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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Interview more than one agent, check each candidate’s license and disciplinary record with the state regulator, and compare their experience with buyers in your target area and price range. Before you tour homes under a buyer-agent relationship, understand who the agent represents and read the written agreement’s services, duration, compensation, and exit terms. Rules vary by state, so confirm the requirements where you plan to buy.
Start with fit for the home you want to buy
Local experience matters most when it matches your search—not simply when an agent has worked in real estate for a long time. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises buyers to choose an agent with strong experience in their preferred neighborhoods, price range, home type, and other priorities. CFPB homebuying guidance
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Ask each candidate how much of their work involves buyers, and whether they have helped people in a situation like yours. For example, a buyer looking for a condominium, a rural property, or a home that needs substantial work may need different experience than someone seeking a move-in-ready house in a dense urban neighborhood.
- Which neighborhoods, price ranges, and property types do you know best?
- What experience do you have with buyers whose needs resemble mine?
- How do you find homes that fit my criteria, including properties I may not have spotted?
- How do you evaluate available information about a home and explain its trade-offs?
Interview candidates with the same questions
Use a consistent set of questions so you can compare the answers rather than relying on a general impression. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) lists questions buyers can ask prospective agents, including about experience, references, representation, and services. NAR buyer-agent questions
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Search, offers, and communication
- How will you identify suitable homes and arrange tours?
- What information do you review when helping me assess a property?
- How would you help prepare and negotiate an offer, and guide me through the steps after acceptance?
- How will we communicate, and how quickly should I expect a response?
Ask about the agent’s approach rather than expecting a promise that a particular home will be available or that an offer will succeed. The agent should be able to explain how they will help you make informed decisions without pressuring you to move faster than you are comfortable with.
References and service-provider suggestions
Ask whether you can speak with former buyer clients. References can help you learn how the agent handled communication, negotiations, and unexpected issues; they do not guarantee the same experience in your transaction.
Ask whether the agent may suggest mortgage, inspection, repair, title, or closing providers, and whether those are suggestions or requirements. You can research providers independently. The CFPB says borrowers who choose their own closing-service providers often save money, so compare options rather than assuming you must use a referral.
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Verify a license and check for disciplinary history
Confirm that each candidate is licensed in the state where you are buying. Use that state’s real estate licensing agency or regulator to check license status and any disciplinary history. The CFPB recommends checking with the state licensing agency, and NAR also advises buyers to verify credentials and seek references. Requirements and the details available in public records differ by state.
Do not treat a professional title, online profile, or referral as a substitute for checking the regulator’s records. If the result is unclear, ask the regulator how to interpret it before deciding whether to proceed.
Find out who the agent represents
Ask directly: “Who would you represent in this transaction, and who represents the seller?” A seller’s agent works for the seller. A buyer’s agent works with the buyer to represent the buyer’s interests. Agency and non-agency arrangements vary by state, and labels can have different legal effects in different places. NAR guide to agency and non-agency relationships
Ask about dual agency and confidentiality
If the same agent or brokerage could be involved on both sides, ask what would happen to your representation and how the brokerage handles potential conflicts. Dual agency, where permitted, means one agent represents both buyer and seller and can limit how the agent advocates for either side. Disclosure and informed-consent rules depend on state law. Some states allow designated agents within one brokerage; other non-agency or transaction-broker arrangements may also exist. These are not interchangeable terms.
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Read and negotiate the buyer agreement before committing
A written buyer agreement describes the services the real estate professional will provide and how they will be paid. NAR says many professionals covered by its settlement-related practice changes have been required to use written buyer agreements since August 17, 2024. Its guidance generally calls for an agreement before a covered professional tours a home with a buyer in person or by live virtual tour. Under that guidance, a buyer who visits an open house alone or asks an agent about services does not need to sign an agreement for that reason alone. This is not a universal rule for every agent, situation, or jurisdiction; state and local law and the specific relationship matter. NAR guide to written buyer agreements
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Before signing, confirm that the agreement clearly states the terms you have discussed. NAR says buyers can negotiate services, duration, and compensation. NAR guide to negotiating written buyer agreements
- Services: What work will the agent perform, and what is outside the scope?
- Duration and scope: When does the agreement begin and end? Does it cover a particular area, property type, or search?
- Compensation: What amount will you owe, and how is it calculated? Compensation may be structured as a flat fee, percentage, or hourly fee. The agreement should state a clearly defined amount—not an open-ended figure or a range.
- Changes and termination: How can you change or end the agreement, and what obligations remain if it ends?
A buyer may ask for seller-paid compensation in an offer, but whether a seller offers or accepts it depends on the transaction. Do not assume the seller will pay the amount in your agreement. Read the actual document, ask about any unclear term, and consider local legal advice if you do not understand its effect.
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Compare the candidates before you choose
There is no universally best agent or official scorecard. Compare the candidates on factors that matter to your purchase, and put more weight on clear, verifiable answers than on confidence or sales language.
| What to compare | What a useful answer shows |
|---|---|
| Relevant experience | Specific experience with buyers, neighborhoods, price range, and property type like yours. |
| Credentials and references | A license you can verify with the state regulator and former clients willing to discuss their experience. |
| Representation and conflicts | A clear explanation of who represents whom, confidentiality, and what happens if the agent or brokerage is involved on both sides. |
| Search and transaction process | A practical explanation of finding homes, assessing available information, preparing offers, and handling communication. |
| Agreement terms | Services, scope, duration, compensation, and ways to change or end the agreement that you understand and accept. |
Consider property risks and contract protections as part of the search
Your agent can help you understand the process, but some decisions call for other qualified professionals. The CFPB recommends considering financing and satisfactory-inspection contingencies and checking disaster risk as well as insurance availability and cost for a prospective property. These are factors to discuss in the context of a particular home; a clause may not be available or appropriate in every transaction. CFPB homebuying guidance
Ask how the agent will help you identify questions that need further investigation, and who can provide that expertise. Do not rely on an agent’s general guidance as a substitute for an inspection, insurance quote, legal advice, or other professional assessment when one is needed.
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