Interview & review
Questions to ask before hiring — and how to tell if your agent is doing a good job.
Two moments decide most of the experience: the interview before you sign, and the review you run every two weeks afterwards. This hub gives you both — a question set organised by situation, and an evidence-based way to judge performance mid-transaction without relying on a gut feeling or a single week of quiet.
Quick answer
Before hiring, ask every candidate the same questions in four groups: general (licence, brokerage, who does the work, agreement terms), buyer-specific (search coverage, offer strategy, inspection approach), seller-specific (pricing evidence, preparation scope, marketing deliverables, fee structure), and situation-specific (bilingual support, relocation, investment, new construction). Afterwards, judge performance on delivery you can check — promised marketing actually published, showings and feedback reported, offers and counters explained in writing, deadlines tracked, and calls returned within an agreed window — rather than on whether an offer has arrived by a fixed date, which depends on price and market conditions as much as effort.
4 groups
General, buyer-specific, seller-specific, situation-specific
Same set
Every candidate answers identical questions
Every 2 wks
A standing review cadence beats waiting and worrying
In writing
Plans, feedback and fee terms belong in documents
Questions this hub answers
- questions to ask a realtor before hiring
- questions to ask a realtor when buying
- questions to ask a real estate agent when selling
- real estate agent interview questions
- how do I know if my realtor is doing a good job
- what to expect from your listing agent
How to run the interview and the review
- 01
1. Ask the general questions first
Licence and brokerage, how long they have worked this specific market, who on the team does what, how they communicate and how fast, what the agreement term is, and how you can end it. If these are vague, the rest of the answers matter less.
- 02
2. Add the questions for your side
Buyers: how they find properties beyond the public feed, how they build an offer in a competitive situation, how they handle inspection findings, and what they will not recommend. Sellers: what the pricing evidence is, which preparation they recommend and who pays, what marketing is actually delivered, and how the fee is structured.
- 03
3. Ask the situation questions that apply to you
Bilingual support, buying from overseas or on a work visa, a school-boundary constraint, new construction, an investment purchase, or selling while buying. Skip the ones that do not apply — a long generic list buries the answers that matter.
- 04
4. Set the review cadence at the start
Agree up front what you will receive and when: a weekly written update while you are on market or actively touring, feedback after showings, and a written explanation of any recommendation to change price or terms. Agreeing this at signing turns later problems into a checklist item rather than an argument.
- 05
5. Review on evidence, then raise issues early
Compare what was promised to what was delivered. If something is missing, say so in writing, ask for a specific correction and a date. Most issues are a process gap, not bad faith — and they are fixable if they surface in week two rather than week eight.
Performance checkpoints, by side
| Checkpoint | Buyer side | Seller side |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Calls and messages returned within the agreed window | A scheduled written update, not only replies when you ask |
| Market work | New matches reviewed and screened out with reasons | Showing activity and feedback reported and summarised |
| Documents | Offer terms and addenda explained before you sign | Offers, counters and net-proceeds figures presented in writing |
| Marketing | Not applicable | Photos, floor plan, listing copy and campaigns actually published as promised |
| Deadlines | Inspection, financing and closing dates tracked for you | Contingency dates and escrow milestones tracked for you |
| Recommendations | Clear reasoning for walking away from a property | A written case before any price or terms change |
Checklist
Mid-transaction review checklist
- You know what you were promised, in writing, and can compare it to what arrived.
- Updates arrive on the agreed cadence without you having to chase.
- Showing or tour feedback is passed on, not summarised as "no news".
- Every offer, counter and addendum was explained before signing.
- Marketing deliverables are live and correct — check the listing yourself.
- Deadlines are tracked by your agent, not only by you.
- Recommendations come with reasoning and data, not just urgency.
- Issues you raised last time have a named fix and a date.
Common questions
What questions should I ask a realtor before hiring one?
Start with licence, brokerage, who actually does the work, communication standards and the agreement's term and exit. Then add the questions specific to buying or selling, and only the situation questions that apply to you. Ask every candidate the same set so the answers are comparable.
My listing has no offer yet — is my agent underperforming?
Not necessarily. Time on market is driven by price, condition, location and current demand as much as by effort. Judge the work instead: is the marketing live as promised, are showings happening, is feedback being collected and reported, and has the agent presented a written case for the next adjustment? A quiet listing with no analysis is the actual warning sign.
How do I raise a problem without blowing up the relationship?
Put it in writing, be specific about what was promised, and ask for a named correction and a date. Most issues are process gaps. If the same gap repeats after a written request, review the agreement's term and cancellation terms and take the conversation to the managing broker.
Can I change agents mid-way?
It depends on what you signed. Listing and buyer agreements have a term, and some include obligations that survive cancellation. Read those clauses before you act, and ask the firm's managing broker how they handle a release.
Should I interview a team or an individual broker?
Either can work. What matters is knowing who tours with you, who writes the offer, who negotiates and who tracks deadlines — and that those names are confirmed before you sign, not discovered later.
Go deeper
Related
Questions to ask a realtor before hiring
The full question set, grouped by situation.
Related
Is your realtor doing a good job?
Service checkpoints and how to run a review.
Related
How to evaluate a Bellevue real estate team
Team structure, hand-offs and accountability.
Related
How to choose an agent to sell your home
Comparing listing proposals before you sign.
Related
Cancelling a listing agreement and changing brokerage
What the paperwork allows if it is not working.
Other topic guides
Family transfers
Gift of equity and selling a home to a family member in Washington.
Title & closing
Selling a house with a lien in Bellevue and Greater Seattle.
Land value
Selling an older Eastside home to a builder: land value vs. retail sale.
Visa & foreign buyers
Buying a home in Bellevue as a foreign national or visa holder.
Tech relocation
Moving to Bellevue for a tech job: rent first or buy now?
Schools & addresses
Buying by school assignment in the Bellevue School District.
Waterfront & unique homes
How to price a waterfront or one-of-a-kind home.
Listing problems
How to cancel a listing agreement and change agents.
Building & financing
Construction loans for self-employed and small business owners.
Land & lot value
Should you split a double lot before selling it?
Water & site risk
Flood zone, creek and drainage checks before you buy.
Landlords & investors
Selling a rental property to your current tenant.
Choosing an agent
How to choose a real estate agent in Seattle and on the Eastside.
Fees & commission
Who pays realtor fees in Washington — and what an agent actually keeps.
First-time buyers
Buying your first home in Washington State — including without a US credit history.
Home value
How to get an accurate home value estimate in Bellevue, Redmond and West Bellevue.
Investment property
Buying an investment property on the Eastside: returns, rules and the numbers to run.
Listing presentation
Staging and listing photos: virtual staging, AI edits and what buyers trust.
Stalled listings
Your house is not selling: what to change, and whether to pause the listing.
Seller options
Instant cash offer vs listing your home: how to compare them properly.
Due diligence
Easements, shared driveways and recorded restrictions: check before you buy.
Buyer strategy
Competing with all-cash offers as a financed buyer on the Eastside.
List price strategy
Pricing below market, offer review dates and how many showings to expect.
Offers and negotiation
What counts as a low-ball offer — and how to counter without losing the deal.
Inspection negotiation
Home inspection negotiation in Washington: repair requests, credits and difficult sellers.
Solar homes
Buying a house with solar panels: owned vs leased, transfers and price drops.
Selling while living there
Selling a house while living in it: showings, kids, pets and the stress of selling.
Buying and selling at the same time
Home sale contingencies in Washington: buying a house contingent on selling yours.
Contract cancellation
Can you back out of buying a house before closing in Washington?
Seller disclosure
Washington's Form 17 seller disclosure: what buyers and sellers need to know.
Structural risk
Buying a house with foundation issues in the Seattle area: risks, inspections and negotiation.
Mortgage options
Alternatives to a 30-year fixed mortgage for Washington buyers.
Property type decision
Condo vs single-family home: which holds up better as a long-term investment on the Eastside?
Rankings & best-of lists
Best places to live in the Seattle area, ranked — and how to read every ranking.
Selling an inherited home
Selling a parent's house in probate in Washington: authority, taxes and timing.
Concessions & credits
Seller concessions and seller credits: limits, price reduction vs credit, and repair trade-offs.
Permits & unpermitted additions
Buying a house with unpermitted work in Seattle and the Eastside: how to check permits and price the risk.
Final walkthrough
Final walkthrough checklist for Washington buyers — resale homes and new construction.
Lot & location trade-offs
Corner lot pros and cons, and living near a school: what Seattle-area buyers should weigh.
Buying land
Buying land to build a house in Washington: is the lot really buildable?
ADUs & backyard cottages
Financing an ADU or backyard cottage when your home still has a mortgage.
Real estate vs other assets
Real estate vs stocks: liquidity, leverage and taxes for Washington owners.
Market risk explained
Will the Seattle housing market crash? The economic signals that actually matter.
Selling a house that needs work
Selling a house as-is in Washington: what "as-is" does and does not mean.
Selling timeline
How long does it take to sell a house in Seattle? A stage-by-stage timeline.
Related articles
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