Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Realtor in Los Angeles
Separate buyer and seller checklists, what a strong answer sounds like, and the red flags that tell you to keep looking.
Before you sign with any agent in Los Angeles, sit down and ask them a short list of direct questions. The answers tell you whether they know your specific market, how they get paid under the post-2024 rules, and whether they have actually closed deals at the price point and neighborhood where you are buying or selling. What the agent says matters less than whether they can answer with specifics.
Most people in Los Angeles pick a realtor the same way they pick a plumber: whoever their neighbor used or whoever came up first on Google. The NAR 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 71% of buyers and 81% of sellers hired the first agent they contacted, which means most people skip the interview entirely. In a market where a single percentage point on your list-to-sale ratio translates to tens of thousands of dollars, that is a significant oversight.
Hiring a realtor is a business decision. The interview process exists to protect you from a mismatch that costs time and money. California AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025) added new disclosure requirements around buyer-broker compensation, which means there are now legal questions worth asking before you sign anything. This guide gives you two separate checklists: one for buyers, one for sellers, each with the question text, what a strong answer looks like, and what response should make you pause.
Nothing here claims that any one agent is better than another. These are the criteria and questions that let you evaluate the answer honestly, on your own terms.
Table of Contents
- What to Know Before You Start Interviewing
- Buyer Checklist: 7 Questions to Ask
- Seller Checklist: 7 Questions to Ask
- Compensation Questions: Post-2024 Rules
- Red Flags to Watch For
- How to Verify a California Real Estate License
- When to Sign vs. Keep Looking
- Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
What to Know Before You Start Interviewing
Two rules before you sit down with any agent. First: verify the license. California DRE makes this easy. Go to dre.ca.gov, search the agent's name or license number, and confirm the license is active, check when it was issued, and look for any disciplinary action. This takes 60 seconds and is more informative than anything an agent will tell you about themselves.
Second: understand how interviewing works under the current law. California AB 2992 (signed by the Governor on September 24, 2024, effective January 1, 2025) requires that any buyer's agent who tours a home with you must have a signed written buyer-broker agreement in place first. (CA DRE Consumer Alert, November 14, 2024.) This does not apply to initial conversations or open houses. You can interview agents, ask every question on this list, and compare answers without signing anything. The agreement requirement kicks in only when you step inside a property with that agent.
Third: plan to interview at least two agents. The NAR data cited above shows most buyers and sellers skip this step entirely. An interview costs you one hour per agent. In Los Angeles, where median home prices have consistently exceeded $800,000, one hour of vetting is a reasonable investment.
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Buyer Checklist: 7 Questions to Ask Before Signing
These questions are designed for buyers who are evaluating a buyer's agent before signing a buyer-broker agreement. Ask all seven. Compare the answers from two or three agents side by side.
Why it matters: An agent who is writing offers regularly in the current LA market knows what is actually clearing. One who last wrote an offer six months ago is working with stale intelligence.
Why it matters: Every LA sub-market behaves differently. Closing deals in Highland Park (90042) is not the same skill set as closing in San Marino or Koreatown. Hyperlocal closed history is the most concrete proof of relevant experience.
Why it matters: California AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025) requires a written buyer-broker agreement before touring. Under the CAR BRBC form, the standard maximum term is 90 days, but some agents push for long exclusives immediately. You have the option to sign a single-property agreement covering one home or one showing, which lets you evaluate the working relationship before committing to a longer-term contract. Ask directly whether the agent will work this way.
Why it matters: In competitive LA price bands, many homes still attract multiple offers. An agent with a real strategy - escalation clauses, appraisal gap coverage, clean terms versus waived contingencies - is different from one who just says "offer more." The best agents know exactly which tools work in which neighborhoods right now.
Why it matters: CalHFA's MyHome down payment assistance program and the Dream For All shared-appreciation loan are available to qualifying California buyers. LACDA (LA County Development Authority) runs its own affordable homeownership programs. An agent who has never worked with these programs will not know how to structure an offer that uses them successfully. This matters for first-time buyers especially.
Why it matters: Post-August 2024, seller agents no longer place buyer-agent compensation in the MLS. Under California AB 2992, your written agreement must specify the compensation your agent will receive, and that amount is the cap from any source. You need to understand whether you may owe the agent directly if the seller does not offer compensation, and what that number is. This is now a required conversation before any agreement is signed.
Why it matters: You have the right to end a buyer-representation agreement, but the terms matter. Ask before you sign about how to terminate, whether there is a notice period, and whether there is any obligation if you close on a property you found independently during the agreement period. A professional agent will explain this clearly.
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Reserve Your Free SeatSeller Checklist: 7 Questions to Ask Before Listing
For sellers, the interview is about pricing intelligence, marketing execution, and negotiation track record. These seven questions cut through the presentation and get to what actually matters.
Why it matters: The list-to-sale ratio measures how the final sale price compares to what the home was listed at. An agent with a 106% ratio is consistently closing above asking. An agent at 94% is either overpricing to win listings or consistently losing ground in negotiations. The average is only meaningful if it is based on recent, local transactions. Ask to see the MLS records.
Why it matters: A well-priced listing in LA sells faster and for more money. Overpricing is the most expensive mistake sellers make. Ask to see the comparable sales (comps) the agent is relying on. Are they truly comparable in age, condition, square footage, lot size, and location? An agent who cannot explain their pricing logic with real comps is winging it.
Why it matters: Marketing quality directly affects both offer quantity and offer price. Professional photography is not an upgrade in most LA markets: it is expected. Beyond the photos, ask whether the agent has a buyer database they will market your home to directly before the MLS goes live, and what their social and digital footprint looks like.
Why it matters: An agent whose listings spend twice as long on market as the area average has a pricing problem, a marketing problem, or a negotiation problem. Ask them to compare their own DOM against the current area average and explain the gap - or the advantage. The California Association of REALTORS publishes monthly market data with median DOM by county and sub-market (CAR, 2025-2026).
Why it matters: The worst outcome is an overpriced listing that sits for 45 days, then reduces, signals desperation, and sells for less than if it had been priced correctly from the start. Ask what the agent's process is for monitoring buyer feedback, at what point they recommend a price reduction, and how they will present that conversation to you.
Why it matters: An agent who regularly sells in the $500K to $700K range in Glassell Park is not the same skill set as one who sells $3M+ in Los Feliz. Buyer pools are different, marketing channels are different, and negotiation dynamics are different. Price range experience in your specific neighborhood matters.
Why it matters: Post-August 2024 NAR settlement, sellers are no longer required to offer buyer-agent compensation through the MLS. Your listing agreement now covers your agent's fee, and whether to offer buyer-agent compensation is a separate negotiation. Ask what the listing commission includes, whether staging, photography, and professional cleaning are covered, and what the agent recommends about buyer-agent compensation on your home.
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Compensation Questions: What to Ask Under the Post-2024 Rules
The NAR settlement (effective August 17, 2024) changed how buyer-agent compensation works in California and across the country. Prior to the settlement, buyer-agent compensation was typically offered by the seller through the MLS and built into the listing price. Buyers often did not see or negotiate the fee directly. That structure is gone.
Under California AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025), the written buyer-broker agreement must state the compensation the agent will receive and set that amount as the maximum they can collect from any source. This means buyers need to understand what they may owe, where it comes from, and what the cap is before signing anything. (CA DRE Consumer Alert, November 14, 2024.)
| Question to Ask | What It Reveals | Required By |
|---|---|---|
| What is your compensation, and what is the maximum I could owe? | Total cost exposure; whether the agent has clearly defined their fee | CA AB 2992 (effective Jan 1, 2025) |
| What happens if the seller does not offer to cover your fee? | Whether you will be asked to pay, negotiate with the seller, or adjust the offer | Best practice; directly affects offer strategy |
| How is your commission disclosed in my written agreement? | Confirms the agent knows and follows AB 2992's written-agreement requirement | CA AB 2992; NAR Practice Changes Aug 2024 |
| Is your compensation negotiable? | Agent compensation is fully negotiable by law; knowing this is your starting point | NAR Settlement (Aug 2024): "Compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable" |
| Do you offer a flat fee or only percentage-based compensation? | Flexibility in fee structure; some agents offer flat fees for specific services | Best practice post-settlement |
Red Flags to Watch For During the Interview
Most red flags in an agent interview are not outright lies. They are evasion, vagueness, and overstatement. Here is what to watch for.
A separate, related guide covers what to look for specifically in a realtor for probate or inherited property situations: Choosing a Realtor to Sell an Inherited House in Los Angeles .
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How to Verify a California Real Estate License in 60 Seconds
The California DRE makes license verification free and public. Here is the process:
- Go to dre.ca.gov and click "Licensee Lookup."
- Search by the agent's full name or their DRE license number.
- Confirm the license status is Licensed (not inactive, expired, or suspended).
- Note the original issue date. An agent licensed since 2013 has been in practice longer than one licensed in 2022.
- Review the disciplinary history section. No action on record is what you want to see.
Under the California Business and Professions Code, any person acting as a real estate agent in California must hold an active DRE license. An expired, suspended, or inactive license means the agent cannot legally represent you. This check takes less time than reading a Yelp review and gives you information a Yelp review cannot.
If you want to understand what happens if you need to change agents mid-transaction, the guide on how to fire your realtor in California covers the CAR Form COL cancellation process and your protection period rights.
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Get My Free Home ValuationWhen to Sign vs. Keep Looking
After interviewing two or three agents, you will have concrete answers to compare side by side. Here is a simple framework for the decision.
The agent named at least one recent closed address in your target neighborhood, explained their compensation clearly, and can produce MLS-backed data behind their price recommendation or buyer strategy.
The answers were technically acceptable but vague on specifics. You did not come away with a clear sense of what makes this agent different for your particular situation, price range, or neighborhood.
The agent could not name a recent local address, could not explain post-2024 compensation rules, used bare superlatives without data, or pressured you to sign before you finished asking questions.
The guide to how to choose a realtor in Los Angeles covers the broader framework, including how to evaluate the agent's negotiation history and what the buyer-broker agreement process looks like step by step.
For first-time buyers with specific questions about programs like CalHFA or LACDA, choosing a realtor as a first-time buyer in Los Angeles goes deeper into what to look for in an agent for that specific situation.
Quick Reference: Interview Cheat Sheet
Before You Hire a Realtor in LA
| If you are a buyer | Ask questions 1-7 from the buyer checklist. Ask compensation questions specifically. Start with a single-property agreement if you prefer. |
| If you are a seller | Ask questions 1-7 from the seller checklist. Request MLS data behind any claim. Ask about the buyer-agent compensation strategy specifically. |
| To verify any agent's license | Go to dre.ca.gov, search by name or license number. Confirm active status, issue date, no disciplinary action. |
| If an agent claims a superlative | Ask for the source: #1 by what metric, in what period, verified how? If they cannot answer, the claim is unsubstantiated. |
| On buyer-broker agreements | Required in CA before touring (AB 2992, Jan 2025). Max 90-day term. You can request a single-property agreement first. Compensation must be disclosed and capped in the agreement. |
| On seller commission | Fully negotiable. Sellers no longer required to offer buyer-agent compensation through MLS (post-Aug 2024). Ask your agent for a data-based recommendation on whether to offer it. |
| How many agents to interview | At least two. NAR data shows most buyers and sellers only contacted one - which is why mismatches are common. One afternoon of interviews is a reasonable investment. |
| What no agent can honestly guarantee | A specific sale price, a specific timeline, or a specific number of offers. What they can demonstrate is a verifiable track record that gives you confidence in their process. |
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Get My Free ValuationFrequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a realtor before signing a buyer-broker agreement?
Ask how many buyers they actively represent right now, how they structure their buyer-broker agreement (do they offer a single-property option?), how they get compensated and from whom, and what specific neighborhoods in Los Angeles they have closed deals in over the past 12 months. Under California AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025), any agent who tours homes with you must have a written agreement in place first, so ask about this process before your first showing. (CA DRE Consumer Alert, November 14, 2024.)
What is the most important question to ask a realtor when selling?
Ask for their list-to-sale ratio on their last ten Los Angeles listings. An agent who consistently closes at or above the list price, verified by MLS records, is delivering real value at the negotiation table. An agent who cannot answer with a specific number is a red flag. Also ask how they arrived at the price they recommend for your home, and ask to see the comparable sales they used.
Do I have to sign a contract before I can ask a realtor questions?
No. You can speak with an agent, attend an open house, and ask questions without signing anything. California AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025) requires a signed buyer-broker agreement only before the agent tours a property with you, not before a general conversation. Interviewing two or three agents before signing anything is the sensible approach.
How many agents should I interview before hiring one?
The NAR 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 71% of buyers and 81% of sellers hired the first agent they contacted, which is why so many people end up in a mismatch. Interviewing two or three agents lets you compare responses to the same questions, spot red flags you would have missed, and build confidence in the one you choose. The interview costs you nothing but time.
What red flags should I watch for when interviewing a realtor?
Red flags include: an agent who cannot name a specific address they have closed in your target neighborhood recently; an agent who quotes a price significantly higher than the comps without explanation (overpricing to win the listing); an agent who cannot explain how they are compensated under the post-August 2024 rules; and an agent who claims to be "#1" or "best" without being able to point to a verifiable, publicly available metric to support it.
Can I use a single-property buyer agreement instead of a long-term exclusive?
Yes. Under the California Association of REALTORS BRBC form and the structure permitted by AB 2992, a buyer can sign a single-property or single-showing agreement instead of a long-term exclusive contract. This covers one property or one tour, so you can evaluate an agent before committing to a longer relationship. Not every agent will offer this: it is worth asking directly.
How do I verify a realtor's license in California?
Go to the California DRE public license lookup at dre.ca.gov and search by the agent's name or license number. The lookup shows whether the license is active, when it was issued, when it expires, and whether there is any disciplinary action on record. This takes about 60 seconds and tells you more than any marketing claim.
Should I ask about an agent's list-to-sale ratio or days on market?
Both are useful, but the list-to-sale ratio tells you more about negotiation quality. An agent with a 106% list-to-sale ratio consistently negotiates above asking price for sellers, or advises buyers accurately on what they need to offer to win. Days on market is secondary but useful: a seller's agent whose listings sit 60 days in a 20-day-average market has a pricing or marketing problem worth asking about.
What should a seller ask about an agent's marketing plan?
Ask for the specific marketing channels they use, how they price for online search visibility, whether they use professional photography as standard (not optional), how they handle open houses, and whether they have a buyer database they will market directly to before the public listing goes live. Then ask how many of their recent listings sold above asking price.
Is it okay to ask a realtor how much they will be paid?
Not only is it okay, it is now required by California law. Under AB 2992 (effective January 1, 2025), any buyer-broker agreement must specify the compensation the agent will receive and set that amount as the maximum they can collect from any source. For sellers, ask your listing agent to explain their commission structure clearly. Agent compensation is fully negotiable and they are required to disclose it. (NAR Settlement, August 17, 2024.)
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