results may look impressive, but they may not show how the agent performs when a property has challenges.

It is not always apples to apples.

A better question is whether the agent has handled homes similar to yours. Have they sold properties with dated interiors, difficult layouts, busy roads, access issues, title concerns, tenant situations or other challenges?

Sometimes the best agent is not the one with the biggest sale price on paper. Sometimes the best agent is the one who can take a more difficult property, position it honestly, manage buyer concerns and still achieve the strongest result possible.

10. How many listings are you personally managing?

Ask:

“How many listings are you personally managing right now, and how much time will you personally give to my property?”

A very busy agent may look successful, but sellers need to be careful.

Having many listings is not always a bad thing, but it can become a problem if your property does not receive enough attention.

Your property should not become just another listing.

11. Who will actually handle my open homes and buyer calls?

Ask:

“Who will personally handle my open homes, buyer enquiries, private viewings and follow-up?”

This is crucial.

Some sellers sign with a well-known agent, but later discover that much of the campaign is being handled by junior staff, assistants or people with less experience.

That can be risky because small moments during a campaign can make a big difference. How a buyer question is answered, how quickly a call is returned, how buyer feedback is interpreted and how serious buyers are followed up can all affect the final result.

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12. How will you use open homes properly?

Ask:

“How will you use open homes to understand buyers, create interest and improve the campaign?”

Open homes are not just about opening the door.

A good open home gives the agent direct contact with buyers. This is where the agent can read body language, listen to objections, understand what buyers like and identify who is serious.

The seller needs more than, “We had ten groups through.”

They need to know who the buyers were, what price range they were thinking, what other homes they are comparing, what questions they asked and whether they are likely to return for a second viewing.

13. Why are you recommending this method of sale?

Ask:

“Why are you recommending this method of sale for my property, and how does it protect my best interests?”

Not every property should be sold the same way.

Auction, deadline sale, negotiation and asking price can all work, but only when they suit the property, the market and the seller’s situation.

Some agents may lead sellers straight to auction because it is a simple process for the agent. Auction can be excellent in the right situation, especially when there is strong competition. But it is not automatically the best method for every home.

A good agent should explain the pros and cons clearly. The seller should not feel pushed into the method that is easiest for the agent.

14. What should I do before going to market?

Ask:

“What should I do before we go to market to help the property attract more buyers?”

Presentation can make a big difference.

Sometimes small changes such as decluttering, cleaning, gardening, minor repairs, better furniture placement, fresh bedding, lighting or professional photos can completely change how buyers feel about a home. Read more about home presentation advice before selling.

But sellers also need honest advice. Not every improvement is worth the money.

A good agent should tell you what is worth doing, what is not worth doing and what local buyers are likely to notice.

15. What happens if the campaign starts slowly?

Ask:

“If the campaign starts slowly, how will you diagnose the problem before simply telling me to drop the price?”

A slow campaign does not always mean the price is wrong.

Sometimes the issue is presentation. Sometimes it is the photos. Sometimes buyers are confused by the wording. Sometimes the method of sale is not right. Sometimes the home is getting online views but not inspections, or inspections but no second viewings.

A good agent should treat the campaign like a dashboard. What are the numbers saying? How many people viewed the property online? How many saved it? How many called? How many came through? What did they say?

Reducing the price may sometimes be necessary, but it should not be the only tool in the agent’s toolbox.

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16. Will you advise me honestly without pressuring me?

Ask:

“Will you give me honest advice, or will you pressure me to make the decision that is easiest for you?”

Selling a home can be emotional and stressful.

The agent’s job is not to push the seller into a quick decision just so the property is sold. The agent’s job is to explain the options, the risks and the likely outcomes.

Pressure makes a seller feel rushed or cornered. Good advice makes a seller feel informed and in control.

17. What documents or issues should we check early?

Ask:

“What documents or possible issues should we check before the property goes live, so buyers do not get surprised later?”

Buyer confidence is very important.

A buyer may love the home, but if they later find something worrying in the LIM, title, council records, consents, renovations, easements or building information, they may reduce their offer or walk away.

The goal is not to hide problems. The goal is to understand them early, explain them clearly and reduce fear for buyers.

18. How will you help me compare offers?

Ask:

“When offers come in, how will you help me compare them properly — not just by the highest price?”

The highest offer is not always the best offer.

A higher price may look exciting, but if it comes with weak finance, a long conditional period, a low deposit, difficult settlement terms or uncertainty around the buyer’s ability to complete, it may carry more risk.

A slightly lower unconditional offer with a strong deposit and clean settlement may sometimes be better than a higher offer with too many conditions.

A good agent should help the seller compare price, conditions, deposit, settlement date, finance, inspections, LIM clauses and buyer motivation.

19. What do your reviews say about your service?

Ask:

“Can you show me reviews from past sellers, and what do those reviews say about your service after the listing was signed?”

Reviews are helpful, but do not only look at the star rating.

Read what people actually say.

Do the reviews mention communication, honesty, feedback, negotiation, care and support? Did the agent stay involved from start to finish? Did the seller feel looked after when it really mattered?

The best reviews are not just about the result. They are about the experience.

20. What are the red flags when choosing an agent?

Sellers should be careful if an agent:

• Gives a high price but cannot explain the evidence
• Pushes one method of sale without explaining why
• Talks more about themselves than the seller’s goals
• Gives a vague marketing plan
• Is too busy to explain who will actually do the work
• Avoids honest conversations
• Pressures the seller instead of advising them

The biggest red flag is when an agent makes everything sound easy but cannot explain the actual process.

A good agent should be able to show evidence, explain strategy, communicate clearly and help the seller feel informed and in control.

Final thoughts

The right real estate agent is not just the person who gives the highest price, charges the lowest fee or has the most listings.

The right agent is the one who listens, tells the truth, communicates properly, understands the local market, works hard behind the scenes and protects your best interests.

Selling your home is a major decision. For many people, it is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions they will make.

That is why you deserve an agent who is kind, honest, experienced and fully committed to working for you.

Edita Andrijasevic’s approach is built around genuine care, clear communication, strong marketing and skilled negotiation. Her goal is to help sellers feel supported, informed and confident from the first conversation through to the final result.

Before choosing any real estate agent, ask better questions.

The answers will tell you a lot.