Short answer: interview two or three agents and choose on four things — recent sales volume, a specific marketing or search plan, fast communication, and honest pricing backed by local comparable sales. A full-time agent who welcomes your questions and shows recent results is almost always the safer choice.
Choosing an agent is the single biggest decision you make before buying or selling. It shapes your price, your timeline, and how stressful the whole thing feels. The good news: you don't need insider knowledge to pick well — you just need to ask the right questions and watch how each agent responds.
Real estate moves fast — offers, inspections, and deadlines don't wait. A full-time agent is in the market every day and reachable when it counts. There's nothing wrong with part-time agents, but ask directly, because availability becomes a real issue when an offer needs a response in hours.
Ask how many homes the agent (and their team) has sold in the last 24 months. Recent volume means current, real-world data on what's actually selling in your neighborhood. Then ask two numbers most people skip: average days on market and list-to-sale price ratio. Those reveal pricing skill and negotiation results far better than a slogan.
For sellers, you want a specific marketing plan: pricing strategy, professional photography and video, and where your home will actually be promoted. For buyers, you want a search and negotiation plan that fits your situation. "I'll put it in the MLS" is not a plan.
A good agent prices from recent comparable sales near you and accounts for condition, lot, and — especially in North Houston — nearby new-construction incentives. Be cautious of an agent who "buys the listing" with a high number to win your business; inflated pricing leads to a stale listing and later cuts.
Ask how and how often they'll keep you updated, and set that expectation up front. If an agent is slow to respond while courting your business, they'll be slower once you've signed.
Rankings can be useful signals, but ask what they're based on and over what period, then pair them with verifiable proof — recent sales and genuine reviews. For reference, the Tyler Real Estate Team sold 115+ homes in 2025, holds a 4.8-star rating across 24 Google reviews, and ranks as a Top 200 Keller Williams agent nationwide and Top 10 regional agent two years running.
Two companion reads: the exact questions to ask a realtor and the red flags to watch for.
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Interview two or three, then choose on recent sales volume, a clear plan, fast communication, and honest pricing backed by local comparable sales.
Full-time or part-time, homes sold in the last 24 months, average days on market and list-to-sale ratio, the exact marketing or search plan, how they communicate, and how they're paid. See the full list.
It usually means ranking among the highest producers by sales volume in a brokerage, region, or market. Ask what it's based on and pair it with verifiable recent results and reviews.