Choosing your agent
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in NZ
Shortlist licensed NZ real estate agents, compare local evidence and written proposals, and choose a service that fits your property and priorities.
Compare the evidence, complete cost and service commitments on the same assumptions.
Start with your property and priorities
Write down your preferred timing, preparation work, communication needs and the decisions you need help making. Use these to assess the proposed service. An agent who suits a different property or seller is not automatically the right choice for you.
Build a shortlist using relevant evidence
Check the REA public register and look for recent work with comparable properties. Ask which parts of the sale each person handled. Brand recognition, awards and an attractive appraisal are starting points for questions, not substitutes for evidence about the proposed team.
Make every interview comparable
Give each candidate the same facts and ask for a written appraisal, commission calculation, campaign budget and service plan. Our 12 questions to ask a real estate agent before you sign explain how to test each part of the proposal.
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See all 12 questions before you choose an agent.
10:05 · Watch the complete guide or choose a question.
Watch the 12-question guideCompare the written proposals after the interviews
Keep the appraisal evidence, GST-inclusive costs, campaign logic, named responsibilities and agreement terms side by side. Record unknowns and ask follow-up questions before scoring the proposals. A low fee does not establish the best outcome, and a high appraisal is not a completed sale.
Read the agreement before making the commitment
Check that the written agreement reflects the service and costs you discussed. Ask your lawyer or conveyancer to review the terms, including cancellation and continuing commission. Resolve differences between the proposal and the agreement before signing.
Check agency agreement termsTake the questions with you
Download the free Agent Interview Pack and compare up to three agents side by side.