Before you hire a Phoenix realtor, ask these five questions: how long have they worked full time, can they show you reviews or connect you with past clients, what is their specific plan to sell your home or find you one, and who will actually be handling your transaction. Here is why each one matters.
Has your realtor disappeared before?
It happens more than you would think. A lot of agents get licensed, work for a year or two, and then quietly leave when the market cools off. Real estate is not a get rich quick business. It takes experience, and it takes time.
Here is the part that matters for you. Whether you are buying your first home or selling one you have loved for years, the person you hire is walking you through one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. That is not a job for someone doing this on the side.
Why does experience actually matter?
Everybody knows a Realtor. It might be your cousin, or someone from work who picked up a license last spring. They may be lovely people. But if real estate is not their full time focus, you are the one who absorbs the risk.
I have been helping Phoenix families buy and sell homes for over 16 years, through hot markets and slow ones. That experience is the difference between guessing and knowing. Knowing how to price a home so it actually sells. Knowing how to spot a problem property before you fall in love with it. Knowing how to hold a deal together when something goes sideways, because something always goes sideways.
What are the 5 questions to ask any realtor?
Ask these before you sign anything. A good agent will be happy you asked.
- How long have you been doing this full time? You want years, not months, and you want this to be their actual job.
- Can you show me reviews or put me in touch with past clients? Anyone good will not hesitate.
- If I am selling, what is your specific plan to get my home sold? Listen for pricing strategy, prep work, photography, and marketing. Putting it in the MLS is not a plan.
- If I am buying, how will you help me find the right home in this market? You want someone who knows the neighborhoods, not just how to set a search filter.
- Who will I actually be working with? Some agents hand you off after the first meeting. You should know who is answering your calls.
What do my clients say?
About 95% of my business comes from referrals. Past clients who trusted me once and then came back, or sent me their sister, or their neighbor. I am prouder of that number than any sales figure, because you do not get referrals by disappearing.
What makes a designer’s eye different?
Here is what makes me a little different. I am a Realtor and a designer. When we walk a house together, I am not only looking at square footage and comps. I am seeing what that house could become.
For sellers, that means knowing which small changes will bring the biggest return before we ever list. For buyers, it means helping you see past the dated wallpaper to the home underneath.
Buying or selling? Let us talk
Whether you are ready now or just starting to think about it, I would love to help you figure out your next move.
Quick answers
Should I ask how long my realtor has worked full time? Yes. Full time experience through multiple market cycles matters more than a license alone.
Can I ask a realtor for references? Always. A realtor with a strong track record will connect you with past clients happily.
What should a realtor’s plan look like when selling my home? It should cover pricing strategy, prep work, professional photography, and marketing, not just a listing in the MLS.
Lisa Herland, REALTOR®
Brokers Hub Realty, Phoenix, Arizona
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