1. Experience & Focus

"How many buyers are you currently representing, and have you represented any in this specific neighborhood”
Why it matters: You want someone who knows the hyper-local market blocks at a time, and that has the bandwidth to provide you excellent service.

2. Commission & Agreements

"Can you walk me through your buyer broker agreement and explain exactly how your compensation works?"
Why it matters: Agents are now required to have you sign a written buyer agreement before touring homes. You need to know exactly what percentage or flat fee they charge, and what happens if a seller refuses to cover that fee.

3. Sourcing Properties

"How do you help me find homes beyond just setting up an automated MLS search?"
Why it matters: Anyone can look at Zillow. A great agent digs up "off-market" opportunities, contacts expired listings, or networks with other agents to find homes before they hit the general public.

4. Availability & Team Structure

"Will I be working directly with you throughout the entire process, or will parts of my transaction be handed off to an assistant or a team member?"
Why it matters: Some top-producing agents win your business but then pass you off to a green assistant for the actual showings and paperwork. Know who your main point of contact will be.

5. Strategy in a Competitive Market

"What is your strategy for helping me win a multi-offer situation without wildly overpaying?"
Why it matters: They should have concrete tactics beyond "just bid higher"—such as escalation clauses, flexible closing timelines tailored to the seller, or clean terms that minimize seller risk.

6. Managing the Process

"How many clients are you currently working with right now, and what is your preferred method and timeline for communication?"
Why it matters: If they are juggling 15 buyers at once, you might miss out on a hot home because they were too busy to write an offer. You also want to ensure their communication style (text, call, email) matches yours.

7. Problem Solving

"Can you tell me about a recent transaction where the home inspection or appraisal came in low, and how you negotiated through it?"
Why it matters: The real work begins after you go under contract. You need an agent who knows how to salvage a deal using data when things go sideways.

8. Vendor Network

"Do you have a vetted list of local lenders, home inspectors, and contractors you recommend, and do you receive any referral fees from them?"
Why it matters: A reliable network speeds up your timeline. (Note: It is illegal for them to take kickbacks under RESPA laws, but asking guarantees transparency).

9. Price Guidance

"How do you determine if a home is priced fairly before we draft an offer?"
Why it matters: They should explain how they run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) looking at recent closed sales, pending sales, and local market absorption rates to protect you from overpaying.

10. Terminating the Relationship

"If we find that we aren't a good fit after a few weeks, what is your policy regarding cancelling our buyer agency agreement?"
Why it matters: You don't want to lock yourself into a 6-month exclusive contract with an agent who turns out to be unresponsive or pushy. Look for an agent willing to include a "cancel-anytime" clause if you're both unhappy.