Ask two things: how many transactions have you personally closed in the last 12 and 24 months, and why should I choose you over any other agent? Pin the closing number to the person you would actually work with, because a big rainmaker team can advertise a huge sales count that other agents on the team closed. And if they fumble the why-you question or cannot answer it clearly, keep looking. The single most valuable skill a good agent brings is negotiation. One quick tell shows up around fees: an agent who caves the moment you push back, dropping from a 3.5% ask to 1% without a fight, just showed you how they will negotiate on your behalf when it actually matters. Compensation is negotiable, and cheapest is the wrong filter anyway. Find someone actively closing deals who can clearly articulate their specific value, then make sure that value lines up with what you personally care about. What matters most is whether the person across the table can hold their ground for you.