Choosing a real estate agent matters whether you are selling a home, buying one, renting an apartment, or looking for a tenant.

The transaction may be different, but the basic question is the same:

Does this agent have the experience, local knowledge and process to represent me well?

Too often, people choose an agent based on convenience, personality or whoever responds first.

That can be a mistake.

In a competitive market like Queens, the right agent should understand pricing, negotiation, neighborhood differences, paperwork, timing and how to protect your position from the beginning of the transaction through the end.

Here are the questions we believe every buyer, seller, landlord and renter should ask before hiring a real estate agent.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have in This Neighborhood?

Real estate is local.

An agent who understands Astoria may know which blocks command premiums, how proximity to the N/W affects demand, how different co-op buildings operate and where rental pricing changes from one pocket to another.

The same principle applies throughout Queens.

Ask:

How many transactions have you completed in this neighborhood?

Do you regularly work with this type of property?

What have you seen in the market recently?

Neighborhood knowledge becomes especially important when pricing a home, evaluating an offer or deciding whether a rental is fairly priced.

2. Do You Regularly Handle This Type of Transaction?

Not every real estate transaction requires the same expertise.

A co-op sale is different from a condominium sale.

A multifamily home requires different analysis from a single-family property.

A rental has different documentation, timing and negotiation issues from a purchase.

Ask the agent about experience specifically relevant to your situation.

For example:

Sellers: How many similar properties have you sold?

Buyers: How many buyers have you represented in this type of property?

Landlords: How do you screen and qualify tenants?

Renters: How familiar are you with the buildings and rental inventory in my target area?

Relevant experience is more valuable than a broad sales number.

3. How Do You Determine Market Value?

For buyers, sellers and renters, understanding market value is fundamental.

An agent should be able to explain the numbers behind their recommendation.

For a sale, that may include:

• Recent closed sales
• Active competition
• Properties under contract
• Days on market
• Condition
• Location
• Property type
• Price per square foot where relevant

For a rental, it may include:

• Comparable active rentals
• Recently rented units
• Concessions
• Building amenities
• Floor and exposure
• Laundry and outdoor space
• Proximity to transportation

The agent should be able to explain not only what a property is worth, but why.

4. What Is Your Strategy?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask.

Every transaction should have a plan.

If You Are Selling

Ask how the agent will position, launch and market the property.

You should understand the photography, pricing strategy, advertising, open houses, agent outreach and buyer follow-up.

If You Are Buying

Ask how the agent identifies opportunities, evaluates value and structures offers.

You should also understand how they handle competitive bidding situations.

If You Are Renting

Ask how the search will be organized.

Will the agent identify listings before you see them online?

How quickly can they schedule appointments?

Will they help compare pricing and lease terms?

If You Are a Landlord

Ask how the agent markets the rental, screens applicants and communicates with prospective tenants.

A good agent should have a clear answer.

5. Who Will Actually Be Handling My Transaction?

If you are hiring a team, understand who does what.

Ask who will:

• Show properties
• Schedule appointments
• Review offers or applications
• Negotiate
• Handle paperwork
• Communicate with attorneys or management
• Manage the transaction through closing or lease signing

A team can offer significant advantages.

But responsibility should be clear.

You should know who owns each step of the process.

6. How Quickly Do You Communicate?

Real estate moves quickly.

That is especially true in rentals.

A strong apartment can receive multiple applications within hours.

A desirable house or condo may receive several offers after the first open house.

Ask:

How quickly should I expect a response?

Who do I contact if something is urgent?

How will you keep me updated?

Good communication should not depend on chasing your agent.

7. How Do You Handle Negotiation?

Negotiation is one of the most important parts of representation.

Price matters, but it is rarely the only issue.

For a purchase or sale, negotiations may include:

• Price
• Financing
• Closing date
• Inspection terms
• Mortgage contingency
• Appraisal risk
• Property condition
• Possession

For rentals, negotiations may include:

• Rent
• Lease term
• Move-in date
• Concessions
• Pets
• Guarantors
• Included utilities
• Repairs or improvements

Ask the agent how they approach negotiations and how they determine when to push and when to protect the deal.

8. How Do You Handle Multiple Offers or Multiple Applications?

Competitive situations require judgment.

For sellers and landlords, the highest number is not always the strongest offer.

A buyer may offer more money but have weaker financing.

A rental applicant may offer a higher rent but present more risk.

For buyers and renters, the agent should help you understand how to make your offer or application stronger without unnecessarily overpaying.

The goal is not simply to win.

The goal is to win on terms that still make sense.

9. What Documents Will I Need?

A good agent should prepare you before the transaction becomes urgent.

Buyers May Need

• Pre-approval
• Proof of funds
• Financial statement
• Identification
• Co-op documentation

Sellers May Need

• Property disclosures
• Deed or ownership information
• Building documents
• Existing leases
• Offering plan or co-op documents

Renters May Need

• Identification
• Employment verification
• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Pay stubs
• Landlord references
• Guarantor information

Landlords May Need

• Ownership documentation
• Required disclosures
• Lease documents
• Building rules
• Application requirements

Preparation creates leverage.

Waiting until the last minute creates unnecessary risk.

10. What Fees Will I Pay?

Ask about fees before beginning the process.

Depending on the transaction, these may include:

• Brokerage compensation
• Attorney fees
• Inspection costs
• Appraisal fees
• Building application fees
• Move-in fees
• Credit check fees
• Rental application costs
• Closing costs

You should understand who pays what and when.

For rentals in particular, fee structures can vary by listing and representation arrangement.

Clarity matters.

11. Are You Representing Me or the Other Party?

This is one of the most overlooked questions in real estate.

Ask exactly who the agent represents.

Are they representing the seller?

The landlord?

The buyer?

The renter?

Are they acting as a buyer’s or tenant’s agent?

Could dual agency apply?

Representation determines whose interests the agent is obligated to protect.

You should understand that before sharing financial information, negotiating strategy or other confidential details.

12. What Happens If the Deal Starts Going Wrong?

The best measure of an agent is not how they perform when everything is easy.

It is how they respond when something becomes complicated.

Ask how they handle:

• Inspection problems
• Low appraisals
• Financing delays
• Board issues
• Tenant qualification problems
• Lease disputes
• Closing delays
• Title issues
• Unexpected property conditions

Experience matters most when the transaction stops following the original plan.

13. Can You Show Me Your Track Record?

Ask for relevant transactions.

A seller should see similar sales.

A buyer should ask about purchases in their target area.

A landlord should ask about rental experience.

A renter should work with someone who understands the current rental market and inventory.

Our team has worked throughout Queens since 2002, representing buyers, sellers, landlords, renters, investors and developers across co-ops, condos, single-family homes, multifamily properties and rental transactions.

The property type may change.

The principle does not.

Good representation starts with experience, preparation and clear advice.

Questions Sellers Should Ask a Real Estate Agent

If you are selling, make sure you ask:

How did you arrive at my asking price?

What is your marketing plan?

How will you create competition?

How will you communicate buyer feedback?

What happens if we do not receive an offer?

How will you evaluate multiple offers?

Your agent should be able to answer every question clearly.

Questions Buyers Should Ask a Real Estate Agent

Buyers should ask:

How well do you know my target neighborhoods?

How do you evaluate whether a property is overpriced?

How do you structure competitive offers?

How will you identify new inventory?

What problems should I look for with this property type?

How will you guide me from accepted offer through closing?

A buyer’s agent should be more than a person who opens doors.

Questions Renters Should Ask a Real Estate Agent

Renters should ask:

Do you regularly work in my target neighborhood?

What documentation will I need?

How quickly do apartments typically move?

What fees should I expect?

Is the agent representing me or the landlord?

Are there concessions or lease terms we may be able to negotiate?

In markets like Astoria and Long Island City, preparation can make the difference between securing an apartment and losing it.

Questions Landlords Should Ask a Real Estate Agent

Landlords should ask:

How will you determine the rent?

How will you market the apartment?

How will applicants be screened?

What documentation will you collect?

How will you handle multiple applications?

How do you evaluate applicant strength beyond income alone?

The goal is not simply finding a tenant.

It is finding a qualified tenant while protecting the property and minimizing vacancy.

What Is the Most Important Thing to Look for in a Real Estate Agent?

The answer is judgment.

Experience matters.

Marketing matters.

Negotiation matters.

But the real value of a good real estate agent is the ability to interpret information and recommend the right next step.

That may mean telling a seller the price is too high.

It may mean telling a buyer not to chase an overpriced property.

It may mean advising a renter to move quickly.

Or telling a landlord that the strongest applicant is not necessarily the one offering the highest rent.

You should hire someone who is willing to give you the advice you need, even when it is not the answer you expected.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Real Estate Agent

What questions should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them?

Ask about neighborhood experience, property-type experience, pricing, marketing, negotiation, communication, fees, representation and who will personally handle your transaction.

Should renters use a real estate agent?

A knowledgeable rental agent can help renters identify inventory, understand pricing, organize documentation, schedule appointments quickly and navigate applications and lease terms.

Should buyers interview real estate agents?

Yes. Buyers should understand an agent’s local experience, availability, negotiation strategy and knowledge of the property types they plan to purchase.

What should sellers look for in a listing agent?

Sellers should look for relevant local sales experience, a defensible pricing strategy, a clear marketing plan and a strong process for managing offers and negotiations.

What should landlords ask a rental agent?

Landlords should ask about pricing, marketing, applicant qualification, communication, lease preparation and the process for evaluating multiple applications.

How do I know whether an agent represents me?

Ask directly. Your agent should explain who they represent, what duties they owe you and whether another agency relationship could apply.

Looking for a Real Estate Agent in Queens?

Whether you are buying or selling, the first step should be understanding the market and your options.

The Bianca Colasuonno Team has worked with Queens neighbors since 2002 across Astoria, Long Island City, Forest Hills, and throughout the borough.

We believe the process should start with clear information, realistic expectations and a strategy designed around your goals.

Schedule a 15-minute consultation with The Bianca Colasuonno Team to discuss your next move.