1. What experience do you have with situations like mine?
Ask about recent work involving a similar property type, price range, location, or transaction challenge. A first purchase, a sale followed by a move, a home on acreage, and an older house can raise different questions.
Years in the business provide context, but ask what the agent actually handled. If they show you a sale, find out whether they represented the buyer or seller and what their role was.
2. Who will be my main contact?
Understand who will attend appointments, write offers, negotiate, and send updates. If you are hiring a team, ask which responsibilities belong to your lead agent and which may be handled by someone else.
Also ask what happens when your agent is unavailable. A clear coverage plan is more useful than an assumption that one person will always answer immediately.
3. How well do you know the areas I am considering?
An agent should be able to explain how they would research the locations and properties relevant to your plans. Ask about recent comparable sales, common property questions, and the resources they use when a detail requires verification.
In Eugene, that may include hillside access, older-home maintenance, property jurisdiction, or school-boundary questions. A useful answer identifies what needs checking and who can provide reliable information.
4. Who will you represent?
Ask the agent to explain their role and the agency disclosures before you assume they represent you. A listing agent represents the seller under the listing agreement. A buyer should understand whether they have their own representation and what happens if the same broker or team is involved on both sides.
Oregon permits disclosed limited agency with the required agreements and consent. Ask how that arrangement would affect the assistance you receive. The Oregon Real Estate Agency's agreement overview explains the basic framework.
5. What does the written agreement cover?
Read the services, start and end dates, exclusivity, compensation, and termination provisions. Ask about anything you do not understand before signing, including what happens if your plans change.
Oregon requires written buyer representation agreements for covered residential transactions. The state's timing rule is distinct from NAR/MLS practice requirements that may require an agreement before an agent-guided tour. Discuss the applicable timing with the agent before arranging showings. The Oregon agency's buyer agreement FAQs explain this distinction.
6. How are you paid, and what could I owe?
Real estate compensation is negotiable and is not set by law. Ask for the amount or method of calculation, the services included, who is expected to pay, and when payment would be due.
Buyers should understand what happens if compensation offered by another party does not cover the amount in their agreement. Sellers should understand the listing compensation and any additional compensation or concessions being proposed. The NAR consumer guide to written buyer agreements is a useful starting resource.
7. How will you help me evaluate price?
For a seller, ask the agent to explain the proposed price using relevant sales and current competition. Discuss how condition, location, improvements, and timing affect the comparison. A high suggested price is not useful without a credible explanation.
For a buyer, ask how the agent evaluates an asking price and recommends offer terms. The answer should consider the property and current competition, along with your budget and priorities.
8. What services are included?
Sellers should ask about preparation, photography, staging support, marketing, showing coordination, and offer review. Understand which services are included and which could involve separate costs.
Buyers should ask about search planning, tours, property research, offer preparation, inspection coordination, and transaction support. If you are relocating, discuss remote communication and the schedule for an in-person visit.
Get specific enough that you can compare proposals on the same basis.
9. How will you communicate and keep the transaction organized?
Discuss how you prefer to communicate and when you generally need to be reached. Ask what updates to expect while searching or marketing a home, and how deadlines will be tracked once you are under contract.
Availability matters. Ask about the agent's current workload and coverage rather than relying only on whether they describe themselves as full-time or part-time.
10. Can I verify your credentials and relevant work?
Use the Oregon Real Estate Agency's license lookup to check the agent's license information. Review recent transactions and client feedback, and ask for examples that relate to your needs.
Read reviews for patterns in communication and service, not just the total number or star rating. When an agent cites a ranking, award, or sales figure, ask about its source, date, and scope.
Compare the answers before you choose
After the conversations, consider whether each agent explained the process clearly, answered your questions directly, and understood your goals. You should know what they propose to do, who will do it, what it costs, and what you are agreeing to.
Notice how they handle uncertainty. Some questions require records, inspections, a lender, or another specialist. An agent should help you obtain the right information rather than make unsupported promises about a property or outcome.
Meet Team Burke
Team Burke at Triple Oaks Realty represents buyers and sellers in Eugene, Springfield, Florence, and other Lane County communities. We welcome questions about our experience, services, and how we would approach your plans.
Explore our Eugene realtor services, buyer representation, or home-selling services. You can also review sold properties and learn about the people on the team.
Contact Team Burke or call 541-968-0423 to discuss your next move.
What clients say
“Team Burke far surpassed every expectation marketing our home and 16-acre property. Every promise was kept. They were available without exception — and the house sold in less than 30 days.”
Lane County seller · Acreage · Eugene
“The well, the septic, and the driveway were the actual house. Cheyenne already knew which questions to ask before we fell in love with the gate.”
Acreage buyers · Lane County
“First house, first offer, first inspection. Shawna explained every step the way a good teacher would — clearly, and without making us feel behind.”
First-time buyers · Springfield
“Samantha staged so the photos looked like the house we actually lived in — not a hotel, not a storage unit. The first weekend proved it.”
Listing sellers · Eugene
“We moved from Florence and needed someone who understood both the coast file and the Eugene close. Melissa already knew how title would behave.”
Coast-to-valley buyers · Florence to Eugene
“We have bought and sold houses in different states, but Jon impressed us the most. He made sure we fixed what needed fixing before it hit the market. The house sold within a week.”
Repeat clients · Eugene
The team
Questions about choosing a realtor
How many realtors should I interview?+
Interview enough to make an informed comparison. Two or three can be a useful starting point, but there is no required number. Focus on whether you understand the differences in services, experience, and working style.
Should I choose the agent who suggests the highest listing price?+
Ask how each agent supports the suggested price and what strategy they recommend if the market response is different from expectations. Compare the evidence and plan, not just the number.
Should I choose the lowest fee?+
Compare the fee alongside the services, responsibilities, and terms of the agreement. Compensation is negotiable. Make sure you understand what is included and whether other costs could apply.
What is the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?+
A real estate license authorizes the professional to perform licensed real estate work. REALTOR® identifies a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Check licensing and ask about relevant experience regardless of the title used.
Do I need a buyer's agent if I found a home online?+
Finding a listing and deciding how to purchase it are different steps. Ask what buyer representation includes, how it is paid for, and how it could help with your transaction. Understand the listing agent's role before assuming that person represents you.
Can the listing agent represent me too?+
Oregon allows disclosed limited agency when the required agreements and consent are in place. Ask for a clear explanation of the arrangement and its limitations before agreeing to it.
Do I have to sign an agreement just to attend an open house?+
The Oregon Real Estate Agency says a buyer does not need a buyer representation agreement simply to tour an open house. Hiring an agent to assist with a search or purchase raises separate agreement requirements. Explain what you are asking the agent to do and discuss the terms before proceeding.
Can I change agents if the relationship is not working?+
Review the agreement's term, exclusivity, termination process, and any continuing compensation obligations. Discuss the problem and your options with the agent or supervising principal broker before entering another agreement.
Is a team better than an individual agent?+
Either arrangement can work. Ask who will do the work, how information is shared, and how coverage and accountability are handled. Choose the structure that supports your needs and communication preferences.
What should a first-time buyer ask?+
Ask how the agent explains the process, coordinates with your lender, helps you evaluate homes, and keeps track of contract deadlines. Our first-time buyer guide provides additional preparation.