Meeting Your Realtor for the First Time: What to Expect

Buyers and sellers find their real estate agents through various ways. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 38% of sellers who use agents found their representative through referrals from friends and family.

It’s common to accept a referral at face value or interview multiple agents and learn about their skills to confirm they are a good fit. However, it is more important than ever to be prepared when meeting your Realtor for the first time.

With mortgage rates staying just below 7% and new NAR commission rules changing how agents charge clients, hiring the right agent is essential for getting the most value from your home purchase or sale. 

Use this guide to prepare for your upcoming meeting so you can approach it with confidence. This will confirm that you are making the right choice to move forward with the Realtor you hired.

What to Expect During Your First Realtor Meeting

The first step in preparing for your meeting with a real estate agent is to know what should be discussed and what information you need from them.

This will help you ask strategic questions and take notes to confirm what the agent said.

Meeting Duration and Format

Meetings typically last between one and two hours if the Realtor wants to provide a comprehensive consultation. If you are a seller, the agent should meet you at your house and tour the property to learn about it. If you are a buyer, you can meet the agent in their office or a public space, like a coffee shop. 

This meeting will be a mixture of interview-style questions and marketing content as the Realtor tries to sell their skills and experience to you. They will likely have prepared materials including a market analysis and process overview. 

Even though this is just the first meeting, your real estate agent should arrive prepared. They want to win your business and answer any questions you have.

The Mutual Evaluation Process

While the first meeting is designed for you to interview your potential Realtor, the real estate agent is also interviewing you. They want to make sure that you will be a good client who meets their ideal buying or selling demographic. They are assessing your seriousness, timeline, and budget reality. If you expect to buy a house in a week or have an unrealistic budget, they might walk away from the potential partnership. 

As the buyer or seller, you should evaluate their expertise, communication style, and market knowledge. Also, don’t overlook the power of personality. You will likely speak to your Realtor daily throughout the home sale or home buying process. It’s important that you trust them and that you both get along.

Key Topics That Will Be Covered

This guide will review questions to ask your potential Realtor during this meeting, but it also helps to have an overview of what will be discussed. Here are a few topics that you can expect your real estate agent to bring up, or you should be prepared to discuss. 

• Your specific goals: discuss your timeline, budget parameters, and essential information related to this process. This could include must-have amenities when buying or top house features when selling. 
• Local market conditions: The real estate market is constantly changing. Ask about any trends that might affect your transaction or process changes you should expect because of the local market. 
• Agent’s experience: Research the track record of your Realtor before you meet them. Then ask about their customer service best practices and approach to the home buying or selling process. 
• Commission structure: Ask your agent how much they expect to be paid. Confirm they are aware of the new 2025 buyer agreement requirements and discuss how this affects you. 
• Technology tools: Review the apps and tools your agent uses. This is also a good time to discuss your ideal communication preferences. Would you rather receive phone calls, emails, or texts? 
• Step-by-step process overview: Ask your agent to walk you through what to expect and what happens after the closing appointment. 

At FastExpert, we recommend interviewing at least three agents to find the best one. This can help you notice patterns in your answers and identify the best Realtor for the job.

Market Conditions

It’s important to know how your Realtor will work for you, but you also need to understand big-picture trends and how they can affect the process. For example, if you are entering a seller’s market, this will affect the number of bids you might receive or the number of other potential buyers you are up against. Your strategy needs to be based on current conditions.

You will also want to review industry changes like the recent NAR settlement that requires written buyer agreements before property tours. Keep in mind that commissions are now more transparent and flexible. You might be able to negotiate a better rate with the different Realtors you meet.

How to Prepare for the First Meeting With a Potential Realtor

Whether you are a buyer or seller, you need to be prepared for this meeting. Home sellers need to pull information about their properties and have an idea of their moving goals, while buyers need to know what they want out of a house.

Here are a few ways to maximize meeting value so you can feel confident choosing the right Realtor.

Financial Preparation for Buyers

If you are looking to purchase a home, gather the necessary documents to prove you are ready to navigate the home-buying process. Start talking with mortgage lenders and obtain pre-approval letters with specific loan amounts and terms. These letters show your Realtor that you are serious and ready to tour homes. 

Before your meeting, you can also gather financial documents that will be necessary to apply for a home loan. These include your tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and debt information. Your Realtor might not need to review these documents, but having them organized and on-hand can streamline the mortgage process. These documents can also confirm you have enough money if you are a cash buyer or make them aware of any potential financing hurdles (like debt). 

This financial information can help you understand your true buying power, while also helping you discuss your monthly payment comfort levels. If you do not want a monthly mortgage payment higher than $2,000, confirm that is realistic with your current finances and budget. 

Note: there are also online calculators to help you plan for your mortgage payments. These can walk you through expenses like home insurance, taxes, and HOA fees. 

Financial Preparation for Sellers

Home sellers don’t have to gather as many documents as buyers, but they should be prepared to discuss the home and any relevant information that buyers need. Ahead of your Realtor meeting, gather information like your deed, land survey, tax records, and HOA information.

You can also pull records of home improvements, repairs, and major system updates. If you recently replaced the HVAC system or updated the plumbing, for example, your real estate agent might want to promote that information in the sale. 

You can expect your Realtor to draft a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) before your first meeting. They will pull houses in your neighborhood that are similar in size and amenities that recently sold. This will give them an idea of what your house might sell for. Each Realtor you meet should provide a CMA and discuss their process in developing it. This can make you confident in your listing price. 

During this meeting, review your timeline and next housing plans. Your agent needs to know whether the property will be vacant, staged, or lived in. They also need to know how quickly you want to sell and move, especially if there is a pressing reason for listing immediately.

Research the Agent and Market

You can also research the real estate agent before you meet with them and bring Realtor-specific questions to the appointment. Check their online presence, testimonials, and recent sales activity to see how they handle the buying or selling process. You can also check their licensing status and confirm there aren’t any disciplinary actions against them through state boards. 

If you have extra time, research current market conditions in your target areas. This can make you more informed when asking questions and confirm the real estate agent is acting in your best interests by providing quality advice. You can ask them detailed questions about current trends. 

See how your Realtor’s experience compares to your buying or selling situation. Ask about typical timelines and success rates for your price range. While your agent cannot predict exactly when your home will sell and what it will sell for, they should be able to provide ballpark trends based on the current market and their experience.

Documents to Bring

Along with financial documents for buyers and property information for sellers, there are a few other things you can bring to the meeting. Consider writing down your questions ahead of time so you don’t forget them. You can also pack a notebook to take notes based on the Realtor’s answers. Also, bring a calendar so you can discuss timelines and schedule meetings. Some people enjoy digital calendar apps while others still want paper options. 

If you are a buyer, write down any must-haves in the properties you will consider. These can range from the number of bedrooms to the exact neighborhoods you want to live in. Evaluate what is an essential amenity versus an optional nice one to have. Communicating your needs and desires can increase the chances the Realtor finds properties that you are excited about.

Essential Questions to Ask Your Potential Real Estate Agent

These meetings can run longer than an hour if you have a lot of questions for your agent or if there is a lot of information to cover. Take your time drafting questions, asking follow-up queries, and getting the answers you need. It is better for a meeting to run long so you get your answers than for you to feel uncertain about the Realtor you have hired. 

“Your Realtor will be prepared with questions about your home and your sales goals, and you should also be prepared with a list of questions for the agent,” says Jenniffer Taylor, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty in La Jolla, California.

“As you browse online to find a local expert, you will find both brand new agents and seasoned agents with many years and hundreds of sales. You will also find individual agents, as well as agents who work on teams. You need to decide what type of Realtor is best for you.”

Use this comprehensive list of questions to guide your discussion and determine what you want to ask.

Experience and Credentials Questions

• How long have you been practicing real estate in this market?
• What’s your average number of transactions per year?
• What percentage of your business comes from repeat clients and referrals?
• Do you work full-time in real estate or have other commitments?
• What continuing education or professional development do you pursue?
• Are you familiar with my target neighborhoods and price range?

Performance and Results Questions for Buyers

• What’s your average time from first meeting to closed purchase?
• How many offers do your buyers typically need to submit to get accepted?
• What percentage of your buyer transactions close successfully?
• How do you help buyers compete in multiple offer situations?
• What’s your strategy for finding properties before they hit the market?
• How do you handle situations where appraisals come in low?

Performance and Results Questions for Sellers

• What’s your average days on market compared to local averages?
• What’s your list-to-sale price ratio over the past year?
• How do you price homes to sell quickly while maximizing value?
• What’s your marketing strategy for getting maximum exposure?
• How do you handle multiple offers and bidding war situations?
• What staging or preparation assistance do you provide?

Communication and Process Questions

• How often will we communicate and through what methods?
• What happens if I’m unhappy with your service?
• How do you handle scheduling conflicts and urgent situations?
• What team members assist you and what are their roles?
• How do you keep clients informed throughout the transaction?
• What technology tools do you use to enhance the client experience?

Market Knowledge Questions

• How would you describe current market conditions in my target area?
• What trends are you seeing that might affect my transaction timing?
• How do current interest rates impact buying power and strategy?
• What inventory challenges should I expect in my price range?
• How are recent regulatory changes affecting transactions?

Commission and Contract Questions

• How do you structure your commission and what services does it include?
• Can you explain the new buyer agreement requirements?
• What happens if we need to terminate our agreement early?
• How do you handle situations where the seller won’t pay the buyer agent commission?
• What additional costs should I expect during the transaction?

Red Flags to Watch For During the Meeting

Your Realtor will do their best to sell you on their experience and skills so you want to hire them. This could prevent you from seeing a few red flags that show the agent isn’t acting in your best interests. Here are a few warning signs and deal breakers to look for as you interview potential agents.

Communication Red Flags

Your agent is there to support you, so be careful if your potential Realtor frequently interrupts you or fails to listen to your concerns. Someone who is more excited to speak than to listen won’t necessarily cater to your needs. 

Another red flag is a Realtor who tries to pressure you to sign a listing agreement or buyer’s agreement immediately, especially if they don’t explain what the documents mean. Immediate pressure during the first meeting will continue until the closing process, and you might get pushed to make decisions you aren’t comfortable with. 

Beware of agents making unrealistic promises about timelines or outcomes. This is another reason to interview more than one agent. You want to confirm your plans to buy or sell are realistic. 

Finally, avoid agents who speak negatively about their peers or past clients. They could be trying to sway you against checking references or have a personality that doesn’t get along well with others.

Knowledge and Experience Red Flags

Preparing questions ahead of the meeting can help you identify knowledge gaps with your agent. For example, it’s a bad sign if your Realtor cannot answer basic questions about local market conditions and other factors affecting home sales. It’s not good if they didn’t arrive prepared to review similar homes and discuss your timeline and budget. 

Other experience concerns include the use of outdated technology and older marketing approaches. This shows that your Realtor isn’t keeping up with modern trends and continuing their education in their field. 

Always ask for references before you end the interview. If an agent doesn’t bring references with them or cannot provide them after the meeting, you might want to hire someone else.

Professionalism Red Flags

Both you and your Realtor should treat this meeting with the same level of professionalism as a job interview. Look for agents who show up on time or apologize if they are running late. Make sure your candidates are prepared with marketing materials and relevant information about the buying or selling process. Your Realtor should have spent at least an hour gathering materials for this appointment so they could provide relevant information to you. 

Other red flags include inappropriate attire or behavior for a professional consultation and pushy sales tactics. It is unacceptable for your agent to try and bully you, and unprofessional behavior during an interview will continue through the real estate process. 

If your agent is unwilling to explain their commission structure or contract terms clearly, they may be hiding something from you. This lack of transparency is often used with high-pressure sales techniques to get you to agree to the partnership. See the red flags for what they are and walk away.

Why You Should Always Interview Multiple Real Estate Agents

It’s important to interview multiple real estate agents regardless of whether this is your first time buying a house or you are a seasoned mover. Setting up multiple appointments can help you better compare the personalities and experience levels of each real estate professional. This can give you confidence to hire the best one.  

Some buyers or sellers create standardized scoring systems for objective comparison between Realtors. Others choose the best one based on presentation, knowledge, and personality. Regardless of the evaluation method you choose, give more weight to recent performance than distant past results. The Realtor who you hire now might have grown their skills or improved in recent years. This shows their commitment to improvement and might make them worth hiring. 

It’s okay if you interview a few agents and none of them are a good fit. If this is the case, start your search again. Look for Realtors who understand your specialized needs and who can provide the presentation quality you expect. It is better to spend a little more time to find the right Realtor than to have a poor experience that leaves you in a moving situation you aren’t happy about.

Work with FastExpert for Agent Selection

The right agent will welcome your questions, demonstrate market expertise, and make you feel confident about the journey ahead. They will be transparent in how they run their business and realistic about what you can expect during the real estate transaction. 

FastExpert can make it easier to find qualified agents who might be a good fit for your needs. Here are a few reasons to choose FastExpert when searching for Realtors:

• Pre-Vetted Agent Network: FastExpert agents are screened for experience, performance, and professionalism.
• Performance Transparency: Enjoy access to actual transaction data, client satisfaction scores, and market performance metrics.
• Personalized Matching: Our algorithm considers your specific needs, location, price range, and personality preferences to suggest compatible agents.

Try FastExpert today and explore the agents in your area. You might be impressed by the quality of the real estate professionals we can recommend.