Buying a home is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll ever make. The wrong agent can cost you money, waste your time, or even cause you to lose the house you want. Too many buyers think an agent is just there to unlock doors and shuffle paperwork. The reality is that there is a broad spectrum of skill and value among buyer’s agents, and the right agent can help you get a better deal on a better house faster. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best agent for you.
They Have a Fiduciary Duty… But That’s Not Enough
By law, a buyer’s agent has a fiduciary duty to put your interests first. A great agent proves they’re on your side by anticipating your needs, pointing out problems with homes (not just the positives), and protecting you from mistakes. If they’re not doing that, the “fiduciary” label is just a word on paper.
How You’ll Be Notified of Listings Matters
Most agents set you up with an automatic email from the MLS. That’s fine, but it’s the bare minimum. A great agent goes further: they watch the market daily, flag especially good opportunities, and personally call you when something truly worth seeing hits. If your agent is only as good as the auto-email you’re already getting, you’re basically doing the job yourself.
Who Really Pays for a Buyer’s Agent?
Technically, the buyer is responsible for the agent’s fee. But in most cases, your agent negotiates so the seller’s proceeds cover that fee. In doing this, you are essentially including your agent’s fee as part of your offer to the seller, and if the offer is strong enough, the seller will agree to pay it. A great agent will explain this clearly up front and make sure you’re not left footing costs you didn’t expect. If an agent dodges the question or acts like their service is “free,” that’s a red flag. Nothing in real estate is free, but with the right approach, it can be structured so it doesn’t come out of your pocket. There should never be any surprises.
Ask Every Question and Pay Attention to the Answers
A good agent welcomes your questions, even the ones you think are “dumb” ones. In fact, the best agents encourage them. If you ever feel like you’re bothering your agent or being discouraged from asking, that means their time (or their paycheck) is more important to them than your peace of mind. The right agent will make sure you understand the process and never make you feel small for wanting clarity.
Demand Proof of Their Negotiation Skills
Talk is cheap. Every agent will say they’re a “great negotiator.” But you should ask for specific, recent examples of how they negotiated with a seller’s agent in a way that helped their buyer win. A true professional will have stories, maybe they got the seller to cover thousands in repairs, or they beat out multiple offers without overpaying. If they can’t give you examples that inspire confidence, that tells you all you need to know.
Communication Should Be Clear, Fast, and Honest
A lousy agent leaves you guessing: slow to return calls, vague about next steps, or full of empty reassurances. A great agent tells you the hard truths, like when a house is overpriced or when your offer isn’t strong enough. They answer your calls and explain things in plain English, not jargon. If you’re left in the dark, that’s not someone working for you. That’s someone along for the ride.
Don’t Get Trapped in a Bad Contract
Most agents will ask you to sign an exclusive buyer agency agreement. That’s normal, it formalizes that they represent you. But here’s the no-BS advice: don’t let anyone lock you in for a year. A great agent is confident enough to start with a shorter term (like 30-90 days) and prove their worth. They don’t need to trap you with a contract because they know you’ll want to stick around. We take it a step further by adding an “Easy-Out” Provision to our agency agreements. If you don’t want us to work for you, we want you to feel free to walk away.
The No-BS Takeaway
The right agent works for you, not their paycheck. They will:
- Go beyond auto-emails to actively find homes for you
- Be transparent about how they’re paid
- Encourage your questions and answer them clearly
- Prove their negotiation skills with real examples
- Communicate quickly, honestly, and directly
Don’t settle for just any agent. Choose one who proves, day after day, that they’re actually working for you.
