What questions should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them?

<div>Interviewing real estate agents is the best way to find the right person for the job. Consider asking the following questions to find the best agent for you:<ul><li>How will you show my property?</li><li>Will you do open houses to market my home?</li><li>How will you handle dual agency (representing the buyer and you as the seller)?</li><li>Should I make repairs to my home before listing?</li><li>Will you get professional photos taken of my home?</li><li>What is the best price you think we can get for my property?</li><li>How long do you expect the sale to take?</li></ul></div>

Do I need a real estate agent as a buyer?

<div>You don’t legally need a real estate agent as a buyer, as you can represent yourself, but you should always hire an agent as a home buyer. A professional real estate agent will have access to local MLS services to find homes that meet your criteria and needs, can connect you with other professionals—like a mortgage broker and real estate attorney—you’ll need for the purchase, and can often negotiate a better price for your home to help save you money. Plus, as the buyer, your agent’s commission comes from the seller’s proceeds from the sale of the home.</div>

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Last update on April 02, 2025

Reviewed in January 2019
Fabulous! We found Katie to be professional, friendly, extremely knowledgeable, responsive, patient, honest and fair. She, in fact, did help us find a building lot (which was no small undertaking), worked with us to evaluate custom home builders and found buyers for our existing home. She was...
Katie Nicholson Team of Coldwell Banker
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Reviewed in February 2017
Erica is very professional, accessible and responsive. She has great customer service and a strong knowledge of the real estate market. She was extremely helpful every step of the way! The team was just as helpful to answer any questions I had! Thanks to all!!!
Charlotte Savoy-The Savoy Team at Keller Williams
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Reviewed in May 2014
Gary made our search for a new home an absolute pleasure. He took us through several houses over the course of 3 months, always responding quickly to requests to see properties, supplying details regarding the properties, sharing his knowledge of neighborhoods, and, most endearingly,...
JACK GAUGHEN REALTOR
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Reviewed in April 2012
She is amazing. She went out of her way to send me anything that came out like updates on houses. She found an excellent vendor that could work with me. When I moved into the house, I didn't have a refrigerator. She found somebody who was giving one away for free which was amazing. She is...
Prudential Bowen Realty LLC
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Reviewed in June 2014
It went very well. We got a very good deal on a very nice home and all the details were taken care of.
JACK GAUGHEN REALTOR ERA
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Reviewed in April 2012
They were very nice. Everything ended up being seamless. Any issues that came up were dealt without having to bother me about them. They let me know about it at the settlement table. They were nice people and were very professional.
Clearvue Settlements LLC
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Reviewed in May 2013
I am still communicating with her as we speak to find out what we can do with the loan. She has gotten back with me on every phone call, email, or any other communication within 48 hours regarding any questions.
@home Real Estate-Karen Hall
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Reviewed in June 2013
She is more like a friend. Actually, she became more like a mom to me down here too. She is really good. She listened to what I wanted and what I was looking for. She was honest. She is just very in tuned. She wasn't trying to just make a sale. She wasn't trying to rush through things. She...
Remax
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Reviewed in July 2015
Very well, we are a picky couple. We have worked with Karen since moving to the area in May of 2014. She has provided us with a constant flow of housing options, listings and showings. She found us a our new home. Overall we have enjoyed working with Karen and would recommend her.
Karen L. Starr
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Real estate agents in Middletown

Real estate services FAQs

Real estate agents work on commission, so the cost of hiring an agent will depend on the cost of the home you’re buying or selling. The listing contract should include information about the commission for both agents, which is usually 6 percent of the sale price in total or 3 percent per side. With an average national home value of around $440,000, the typical commission per agent is $13,200. However, you won’t pay this total out of pocket. Instead, the commission comes out of the sale price of the property.

Interviewing real estate agents is the best way to find the right person for the job. Consider asking the following questions to find the best agent for you:

How will you show my property?
Will you do open houses to market my home?
How will you handle dual agency (representing the buyer and you as the seller)?
Should I make repairs to my home before listing?
Will you get professional photos taken of my home?
What is the best price you think we can get for my property?
How long do you expect the sale to take?

Yes, hiring a real estate agent is worth it. Many homeowners make the mistake of trying to sell their homes by themselves, thinking that they’ll save money on the commission, but what they save on the commission, they very often pay for in frustration and concessions on the sale price. Hiring a real estate agent to handle the sale of your home not only makes the process far easier and takes the burden off of you, but most homeowners get more for their homes when going through an agent because of the marketing and salesmanship they bring to the table.

You don’t legally need a real estate agent as a buyer, as you can represent yourself, but you should always hire an agent as a home buyer. A professional real estate agent will have access to local MLS services to find homes that meet your criteria and needs, can connect you with other professionals—like a mortgage broker and real estate attorney—you’ll need for the purchase, and can often negotiate a better price for your home to help save you money. Plus, as the buyer, your agent’s commission comes from the seller’s proceeds from the sale of the home.

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