At some point in the homebuying or selling process, you'll be sitting across from an agent, deciding whether to work with them. This conversation can feel awkward because the agent is clearly trying to earn your business, and you might not know exactly what to look for or what questions to ask.
The best way to approach it is to treat it like any other professional relationship. You're making a significant financial decision, and the person you choose to guide you through it matters. Here are ten questions that will tell you a lot about who you're considering.
1. How many transactions have you closed in the past 12 months, and in what areas?
Experience matters, but relevance matters more. An agent who has closed 50 transactions in Sandy but rarely works in Provo may not be the right person for your Utah County search. You want someone with real, current activity in the specific market you're buying or selling in, not just a long career across any market.
2. What does your process look like for buyers (or sellers)?
This question reveals whether the agent has a defined approach or is winging it based on whoever walks in the door. A good agent should be able to walk you through their process clearly: what happens first, how they communicate, how decisions get made, and what you should expect at each stage. If the answer is vague, that's useful information.
3. How do you handle multiple offers, and what's your strategy for helping me compete?
In a competitive Utah market, offer strategy is a real skill. Ask specifically how they've helped buyers win in competitive situations. Do they have relationships with listing agents? Do they understand how to structure terms that strengthen an offer beyond just price? Making a competitive offer requires judgment, not just enthusiasm, and you want an agent who's thought this through.
4. How do you communicate, and how quickly do you respond?
Some agents prefer phone calls. Others work primarily by text. Some are available seven days a week; others keep more structured hours. Neither is inherently wrong, but the answer should match what you need. If you're a first-time buyer who will have a lot of questions, you probably want someone available and responsive. Ask directly what their typical response time is, and note whether they hesitate.
5. Will I be working with you directly, or with someone on your team?
Many successful agents work with transaction coordinators, buyer's agents, or assistants. There's nothing wrong with that. But you should know upfront whether you'll be communicating primarily with the person you're interviewing or being handed off to someone else. If you're hiring a team, ask who your main contact will be for important decisions.
6. How do you determine the right price for a home?
For sellers, this is one of the most important questions you can ask. Pricing is part art and part data, and the answer should involve a real conversation about comparable sales, days on market, and current inventory in your neighborhood. An agent who just tells you what you want to hear or picks a number without clear reasoning isn't doing you any favors. Pricing your home correctly from the start has a meaningful impact on your final outcome.
7. What happens if I'm not happy with how things are going?
Good agents are confident enough to have a straightforward answer to this question. They'll usually say something like: let me know early and we'll fix it, and if we can't, we'll figure out how to part ways cleanly. An agent who hedges or gets defensive here is telling you something important.
8. What's your commission structure and what does it include?
This changed somewhat following the NAR settlement in 2024, so it's worth having a clear conversation about compensation upfront. How much is the fee? What services does it include? How is it structured between buyer and seller? You deserve a straight answer, not vague language about "how it typically works."
9. Can you provide references from recent clients?
Any agent worth hiring should be able to give you the names of recent buyers or sellers who are happy to talk to you. If they struggle to produce references, or offer to send them later but never do, pay attention to that.
10. Why should I work with you specifically?
This is the most direct version of the conversation. A confident, honest agent won't oversell. They'll tell you clearly what they're good at, what they're not, and why their approach fits your situation. The answer doesn't have to be polished — in fact, a more genuine, specific answer is usually a better sign than a rehearsed pitch.
What the Conversation Tells You
More than any single question, pay attention to how the agent handles the conversation overall. Do they listen before they talk? Do they ask about your goals before launching into their pitch? Are they honest about limitations or challenges in your market?
The best agents are educators first. They want you to understand what you're getting into, not just feel comfortable signing with them. If you leave the conversation feeling more informed and clearer on your decision, that's a good sign. If you leave feeling pressured or like you just sat through a sales presentation, trust that feeling.
If you're looking for someone to have this conversation with about your specific situation in Utah, I'm happy to talk through it without any pressure or obligation. Reach out anytime.
