Wichita Real Estate Blog | Tips for Buying, Selling, and Living in Wichita, KS

What Questions Should I Ask My Real Estate Agent Before Hiring?

Before hiring a real estate agent, you should ask questions that help you understand their plan, market knowledge, communication, marketing strategy, negotiation experience, and how they will guide you from start to finish.

The best questions to ask a real estate agent are:

• What is your plan for my specific situation?
• How do you determine the right price?
• What is your marketing plan?
• How well do you know the local market?
• How will you communicate with me?
• What makes you different from other agents?
• What red flags should I watch for?
• What experience do you have with homes like mine?
• How do you handle negotiations?
• What should I expect from start to finish?

These questions matter because buying or selling a home is not just about opening doors or putting a sign in the yard. You are hiring someone to help you make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

Here is what to ask before choosing a Realtor.

1. What Is Your Plan for My Situation?

This should be one of the first questions you ask.

Not every buyer or seller needs the same plan. A first-time home buyer, a move-up buyer, someone relocating to Wichita, and a seller getting ready to list all need different guidance.

A good real estate agent should ask about your goals, timeline, concerns, and what matters most to you. Then they should explain what the process looks like based on your situation.

If you are selling, the plan should include pricing, preparation, marketing, showings, negotiations, inspections, appraisal, and closing.

If you are buying, the plan should include financing, home search, neighborhoods, offer strategy, inspections, contract timelines, and closing.

You are not just hiring someone to open doors. You are hiring someone to guide the process.

2. How Do You Determine the Right Price?

If you are selling a home, pricing is one of the most important parts of the process.

A good agent should not just tell you what you want to hear. The right price should be based on a detailed market analysis, recent comparable sales, current competition, buyer demand, condition, location, and what is happening in your price range.

In Wichita, the market can move differently depending on the area, neighborhood, condition of the home, and price point. East Wichita, West Wichita, Maize, Andover, Derby, Goddard, and surrounding areas can all have different trends.

Good questions to ask are:

• How did you come up with this price?
• What homes are we competing against?
• What could cause this home to sell quickly?
• What could cause it to sit on the market?
• What is the plan if the market does not respond the way we expect?

The answer should be clear and based on data, not just a guess.

3. What Is Your Marketing Plan?

If you are selling your home, this is one of the most important questions to ask.

Anyone can put a sign in the yard and have professional pictures taken. And honestly, some agents do not even do that well.

Strong marketing is about exposure.

You want to know how many people the agent can get your home in front of, how many conversations they can create around your property, and how they plan to make your home stand out.

Ask:

• Where will my home be marketed?
• Will you use professional photography?
• Will you promote the home on social media?
• Do you have a database or audience you market to?
• How do you get other agents and buyers talking about the property?

Marketing should not be a vague answer. The agent should be able to explain exactly what they do and why it matters.

4. How Well Do You Know the Wichita Market?

Real estate is local.

A national headline about the housing market does not always tell you what is happening in Wichita. Even inside Wichita, the market can change by neighborhood, price range, and property type.

A good Wichita real estate agent should understand the detailed movement of the local market. They should know what buyers are responding to, what homes are sitting, what price ranges are more competitive, and how to position a home correctly.

Ask:

• What are you seeing in the Wichita market right now?
• How does my price range compare to the rest of the market?
• Are homes like mine moving quickly or taking longer?
• What should I know before buying or selling in this area?

The answer should feel specific, not generic.

5. How Will You Communicate With Me?

Communication can make or break the real estate experience.

Before hiring an agent, ask how often you will hear from them and what the communication process looks like.

If you are selling, you should know how showing feedback will be handled, how market activity will be reviewed, and how often you will talk about strategy.

If you are buying, you should know how quickly the agent responds, how showings are scheduled, and what happens once you are under contract.

Ask:

• How often will I hear from you?
• Will I work directly with you or with someone else on your team?
• How will you keep me updated during negotiations, inspections, and closing?

A good agent should have a clear process and make you feel informed.

6. What Makes You Different From Other Agents?

This question tells you a lot.

Some agents will answer only with years of experience or sales volume. Those things can matter, but they are not the whole picture.

You want to listen for how the agent thinks.

Do they understand the contract from front to back? Do they know the buying and selling process in detail? Do they have a real marketing plan? Do they know how to negotiate? Do they understand the local market?

In Wichita, there are many different types of agents. Some are full-time professionals. Some do real estate part-time. Some have strong systems, marketing, and support. Others rely mostly on putting the home in the MLS and waiting.

The difference usually becomes clear when you interview more than one agent.

7. What Is a Red Flag When Interviewing an Agent?

One red flag is when an agent promises they can sell your home in a specific number of days.

No agent can honestly guarantee exactly how fast a home will sell. The market, price, condition, buyer demand, interest rates, competition, and showing activity all play a role.

What an agent can promise is their work ethic, preparation, marketing exposure, communication, and strategy.

A better answer would be:

“I cannot promise the exact number of days your home will be on the market, but I can promise our team’s hard work, dedication, expert marketing exposure, and a detailed market analysis to help price your home correctly.”

That is the kind of answer sellers should be listening for.

You want honesty, not empty promises.

8. What Experience Do You Have With Homes Like Mine?

Experience matters, but the type of experience matters too.

If you are selling a luxury home, investment property, first-time buyer home, acreage, new construction, or a home that needs work, you want to know if the agent understands that type of property.

Ask:

• Have you sold homes in this price range?
• Have you worked in this area?
• What challenges do you see with my home?
• What would you do to help this home stand out?

The answer should be specific to your property and your goals.

9. How Do You Handle Negotiations?

Negotiation is not just about price.

It can include closing dates, inspections, repairs, appraisal issues, possession, seller-paid costs, contingencies, and contract terms.

A strong agent should know how to protect you while still keeping the deal moving forward.

Ask:

• How do you handle multiple offers?
• How do you help buyers write competitive offers?
• How do you handle inspection negotiations?
• How do you help sellers compare offers beyond just price?

You want an agent who can explain your options clearly and help you make confident decisions.

10. What Should I Expect From Start to Finish?

Before you hire an agent, you should understand the process.

For sellers, that may include the home evaluation, pricing strategy, preparation, marketing, listing launch, showings, offers, inspections, appraisal, and closing.

For buyers, that may include pre-approval, home search, showings, offer strategy, inspections, financing deadlines, appraisal, final walk-through, and closing.

A good agent should walk you through what happens next before it happens. That helps reduce stress and surprises.

Final Thoughts

The best questions to ask a real estate agent are not just about commission or sales numbers.

You should ask questions that help you understand their strategy, communication, market knowledge, marketing reach, negotiation experience, and process.

Before hiring a Realtor, ask yourself:

• Do they understand my goals?
• Do they know the local market?
• Do they have a clear plan?
• Do they communicate well?
• Do I trust them to guide me through the process?

Buying or selling a home is too important to leave to guesswork.

Reach Out to Us

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Wichita or the surrounding area, we would love to help you talk through your options.

You do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Whether you are just starting to think about making a move or you are ready to buy or sell soon, our team can help you understand the market, answer your questions, and create a plan that makes sense for your situation.

Reach out to Bobbie Lane Real Estate Group anytime at 316-990-0697. We would be happy to help you take the next step with confidence.

FAQ: Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

What is the first question I should ask a real estate agent?

Ask what their plan would be for your specific situation. A good agent should be able to explain the process, pricing or buying strategy, communication, and what they would do to help you reach your goal.

What should I ask a Realtor before selling my home?

Ask about pricing strategy, marketing plan, market analysis, communication, showing feedback, negotiation strategy, and how they will help your home stand out.

What should I ask a Realtor before buying a home?

Ask about the local market, offer strategy, inspections, contract timelines, financing deadlines, and how they will help you make a smart decision.

What is a red flag when interviewing a real estate agent?

A red flag is an agent who guarantees an exact sale timeline or gives vague answers about marketing, pricing, or communication. A good agent should be honest, detailed, and realistic.

Why does local market knowledge matter?

Real estate is local. A Wichita real estate agent should understand neighborhood trends, price ranges, buyer demand, and what is currently happening in the local market.