How to Interview a Real Estate Agent Before You Commit

Picking a real estate agent is the highest leverage decision in a home transaction. Get it right and everything downstream is smoother. Get it wrong and you learn expensive lessons.

Here are the twelve questions worth asking. Ask them all. Any good agent will welcome the interview.

1. How long have you sold real estate in Charleston specifically. Not “how long have you been an agent.” How long in this market. Local rhythms matter.

2. How many transactions did you close last year, and what was your total volume. Not to compare vanity numbers but to gauge whether they are full-time or hobby.

3. Which neighborhoods do you know best. If they claim mastery of every submarket, that is a red flag. Charleston has too many distinct pockets for anyone to know all of them equally.

4. What was your list-to-sale price ratio in the last 12 months. For sellers, closer to 100 percent is better. For buyer’s agents, the inverse metric matters more.

5. How many buyer clients are you currently working with. More than 8 to 10 simultaneous buyers usually means someone is getting less attention.

6. Do you work solo or with a team. Neither is wrong, but you should know who will actually be showing you homes.

7. How do you handle competing offers. For sellers, this shows their negotiation approach. For buyers, it reveals whether they know how to write winning offers in the current market.

8. Have you closed a deal in this specific price range in the last 90 days. Luxury and starter markets play by different rules. Recent experience in your bracket matters.

9. What is your typical response time. Two hours during business hours is standard. If they answer “same day usually,” ask again.

10. What happens if I want to end our relationship. Buyer agency and listing agreements have out clauses. Understand them before you sign.

11. Who else on your team touches my file. Transaction coordinators, assistants, other agents. Get the org chart before you commit.

12. What is one thing you would tell me about the Charleston market that most buyers or sellers do not know. This is a soft question with a hard purpose. It reveals whether they think about the market strategically or just push listings.

If you want to interview me on these twelve, my calendar is open at chshomeguide.com/contact or you can just call. (843) 530-7001. N

Michael Teibert
Carolina One Real Estate