When buying or selling a home, the task seems monumental, and while it is possible to do it on your own, this usually over-complicates the process. That’s why most people choose to work with a qualified REALTOR when buying or selling property.

Finding the right REALTOR. however, can be slightly more challenging as many dont know what to ask during the interview process. If you are interviewing REALTORs, here are 6 starter questions you should ask to see if you are on the right track.

1. Can You Provide References?

You don’t need a laundry list of professional and personal references before hiring a REALTOR, but any REALTOR worth their salt should be able to quickly provide a few people for you to call or talk to in person. If they can’t, it either shows that they’re too new to the business for you to work with or that their past customers might not have been satisfied with their work both of which are immediate red flags.

2. Have You Worked With People Like Me?

Some REALTORs have worked with many first time buyers – others specialize in high-end markets. While your situation might not be either of those, finding a REALTOR that regularly works with people in your situation is essential. Hiring someone who isnt is akin to getting a dental exam from a podiatrist.

3. Do You Have Connections?

A qualified REALTOR is able to connect you with all sorts of people you’ll need to know during the buying or selling process, like mortgage lenders, home inspectors, and contractors. Those connections are valuable for you, and are a big reason to pick one agent over another.

4. Do You Know My Area?

When hiring a REALTOR, you need to know that they understand the area you’re selling in or the area you’re buying into. If they don’t, they won’t know whether the area is on an upswing or in a decline.

Without that information, you may not get full value for your home, or could end up paying too much or buying in the wrong area completely.

5. Do You Work With a Team?

A REALTOR that works with a team isn’t good or bad – but it can be beneficial when it comes to selling your home quickly or finding the right home in a hurry. If you find yourself in need of either of those things, look for someone who has a team behind them, since they’ll be able to delegate the little tasks while working on the big picture.

6. How Many Clients Do You Represent?

A REALTOR that works with a team often represent more clients, which is something to pay attention to. A number that’s too high could mean they really don’t have time for you, and you might end up on the backburner. A single REALTOR probably shouldn’t be handling more than 10 clients, and a team shouldn’t often have more than 20. Any more than that and you could be waiting days for a return phone call or scheduling viewings a week in advance.

Picking the right REALTOR to help you buy or sell a home is important for almost everybody, and particularly important for first time buyers and sellers. And as the real estate market is always changing, it’s best to at least consult 3 qualified REALTORs in your area before making a decision on whom to work with and before making a home purchase or sale .

Naomi Shaw is a freelance writer in Southern California. Having gone through the process of selling her home before, she knows how challenging it can be and found that working with a REALTOR was a great asset to success.