By Maggie Sun, Managing Broker · Updated September 2026
Hiring an agent before you have a way to compare their answers is one of the more expensive mistakes a buyer or seller can make, because a warm phone manner tells you almost nothing about how someone will price your home, negotiate an inspection, or handle a complicated closing. This article gives you a specific set of questions to ask before you sign anything, a description of what a strong versus a weak answer sounds like for each one, and a worksheet you can print and use in every interview so the comparison is based on evidence rather than impression.
Data definitions used throughout: where market figures are referenced, they are NWMLS closed-sales data; property type is Single Family (detached) unless a line says Condominium; geography and reporting month are named wherever a figure appears. Tax and withholding mechanics referenced here follow the King County Assessor, the Washington State Department of Revenue (WA DOR) and the IRS. This article does not cite specific price or Days on Market figures because those change monthly and by sub-market — the point of the interview is to ask the agent to produce current, address-specific data themselves, which you can then check against NWMLS.
Contents
- Why the interview matters more than the resume
- Core questions to ask every realtor
- Questions specific to pricing and market data
- Questions about process, availability and vendors
- Questions for special situations: cross-border sellers, investors, bilingual households
- Questions about the representation agreement itself
- Printable interview worksheet
- Answers that should make you pause
- FAQ
- Practical review checklist
- About the author
- Sources
Why the interview matters more than the resume
A brokerage logo, a years-in-business number, or a stack of five-star reviews tells you very little about whether a specific agent has done your kind of transaction recently in your sub-market. The interview is the one moment before you sign anything where you can ask direct questions and watch how someone actually answers — whether they cite a specific process and offer to show you the data behind it, or whether they answer in general reassurance and move the conversation along. Treat the interview itself as a sample of how this person will communicate with you during your transaction, because it usually is exactly that.
Before you get into questions of style or personality, two facts are checkable and should be checked regardless of how the conversation goes: whether the person is currently licensed in good standing, and what specific transactions they have closed recently in your price band and sub-market. Both of these are addressed below.
Core questions for every candidate
| Question | Evidence to request | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Who will perform each major task? | Names and written division of work | Who covers absences and urgent deadlines? |
| Which recent transactions are relevant? | Property type, area, price band, date and role | What was similar and what was different? |
| How will we communicate? | Written cadence and escalation process | What happens outside ordinary hours? |
| What do I pay and what is included? | Agreement, service list, exclusions and extra charges | Could I owe a compensation difference or exit cost? |
| How can the relationship end? | Duration, termination procedure and surviving rights | What obligations may continue afterward? |
Ask each candidate the same core questions. Record evidence, not just a yes/no answer, so Agent A, B and C can be compared on the same basis.
Buyer-specific questions
Pricing accuracy is one of the clearest, most checkable things you can assess in an interview, because a competent agent will describe a specific method rather than a number pulled from instinct.
- How do you select comparable properties, and can you show me the comparables before you give me a number? A good answer describes a specific method — same sub-market, same property type, similar age and condition, sold within a recent window — and offers to show you the actual comparable listings on request. A weak answer gives you a number with no comparables attached.
- How do you decide whether a property is overpriced, underpriced or fairly priced relative to current NWMLS activity? A good answer references active, pending and sold listings together, not sold data alone, because pending and active inventory reflects current competition. Ask them to show you this breakdown for your specific sub-market and property type at the time of your consultation — the correct figures depend on the month and neighborhood, so a written figure quoted here would already be out of date by the time you read it.
- What is your plan if the property does not attract the expected level of interest in the first two weeks? A good answer describes specific adjustments — re-examining photography, staging, showing feedback and price relative to newly listed competition. A weak answer simply says "we'll see how it goes."
Seller-specific questions
- How will you communicate with me, and how often? A good answer names a specific cadence — for example, a weekly update during an active listing, or same-day response windows during an active offer — rather than "whenever you need me."
- How do you handle inspection findings and negotiate repair requests or credits? A good answer describes a sequence: reviewing the inspection report, prioritizing safety and structural items, and proposing either a repair, a credit or a price adjustment based on comparable outcomes. A weak answer has no described process at all.
- Do you have vendors you regularly work with — inspectors, contractors, lenders — and can I also choose my own? A good answer offers referrals while confirming you are free to use anyone you choose. Be cautious of any answer that insists you must use a specific vendor with no explanation.
- What happens if you are unavailable — on vacation, at another closing — during a critical moment in my transaction? A good answer names a specific backup person or process.
Special-situation questions
Cross-border and international sellers
If you are a foreign seller, ask specifically: how do you coordinate FIRPTA withholding with my closing, and do you work with a CPA who can evaluate whether I should file for a reduced withholding certificate? A correct answer explains that FIRPTA withholding at closing is a prepayment toward the seller's eventual federal income tax on the sale, not a final 15 percent tax on profit, and that there are 0 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent withholding tiers depending on the transaction, with the option to apply in advance for a reduced rate using IRS Form 8288-B. Anyone who describes FIRPTA as a flat tax on your gain, rather than a withholding mechanism reconciled on your following year's tax return, does not have this fully right — verify directly with the IRS FIRPTA page and your own CPA rather than relying on an agent's summary alone.
Investors
Ask: what is your experience specifically with income property in this price band, and how do you evaluate rent comparables and holding costs, including property tax and any relevant excise tax at resale? A good answer distinguishes owner-occupant comparables from investment-grade underwriting, and can speak to how the Washington Real Estate Excise Tax (REET), which is paid by the seller at a graduated rate, factors into a future exit calculation.
Bilingual households
Ask precisely: what language support is available, and is it spoken explanation only, a written summary, or a formally translated legal document? These are three different things. Contract documents, disclosures and NWMLS forms are executed in English as standard practice in Washington real estate transactions; a translated summary can help you understand the terms, but it is not a substitute for reading the English-language document itself or having your own advisor review it.
Questions about the representation agreement itself
Before you sign a buyer or listing representation agreement, ask: what is the term of this agreement, what happens if I want to end it early, and what type of agency relationship are you disclosing to me? Washington law requires that a licensee provide you with an agency disclosure pamphlet and identify the type of agency relationship being offered before you sign; if this has not been provided, ask for it directly. A good agent explains the exit terms clearly and without defensiveness. An agent who discourages you from reading the agreement fully, or who cannot explain their own termination clause, is showing you something about how they may behave later if the relationship becomes difficult.
Ask in numbers: What compensation does the agreement require? What services are included? If another party pays less than that amount, who owes the difference? What costs or protection-period obligations can survive termination? Ask the agent to point to the controlling paragraph for every answer.
Agent A/B/C comparison worksheet
| Decision item | Agent A | Agent B | Agent C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible person | |||
| Relevant evidence | |||
| Communication commitment | |||
| Included / excluded services | |||
| Compensation / possible difference | |||
| Duration / exit consequences | |||
| Unresolved verification |
Answers that should make you pause
A few patterns are worth taking seriously regardless of how confident the delivery sounds. An agent who suggests a listing price without offering to show you any comparables is asking you to trust a number you cannot check. An agent who pressures you to disclose your absolute top budget before you have signed a representation agreement, or before any offer has been discussed, is asking for information that does not serve your negotiating position. An agent who cannot or will not provide a license number, or who becomes defensive when asked, should prompt an independent check before you go further. And an agent who describes FIRPTA, REET, or property tax mechanics incorrectly — for example, describing FIRPTA as a final 15 percent tax on the seller rather than a withholding — is a signal to bring in a CPA or attorney directly rather than relying on their explanation.
None of these signals mean the person is acting in bad faith; some are simply gaps in specific transaction experience. But they are useful, checkable moments to slow down and ask a follow-up question rather than moving forward on momentum alone.
FAQ
How many agents should I interview before hiring one?
There is no fixed number, but interviewing at least two using the same worksheet makes the comparison meaningful. If the first agent clearly answers every question well and you already have a personal referral you trust, one thorough interview can be enough.
Can I verify a realtor's license myself before the interview?
Yes. The Washington State Department of Licensing publishes a public license lookup that shows license status, license type and any disciplinary history.
Should I ask about commission during the first call?
Yes, commission structure is negotiable and should be discussed openly before you sign anything. Ask what services are included at the proposed rate and what, if anything, would change the rate.
Is it a red flag if an agent asks for my maximum budget?
Asking about your general price range to determine fit is normal. Pressuring you to reveal your absolute ceiling before you have any representation agreement in place is not necessary for them to help you, and disclosing it can weaken your negotiating position later.
Does a bilingual agent guarantee translated legal documents?
No. Ask specifically whether language support means spoken explanation, a written summary, or a formally translated document, since these are meaningfully different and contract documents are typically executed in English in Washington transactions.
Practical review checklist
Before acting, verify the claim against the current signed agreement, official record, or address-level tool identified in this article. General market commentary is not a substitute for transaction-specific evidence.
About the author
Maggie Sun, Managing Broker.
Updated September 2026. This article is general information and is not legal or tax advice; consult a licensed attorney or CPA about your specific transaction.
Sources
- NWMLS — market statistics
- WA Department of Licensing — real estate license lookup
- King County Assessor
- WA Department of Revenue — Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
- IRS — FIRPTA withholding
- IRS — Form 8288-B
- CFPB — Owning a Home resources
This article is general information based on public information. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. Verify every claim and figure for your own situation before you act.
