Property
If you choose the wrong thing, a lot can go wrong.
A local agent who is active in your neighborhood, whether you are buying or selling, can add tremendous value. Shutterstock
If you’re like most home buyers and sellers, you’re probably planning on hiring a real estate agent to represent you. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers – a survey covering transactions between July 2024 and June 2025 – 88 percent of buyers and 91 percent of sellers used an agent as an advisor.
But with approximately 8,700 members of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors (GBAR), how can buyers or sellers choose the agent that best suits their needs?
“Choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important decisions buyers and sellers make,” said Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate. “After all, buying or selling a home is often the largest financial transaction consumers make in their lives.”
If you choose the wrong agent, a lot can go wrong. “If a seller’s agent doesn’t know how to market your home effectively, it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars to sell,” said Joselin Malkhasian, an agent with Lamacchia Realty in Waltham and current president of GBAR. “One wrong word in a negotiation could give a buyer leverage, and failing to properly disclose things could lead to liability.”
Here are some tips for finding the right real estate agent.
Get a recommendation from someone you trust
This person could be a friend, family member, or a professional such as a lawyer or accountant. Make sure the person who recommended the agent was satisfied with the service provided.
Review all agents you are considering
Do this regardless of whether you found the agent online — as 36 percent of sellers do today, according to Zillow — or whether they were recommended to you. Check out online reviews (many are very honest). Make sure whoever you consider is a full-time broker, as others may not be aware of current market conditions.
Meet in person with each agent you are considering
This helps build a relationship. “You have to be able to express your needs,” says Michael Harper, a sales representative at Coldwell Banker in Back Bay. “People often have the wrong relationship with their agent and don’t know how to have open conversations about what works and what doesn’t work in a home.”
Make sure the agent is local
A local agent who is active in your neighborhood, whether you are buying or selling, can add tremendous value. He or she is familiar with current prices, market trends, and soon-to-be-listed homes that Zillow may not have reached yet. “You want someone who lives and breathes a particular market — who is local,” Harper said. “It’s hard to get someone to focus on you when they have to be in Fitchburg at 1 p.m. and in Back Bay at 2:30 p.m.”
Go to open houses
If you want to get an idea of how an agent would sell your home, attend open houses in your neighborhood to see how the homes are presented and how the agent treats you when you walk in. Buyers can also do this to meet agents in person.
Look for a long-term relationship, not just a one-time deal
When you choose the right agent, you build a relationship that can last for years, not just until closing. “Think of it as a partnership,” Harper said. “The relationship should follow you as long as you live in the market. Having someone on your side who can give you the right advice and has the right market knowledge will pay you big bucks.”
Some former real estate agents associated with a now-defunct Marshfield real estate company are suing the owner. – GJS – stock.adobe.com
Important questions to ask a real estate agent before hiring them:
- How long have you been working as a real estate agent and is it your full-time job?
- Tell me about the current market situation and any challenges I might face.
- How many houses have you bought or sold in 2025?
- Do you have professional designations or certifications, such as ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) or MRP (Military Relocation Professional)?
- How much commission do I pay and are there any additional fees, such as photography?
- How often will you contact me to keep me updated?
- Can you give me the names and contact information of three current customers?
- How will you market my home and what will you do to differentiate my home from others on the market?
- What tools or data sources will you use to accurately price my home, market it effectively, and attract buyers?
Robyn A. Friedman is an award-winning freelance writer who has covered real estate and personal finance for over two decades. Follow her @robynafriedman.
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