When you're getting ready to sell your home or buy a new one, the agent you choose will represent you in one of the largest transactions of your life. That's worth taking your time over.
After 23 years in real estate, and years of teaching classes to other agents, I've seen what separates a good fit from a frustrating experience. Here's what I'd want to know if I were in your shoes.
Start Here: Do They Specialize in Working with Older Adults?
The first thing I'd want to know is whether an agent specializes in working with older adults.
I may be a little biased, but teaching classes to real estate agents has shown me again and again how different this work is. Specialists know more about the things that matter during a later-in-life move, and they simply do things differently. If you're downsizing or making a housing transition in retirement, I believe a specialist is the way to go.
Questions to Ask About Experience
- How long have you been a real estate agent?
- How many homes did you sell last year? How many were buyers, and how many were listings? I'd look for at least 12.
- Are you a full-time agent? Yes, you really do need to ask this.
- What designations do you hold?
Designations to look for include Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®), Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), and Certified Senior Real Estate Consultant (CSREC).
Keep in mind that a designation doesn't tell you whether someone is good at their job. It does tell you they've spent time learning about the things that are important to you.
Full disclosure: I created the CSREC training through Senior Advantage Academy. I recommend looking for any of these designations, not just that one.
Questions to Ask About Your Goals
- How can you help make this move and the sale of my home easier for me?
- What would your strategy be to sell my home, knowing I don't want to do any work to the house at all?
If your goal is a move that's as easy as possible, these answers will tell you a lot about whether the agent is really listening.
Don't Just Ask. Ask Them to Show You.
It's important not to just ask questions and collect answers. Ask agents to show you, too.
- Ask to see a sample of their marketing. Their marketing should always use professional photography. Those photos are the first impression of your home, so they'd better be good!
- Ask them to explain some market statistics to you. This shows you how well they explain things. That skill matters when it's time to negotiate, and when they're helping you understand all those legal contracts.
Listing Agent or Buyer's Agent?
If you're selling your home, look for an agent with strong experience as a listing agent. Listing a home is a different skill set than helping buyers.
In Minnesota, Watch for the Agency Disclosure
If you're in Minnesota, real estate agents are required to disclose and discuss agency with you, including making sure you understand dual agency. This disclosure is required at the first substantive meeting.
I review this document with clients at our first or second meeting. Make sure anyone you interview does this, too. It's required by law to protect consumers, and it's a good sign of whether someone is doing things the right way.
Trust Your Instincts
Make sure you like this person. Pay attention to how they conduct themselves, and whether they show you, through their actions, that you can trust them.
Remember: You're the Boss
This is your move. Everything should be in alignment with your goals.
It is not your job to make your real estate agent's job easier. You're the boss. You're interviewing this person to represent you in one of the largest transactions you'll ever make.
You're the boss. You're interviewing this person to represent you in one of the largest transactions you'll ever make.
Get the Interview Questions
To make your interviews easier, I've put all of these questions into a simple printable checklist you can bring with you. Enter your name and email below and you'll get the download link right away. And if you have questions about your own move, I'm always happy to talk.
Get the free printable checklist
All the questions from this article on one printable page, with space to compare agents.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a real estate agent before I hire them?
Ask whether they specialize in working with older adults, how long they've been an agent, how many homes they sold last year (Lisa suggests looking for at least 12), whether they work full time, and what designations they hold. Then ask how they'd make your move easier.
What designations should I look for in an agent for a senior move?
Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®), Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), and Certified Senior Real Estate Consultant (CSREC). A designation doesn't prove someone is good at their job, but it shows they've spent time learning what matters to you. Full disclosure: Lisa created the CSREC training.
What is the agency disclosure in Minnesota?
Minnesota agents are required to disclose and discuss agency with you, including making sure you understand dual agency, at the first substantive meeting. Make sure anyone you interview does this.
Should my listing agent and buying agent be the same kind of agent?
If you're selling, look for strong experience as a listing agent. Listing a home is a different skill set than helping buyers.
This article is general education, not legal, tax or financial advice.