How to Interview and Compare Buyer’s Agents in NYC

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Use the same questions and a written scorecard to compare service, relevant experience, representation and fees.

Define the job before choosing the person

Write a short brief: areas you want to consider, property type, intended use, price range, timeline and decision constraints. Share the same brief with each candidate. You are comparing their proposed work for your purchase, not simply their personality or total sales volume.

A useful interview ends with a written service outline, communication plan and explanation of representation and compensation. Read any agreement before signing and ask about duration, exclusivity, scope, termination and any fee obligation.

Ask these questions of every candidate

What comparable purchases have you handled? How would you compare buildings with different carrying costs? Which facts will you verify and from whom? What would make you recommend that I walk away? Who handles showings, offer analysis and application coordination?

How quickly do you respond, and who covers your absence? How are conflicts disclosed? How is compensation negotiated, who may pay it, and what could I owe if another party does not pay? Ask how the agreement treats a property you found yourself or already toured.

Use a simple scorecard

Score relevant experience, quality of evidence, clarity of the work plan, communication and agreement terms from one to five. Record a reason beside every score. Give more weight to a concrete example and a transparent limitation than to an unsupported promise.

For a hypothetical comparison, one agent may offer impressive general volume while another explains the financing and document issues specific to your target co-op. The latter may be a better fit, but confirm availability and representation rather than relying on specialization alone.

Resolve the terms before the search accelerates

New York’s agency disclosure explains whom an agent represents; it says it is not a contract. A representation agreement is a different document. Some industry rules and brokerage practices require written agreements in specified circumstances. Ask the broker which requirements apply rather than treating one rule as universal.

Keep an agreed communication record and review the arrangement if the search changes. Do not sign terms you do not understand simply to access a showing. Seek legal advice where needed. Read the buyer’s-agent selection guide.

Sources and review

Editorial review: October 25, 2026. Check current requirements with the relevant professional and source before acting.

• New York agency disclosure
• NAR: written buyer agreements

Put your next question to work

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