How to find a good Real Estate Agent
To find a good real estate agent, start with referrals and local research, then interview at least three agents, ask how they communicate, review their recent sales, and pay attention to how well they listen to your goals. A good real estate agent combines local knowledge and negotiation skill with a working style that actually fits you.
This guide walks through each step, the questions worth asking, and the red flags worth avoiding. It also explains how Requity adds communication style and relationship fit to the search, which most agent directories leave out.
Start with referrals, but do not stop there
Friends, family, and coworkers who recently bought or sold a home are a natural starting point. A referral tells you an agent closed a deal and left a good impression. What it does not tell you is whether that agent fits you. The agent who was perfect for a decisive friend may frustrate a first time buyer who wants every step explained. Treat referrals as candidates to interview, not final answers.
Check online directories and recent sales history
Directories and brokerage websites help you confirm an agent is licensed, active, and working in your area. Look at how recently they closed transactions, whether those transactions match your price range and property type, and whether they work your specific neighborhoods. An agent with recent, relevant sales is more likely to know current pricing, inventory, and negotiation conditions in your market.
Interview at least three agents
Interviewing multiple agents is the single most useful step most people skip. Speaking with at least three agents gives you a baseline for comparison: how they explain their process, how quickly they respond, how they handle your questions, and how comfortable you feel talking to them. The differences between agents usually become obvious by the second or third conversation.
Ask how they communicate
Ask each agent how often they send updates, whether they prefer calls, texts, or email, and how fast they typically respond during an active deal. Then compare that against what you want. If you need frequent, detailed updates and the agent prefers short weekly texts, that mismatch will wear on you for months. Communication style is one of the most common reasons agent relationships break down.
Ask how they run comps
Comparable sales analysis is where good agents prove their local knowledge. Ask how they choose comparable properties, how they adjust for condition and location, and how they would price the home you want to buy or sell. A good real estate agent can explain their comps clearly and show their reasoning. A weak answer here is a sign that pricing guidance will be shaky when it matters most.
Ask about offer strategy
Whether you are buying or selling, ask what their offer strategy looks like in the current market. For buyers: how do they decide the opening number, when do they recommend escalation, and how do they handle multiple offer situations? For sellers: how do they evaluate offers beyond price, including financing strength and contingencies? Clear, specific answers signal real experience.
Watch for red flags
- Slow or vague responses during the interview stage, when they should be at their most attentive
- Pressure to sign an agreement before answering your questions
- Comps or pricing opinions with no clear reasoning behind them
- Vague answers about the neighborhoods you care about
- Talking more than listening, or steering you away from your stated goals
For a fuller list, read real estate agent red flags to watch for.
How Requity adds communication style and fit to the search
Most searches focus on credentials and sales history. Those matter, but they are only half of the decision. Requity adds the other half: a short relationship style assessment that captures how you communicate, how you make decisions, and what kind of support you want. Requity then supports agent matching based on personality insights, transaction needs, and location, with a human reviewer looking at every profile before a match is finalized.
Ready to find your agent match?
Complete a short relationship style assessment and let Requity help you connect with a real estate agent who fits how you communicate.
Find your agentFrequently asked questions
How do I find a good real estate agent?
Start with referrals and directory research, interview at least three agents, ask about communication habits, comps, and offer strategy, and compare how well each agent listens to your goals. Agent matching platforms like Requity can also factor in communication style and fit.
How do I know if a real estate agent is good?
Good real estate agents respond promptly, explain their reasoning on pricing and strategy, know your target neighborhoods in detail, and adjust how they communicate to fit you. Recent relevant sales plus clear answers in an interview are strong signals.
How many real estate agents should I interview?
Three is a practical minimum. Interviewing several agents gives you a real basis for comparison on communication, strategy, and local knowledge, and the differences usually become clear quickly.
Is it okay to switch real estate agents?
Yes, subject to any agreement you signed. If communication has broken down or your goals are not being heard, review your agreement terms, communicate your decision clearly, and find an agent who fits better.
How does Requity help me find a good real estate agent?
Requity uses a relationship style assessment to understand how you communicate and what support you need, then supports agent matching based on compatibility, transaction needs, and location, with human review before a match is finalized.