Short answer: Ask your real estate agent how many homes they have closed in the last year, whether they will represent you personally or hand you off to a team, how they price or negotiate in your specific neighborhood, and how they communicate. The right answers show local track record, a clear plan, and someone who actually picks up the phone.
I have sat across the table from a lot of buyers and sellers here in the valley, and the ones who feel calm during the process almost always did the same thing up front. They interviewed their agent like it mattered, because it does. Picking the wrong person can cost you thousands and a whole lot of stress. Here are the questions I would ask if I were hiring an agent in Las Vegas today.
How many homes have you actually closed, and where?
Anyone can hold a license. What you want to know is how much real, recent work they have done and whether it lines up with your situation. An agent who sells a few condos a year on the Strip is not the same as one who knows Summerlin trailing-end inventory or what a Henderson seller needs to do to compete. Ask for a number, not a vibe. For context, our team has sold more than 1,100 homes in the Las Vegas Valley, so we have seen most situations more than once. If you want the longer breakdown of how this side of the business works, I wrote about how much real estate agents make in Las Vegas, which also explains who is paying whom.
Will I work with you, or get passed to someone else?
This one trips people up. Plenty of agents win your business in the first meeting, then hand you off to a junior person you never met. There is nothing wrong with a team, as long as you know who you are getting. Our model is built on that idea on purpose. We use dedicated buyer specialists and dedicated seller specialists, so you are working with someone who does that job all day, every day, instead of one person trying to do everything at once. Ask directly: who answers my texts on a Saturday, who writes my offer, and who shows up to the inspection?
What questions should I ask before I list or buy?
If you are selling, you want to know exactly how they will price and market the home. If you are buying, you want to know how they will protect you in a multiple-offer situation. Here are the ones I would not skip:
- How will you price my home? You want recent, nearby comps and a real explanation, not a number designed to win the listing.
- What is your marketing plan? Professional photos, MLS, and online syndication should be the floor, not the ceiling.
- How do you handle negotiations? Ask for an example of a deal they saved or a concession they won.
- How and how often will you update me? Set the expectation now so you are not chasing them later.
- What does this cost me, all in? Commission, fees, and closing costs should be spelled out clearly before you sign anything.
Do you actually know my neighborhood?
Las Vegas is not one market. Spring Valley moves differently than North Las Vegas, and a new build in the southwest plays by builder rules that resale buyers never see. With our median price sitting around $450k, small pricing mistakes get expensive fast, so neighborhood knowledge is not a nice-to-have. Ask what is selling near you right now and how long it is taking. A good local agent will have an answer off the top of their head. If new construction is on your radar, our Las Vegas New Construction Guide 2026 covers the builder incentives and rate buydowns most buyers do not know to ask about.
What happens if I am not happy?
You should always ask how the agreement works and what your options are if things go sideways. A confident agent will not flinch at this question. They will tell you their terms, how long the agreement runs, and what happens if the fit is wrong. If someone gets cagey here, that tells you plenty. While you are at it, ask whether you can talk to a recent client. We have earned 800+ five-star reviews by being straight with people, and we are happy to connect you with folks who have been through it.
The bottom line
The best agent for you is the one who answers these questions clearly, knows your part of town, and treats your money like it is their own. Do not be shy about interviewing a few people before you commit. If you are still deciding whether to hire help at all, my post on whether you really need an agent to sell is a good next read. And if you want a team that has done this more than 1,100 times across the valley, learn more about why people choose The Roland Team or reach out and ask us these questions yourself. We will give you straight answers.