Questions to ask a buyer's agent
You are hiring someone for the biggest purchase of your life. Interview two or three, ask each the same questions, and do not skip the one about a rebate.
Before you sign anything
You are hiring someone for the biggest purchase of your life, so treat it like hiring. Interview two or three buyer’s agents and ask each the same questions. It is completely normal, and a good agent expects it.
Experience and fit
Ask how many buyers they represented in the last year, how many in your target area and price range, and how they would approach a home like the one you want. Years in the business matter less than recent, relevant deals.
How they work
Ask how they communicate and how fast, how many clients they carry at once, who covers you if they are away, and how they handle a bidding war. In a fast market, responsiveness is often the difference between winning and losing a home.
Money, and the one question to always ask
Ask what their fee is, who is expected to pay it, and how it is set in the written agreement. Then ask the question most buyers never do: will you rebate part of your commission to me? In most states it is legal, and getting the answer in writing before you sign is when you have the most leverage.
Red flags
Watch for pressure to sign on the spot, vagueness about the fee or who pays it, no recent experience in your area or price range, and any reluctance to put terms in writing. A confident, buyer-first agent will welcome all of these questions.
See the full guide to choosing an agent →
Frequently asked questions
What should you ask a buyer’s agent before hiring them?
Cover four areas: experience in your specific area and price range; how they communicate and how available they are; references from recent buyers; and the money, meaning their fee, who pays it, and whether they will rebate part of the commission to you.
Should you ask a buyer’s agent for a commission rebate?
Yes, and ask before you sign a buyer-representation agreement, when your leverage is highest. In most states a rebate is legal, and on a median-priced home it can be worth thousands of dollars back at closing.
How many real estate agents should you interview?
Two or three is plenty. Interviewing more than one lets you compare service, fit, and fee, and signals that you are choosing deliberately rather than signing with the first person you meet.
What is a red flag when choosing a buyer’s agent?
Pressure to sign immediately, vagueness about their fee or who pays it, no recent experience in your area or price range, or reluctance to put terms in writing.
← All research & guidesThis is general information, not legal or financial advice. Commission and rebate rules vary by state; confirm the current rule with your state real-estate agency.