Posted by Matt Curtis on Friday, August 30th, 2024 3:23pm.
With recent changes in the NAR settlement now requiring buyer agreements before viewing homes, selecting the right buyer's agent has become more crucial than ever. Choosing an experienced agent can significantly impact your home-buying experience and financial outcome. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve outlined 16 important questions to ask when hiring a buyer’s agent. These questions are designed to ensure you choose an agent with the right expertise, availability, and local knowledge. Whether you’re researching potential agents or preparing for interviews, these insights will guide you in finding a professional who can effectively support your home-buying goals and secure your investment.
We've divided these questions into those you can research on your own and those you should ask the agent you're interviewing. The first three questions are ones you should research yourself and use to create a list of agents to interview.
Just like you wouldn’t want a surgeon performing their first surgery on you, you don’t want an inexperienced real estate agent. You need someone with enough experience to guide you through the process confidently and who is up-to-date on current market conditions. Homes sold is a key criterion. At Matt Curtis Real Estate, we’ve sold over 7,500 homes, which you can verify online.
The best places to check reviews are Google and Zillow. I prefer Google, but Zillow is also a great resource. Simply search for top real estate agents or companies in Alabama, Huntsville, or your desired location. On Zillow, use the Agent Finder tool to narrow down your options. Reviews are vital because we live in a review-driven world. Don’t just rely on the agent’s word or a friend’s recommendation—see what others have to say.
Look at all the reviews, especially the five-star ones, but also consider any negative reviews. How did the agent respond? Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s important to see how they handled them. At Matt Curtis Real Estate, we’re proud to be the number one reviewed real estate company in Alabama, with over 2,000 five-star reviews. Be sure to check out the reviews for the agents with the highest ratings. You can contact them directly or request them when you call our office.
Work with an agent experienced in the price range and area where you want to buy. A great agent in Huntsville might not be as effective in Decatur, and vice versa. Make sure they have experience in the specific area you’re interested in.
The next set of questions are those you'll ask when you’ve narrowed down your list of agents and are ready to start interviews.
If they're not a full-time agent, that would be a deal-breaker for me. From what I’ve seen, most part-time agents don’t sell many homes and lack experience. I've also called part-time agents before to arrange a deal or showing, only to hear, “I’m at work at my full-time job.” That’s not the level of service you want when buying or selling a home. You'll miss out on opportunities if that’s the response your agent gives other agents.
Things happen—people get sick, go on vacation, and life events occur. What will happen to you when that happens? Will you be left hanging, or does the agent have a backup plan? Do they work on a large team, like Matt Curtis Real Estate, where other agents can cover for them if they’re out of town or sick?
You want an agent who’s available to show homes, but too much availability can be a red flag. If they have a lot of free time, it may mean they’re not working with many clients.
You want a healthy balance. If an agent has no clients, they may lack experience and not be in demand. If they have many clients, that can be a good sign. As long as they have the support and backup, it shouldn’t be a red flag. It means they’re active in the market and can provide valuable insights.
The number of years isn’t always the most important factor. Five years in the business isn’t necessarily better than one year. An agent with five years of experience may have only sold five homes, while an agent with one year of experience may have sold 30 homes last year. So, ask how long they’ve been an agent and how many homes they’ve sold during that time.
You get what you pay for, so don’t just go with the cheapest option. Make sure you’re getting the best value for what you’re paying. Ask how their fees work and what services they provide for those fees.
An agent who’s great in Birmingham might not be much help in the Huntsville market, and vice versa. You want to work with an agent who specializes in the area you’re searching in.
If you’re looking at an older home that may need work, this can be important. You want an agent who’s well-connected in the community and the industry, with a list of reliable contractors. At Matt Curtis Real Estate, we have a list of contractors on speed dial to help serve our clients.
Real estate agents, like everyone else, are human and make mistakes. You want someone humble enough to admit, “Yes, I made a mistake, but here’s how I fixed it.” That’s the kind of agent you want—not someone who claims to be perfect, because no one is. The key is how they handle mistakes when they arise.
Some of this data is available on websites like Zillow. At Matt Curtis Real Estate, we track all the homes we've sold over the past year so our clients can see the depth of our team's expertise. This allows you to feel confident in our experience in a specific area. If it’s not an area we specialize in, we’ll let you know upfront.
During our buyer consultation, we provide a list of strategies to help you stand out in competitive offer situations. If you want to leverage these strategies with our team, we’re ready to assist.
How will you communicate with me during the process? More importantly, how do you prefer to be communicated with? Do you prefer texting, phone calls, or emails? How quickly do you expect a response? If they’re busy showing homes, they might not respond immediately, or you might only need a nightly check-in if you’re at work all day.
With the market constantly changing, how do they stay informed? Have they sold a home recently, or was their last transaction six months to a year ago? Are they actively participating in the market? At Matt Curtis Real Estate, we ensure our agents are up-to-date with the latest market information and provide them with the tools to succeed in this ever-changing market.
We'd love to be your agent. Not only have we been the number one real estate team in Alabama for the past five years, but we also have more five-star Google reviews than any other real estate company in the state. Don’t just take our word for it—check out our reviews. We would be honored to interview with you and provide a free buyer consultation to guide you through the home-buying process. We’ll help you develop a plan and strategies to succeed in competitive situations.