The most useful interview questions aren’t designed to produce impressive answers. They’re designed to reveal how an agent thinks, communicates, analyzes risk, negotiates, and behaves when a decision becomes difficult. Ask every agent the same core questions so you’re comparing advisors rather than presentations.
15 questions worth asking
1. What would you want to understand about my situation before recommending anything?
Listen for goals, motivation, timing, financial constraints, alternatives, risk tolerance, household considerations, and what success means to you.
2. What experience do you have with situations similar to mine?
Relevant experience may matter more than transaction volume alone.
3. What should I understand about this particular market that I might not already know?
Listen for neighborhood-level differences, inventory, ownership considerations, buyer behavior, and current market dynamics.
4. How do you determine what a property is worth?
Ask for the reasoning behind pricing and offer recommendations, not just a number.
5. Tell me about a time your analysis disagreed with what your client initially wanted to do.
This can reveal whether the agent can respectfully disagree, explain evidence, and preserve the client’s decision-making authority.
6. How do you help clients evaluate risk?
Listen for disclosures, inspections, HOA documents, insurance, permits, financing, condition, and when specialists are appropriate.
7. Tell me about a recent negotiation where price wasn’t the most important issue.
Look for information gathering, leverage, timing, contingencies, credits, financing, possession, repairs, and the other side’s priorities.
8. What happens when you think I’m making a mistake?
A useful advisor should understand your perspective while clearly explaining concerns and evidence.
9. How will we communicate, and who will I actually be communicating with?
Understand who answers questions, attends important appointments, negotiates, and communicates when something goes wrong.
10. Seller: How did you arrive at your recommended list-price strategy?
Don’t automatically choose the highest suggested number. Ask for the evidence and strategy.
11. Seller: What preparation would you recommend, and what would you not spend money on?
Ask how the agent distinguishes necessary work from projects unlikely to justify cost or delay.
12. Seller: What happens if the home doesn’t sell as expected?
Look for a feedback loop involving exposure, presentation, competition, price, buyer response, and market changes.
13. Buyer: How will you help me decide whether a house is actually right for me?
Listen for financial fit, neighborhood, disclosures, condition, ownership costs, lifestyle, resale considerations, and alternatives.
14. Buyer: How do you approach an offer when there are competing buyers?
Ask how price, contingencies, financing, timing, seller priorities, information gathering, and your walk-away point shape strategy.
15. Tell me about a time you advised a client not to complete a transaction.
This can reveal how the agent thinks about judgment, risk, and incentives.
Only have ten minutes?
Ask three questions: What do you need to understand about my situation before giving advice? Tell me about a time you disagreed with what a client wanted to do and how you handled it. Tell me about a time you advised a client not to complete a transaction.
Compare the answers
Use a consistent framework after each conversation. See the 10-point Agent Evaluation Framework →
Compare local understanding, evidence behind recommendations, risk awareness, negotiation process, communication, relevant experience, and professional judgment.
Use the 10-Point Agent Evaluation Framework · Score the agents you interview · Selling? Learn How to Choose a Listing Agent · Talk It Through With Ravi
You can ask me these questions, too.
If you’re interviewing agents for a Tri-Valley purchase or sale, use this guide when you interview me. You shouldn’t need a different set of questions simply because I wrote them.
Ravi Dasani
Strategic Real Estate Advisor | Compass
DRE #02218139