Choosing the right real estate agent starts with asking the right questions. Whether you're buying or selling a home in Lake County, McHenry County, or Southern Wisconsin, look for an agent who understands your local market, communicates clearly, explains their services and fees, and has the experience and support to guide you through the transaction.
Buying or selling a home is a major decision, and the professional you choose can influence your experience from the first conversation through closing.
In communities such as Grayslake, Gurnee, Antioch, McHenry, Fox Lake, Kenosha, and Pleasant Prairie, local real estate conditions can vary considerably.
An agent who understands one community may not necessarily have the same level of experience in another.
At The Star Home Team, part of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes, we've helped clients navigate more than 4,000 home sales throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
That experience has reinforced something important: The best real estate relationship begins with clear expectations, good communication, and an understanding of the client's goals.
Here are seven questions we encourage buyers and sellers to ask before choosing a real estate professional.
1. How Much Experience Do You Have in My Local Real Estate Market?
Real estate is local.
An agent may have years of experience, but it's equally important to understand where that experience comes from.
For example, buying a condominium in Grayslake can involve different considerations than purchasing a waterfront property along the Chain O'Lakes.
Selling a home in McHenry County may require a different pricing strategy than selling a property in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
Questions worth asking include:
How many transactions have you handled in my community?
Do you regularly work with buyers or sellers in my price range?
Are you familiar with the type of property I'm buying or selling?
How do you evaluate local competition and comparable sales?
What factors make this particular market different?
An experienced agent should be able to explain local market conditions using relevant data and practical examples.
At The Star Home Team, our agents work throughout Lake County, McHenry County, Kenosha County, and surrounding communities.
Our team's experience includes more than 4,000 closed real estate transactions.
You can learn more about that milestone in our article, The Star Home Team Surpasses 4,000 Real Estate Sales.
2. How Will You Communicate With Me Throughout the Process?
Communication is one of the most important parts of a successful real estate relationship.
Before hiring an agent, ask how you can expect to receive updates and how quickly questions will be answered.
Some clients prefer phone calls. Others prefer text messages or emails.
Some want frequent updates, while others prefer communication when something important happens.
The key is establishing expectations early.
Ask your prospective agent:
Will we communicate by phone, text, or email?
How often should I expect updates?
Who will contact me about showings, offers, inspections, and deadlines?
What happens if you're unavailable?
Who should I contact if I have an urgent question?
Sellers should also ask how frequently they'll receive information about showing activity, buyer feedback, and marketing results.
Buyers should understand how quickly their agent can arrange showings and respond when a property becomes available.
Good communication should help you feel informed and prepared rather than wondering what happens next.
3. What Is Your Strategy for Helping Me Buy or Sell a Home?
Every real estate transaction should begin with a plan.
However, that plan should reflect your particular goals, timeline, property, and circumstances.
If You're Selling a Home
Ask how the agent will determine an appropriate listing price.
A thoughtful pricing recommendation should consider recent comparable sales, competing properties, market activity, property condition, and the seller's objectives.
You should also discuss the proposed marketing strategy.
Will the plan include professional photography, online exposure, property descriptions, showing coordination, open houses when appropriate, and regular marketing reviews?
What happens if the home isn't receiving the expected interest?
A good listing strategy should include both an initial plan and a process for evaluating results.
If You're Buying a Home
Ask how the agent will help you identify properties, evaluate asking prices, prepare offers, and understand contract terms.
Will they explain potential contingencies, inspections, financing considerations, and closing timelines?
If you're buying your next home while selling your current property, you'll also want to discuss how the two transactions might work together.
Our article, Buying Your Next Home Before Selling Your Current Home, explores several options for homeowners in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The right strategy isn't necessarily the same for every buyer or seller.
It should be developed around your individual circumstances.
4. What Support Do You Have Behind You?
Many consumers focus on the individual agent they're interviewing.
That's important because your agent will typically be your primary point of contact.
But it's also worth asking what additional resources are available to support the transaction.
Real estate involves numerous details, including scheduling, documentation, marketing, inspections, contract deadlines, and closing coordination.
Ask whether your agent works independently or has access to administrative, marketing, transaction, and management support.
Questions to consider:
Is there a transaction coordinator?
Who helps manage important deadlines?
Is professional marketing support available?
What happens when your agent is on vacation or unavailable?
Who oversees the transaction if a complicated issue arises?
A team structure can provide additional resources, although the quality of service ultimately depends on how effectively those resources are used.
At The Star Home Team, our agents are supported by an organization that includes managing brokers and staff working in areas such as listings, transactions, marketing, technology, and administration.
Our goal is to give our agents resources that help them focus on serving their clients.
You can meet The Star Home Team and learn more about our organization.
5. How Do You Handle Negotiations and Unexpected Challenges?
Not every real estate transaction follows a predictable path.
A home inspection may uncover an unexpected concern.
An appraisal may create questions about value.
A buyer's financing situation may change.
A seller may receive multiple offers with different prices, contingencies, and closing dates.
The highest offer isn't always the strongest offer, and the lowest asking price doesn't always represent the best purchase opportunity.
Ask your prospective agent how they evaluate these situations.
Useful questions include:
How do you compare offers beyond the purchase price?
How do you help clients evaluate inspection requests?
What happens if an appraisal comes in below the agreed purchase price?
How do you keep a transaction moving when challenges arise?
When should an attorney, lender, inspector, or other specialist become involved?
An experienced agent should be able to explain the decision-making process without promising a particular outcome.
At The Star Home Team, we've learned through thousands of transactions that preparation, communication, and careful attention to details are essential.
No agent can eliminate every challenge.
The goal is to help clients understand their options and make informed decisions when something unexpected happens.
6. What Services and Fees Are Included in Our Agreement?
Before choosing a real estate agent, make sure you understand the services being offered and how the professional will be compensated.
This is particularly important because real estate practices involving buyer agreements and compensation have changed in recent years.
Under National Association of REALTORS® policies, many real estate professionals working with buyers must have a written agreement in place before touring homes together.
These agreements explain the services being provided and how compensation will be handled.
Real estate compensation is negotiable and is not set by law.
Buyers should ask about the agreement's duration, services, compensation, and any provisions for changing or ending the relationship.
Sellers should ask their listing agent to explain the listing agreement, marketing services, compensation arrangements, and any other contractual obligations.
Don't hesitate to ask questions before signing.
A professional should be willing to explain the agreement in language you understand.
For additional information, review the National Association of REALTORS® Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements.
Specific requirements may vary under Illinois and Wisconsin law. Consult your real estate professional or attorney about your particular agreement.
7. Can You Share Your Track Record and Client Reviews?
Experience, reputation, and past client feedback can help you evaluate a real estate professional.
Ask about recent transactions, areas of specialization, and the types of clients the agent regularly serves.
You may also want to review testimonials on Google, Zillow, and other real estate platforms.
Look beyond the overall star rating.
Read what clients say about communication, responsiveness, market knowledge, professionalism, and how the agent handled unexpected challenges.
Consider asking:
Can you share examples of recent transactions in my area?
What types of buyers and sellers do you typically represent?
Where can I read client reviews?
What do you believe sets your approach apart?
How will you help me accomplish my specific real estate goals?
A large number of transactions can demonstrate substantial experience, but sales volume alone shouldn't determine your choice.
The relationship, communication style, local expertise, and services provided also matter.
At The Star Home Team, we're proud of our history of helping more than 4,000 families buy and sell homes.
That milestone reflects the combined work of our agents and support staff over many years.
But we also recognize that every new transaction represents an important decision for an individual client.
Why Local Experience Matters in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin
Buyers and sellers throughout our region face a wide range of property and market considerations.
A home in Grayslake may compete with different properties than a similar home in Gurnee.
Waterfront properties along the Chain O'Lakes can involve considerations that don't typically arise with other residential homes.
Buyers relocating from Illinois to Wisconsin may need to become familiar with different property tax systems, transaction practices, and local requirements.
Homeowners selling in Antioch, Fox Lake, McHenry, Kenosha, or Pleasant Prairie may also encounter different inventory levels and buyer expectations.
This is why asking about local experience is so important.
National real estate statistics can provide useful context, but they don't replace a careful evaluation of your specific community and property.
The Star Home Team's Perspective: Choose an Agent Who Understands Your Goals
At The Star Home Team, we believe choosing a real estate professional should begin with a conversation.
Before discussing listings, marketing plans, or offers, it's important to understand what the client hopes to accomplish.
A first-time buyer may need additional guidance about financing, inspections, and the steps involved in purchasing a home.
A homeowner preparing to downsize may have questions about timing the sale and purchase of two properties.
Someone relocating to Southern Wisconsin may want help understanding communities and differences between the two states.
Every situation is different.
Our organization has been involved in real estate since Jim and Susan Starwalt entered the industry in 1998.
Over the years, The Star Home Team has grown into an organization with agents, managing brokers, and support staff serving buyers and sellers across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Our experience has taught us that asking good questions and listening carefully are essential parts of providing meaningful real estate guidance.
We encourage consumers to interview prospective agents, understand their options, and choose someone they feel comfortable working with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Real Estate Agent
How do I choose a good real estate agent in Lake County, Illinois?
Start by interviewing agents who regularly work in your community and price range. Ask about recent transactions, local market knowledge, communication, marketing or buying strategies, and available support. Review client feedback and make sure you understand the services and fees before signing an agreement. The right agent should be able to explain how their approach fits your particular goals.
Should I interview more than one real estate agent?
Interviewing more than one agent can help you compare experience, communication styles, services, and strategies. Even if an agent comes highly recommended, an introductory conversation is an opportunity to understand how the relationship will work. You should feel comfortable asking questions and comparing your options before making a decision.
Is it better to hire an individual agent or a real estate team?
Both individual agents and real estate teams can provide excellent service. A team may offer additional administrative, marketing, transaction, or management resources. An individual agent may also have strong systems and support. Rather than choosing based on structure alone, ask who will be responsible for your transaction, how communication will work, and what services are included.
What questions should I ask a real estate agent before selling my house?
Ask how the agent will determine your listing price, market your property, coordinate showings, communicate feedback, and evaluate offers. You should also discuss their experience with similar homes in your community, the proposed listing agreement, compensation, and the strategy if the property doesn't sell within the expected timeframe.
What should first-time home buyers ask their real estate agent?
First-time buyers should ask about the purchasing process, mortgage preapproval, property searches, offer preparation, inspections, contract contingencies, closing costs, and communication. They should also understand the services and compensation outlined in their buyer agreement. A good agent should explain each stage clearly and encourage questions throughout the process.
Do I need to sign an agreement before touring homes?
Many real estate professionals working with buyers are required to enter into a written agreement before conducting in-person or live virtual home tours. Simply attending an open house independently does not necessarily require a buyer agreement. The agreement should explain services, compensation, and other important terms. Requirements may vary based on state law and the type of relationship.
Does an agent's number of past sales matter?
Past sales can help demonstrate experience, but they are only one factor to consider. Ask whether the agent has worked with properties similar to yours, understands your local market, communicates effectively, and has a strategy that fits your needs. Reviews, responsiveness, professionalism, and the support available behind the agent can be equally important.
Can a real estate agent help me buy in Wisconsin and sell in Illinois?
Yes, but the professionals providing licensed services must be appropriately licensed in the relevant state. Buyers and sellers coordinating transactions across Illinois and Wisconsin should ask about the agent's experience with both markets, differences in transaction practices, and how the two closings will be coordinated. The Star Home Team serves clients in both states through appropriately licensed professionals.
Final Thoughts: Ask Questions Before Making Your Decision
Choosing a real estate agent is about more than finding someone who can show you homes or put a sign in your yard.
It's about finding a professional who understands your goals, knows your local market, communicates clearly, and can help you navigate important decisions.
Whether you're buying your first home, preparing to sell, relocating, or planning your next move, taking time to ask these seven questions can help you make a more informed choice.
The right real estate relationship begins with trust, clear expectations, and a shared understanding of what you want to accomplish.
Sources
National Association of REALTORS®
2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, published November 2025.
National Association of REALTORS®
Consumer Guide: Ten Questions to Ask a Buyer's Agent.
https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts/consumer-guide-ten-questions-to-ask-a-buyers-agent
National Association of REALTORS®
Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements.
https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts/consumer-guide-to-written-buyer-agreements
The Star Home Team
The Star Home Team Surpasses 4,000 Real Estate Sales, August 31, 2026.
https://www.starhometeam.com/real-estate-resource-center/star-home-team-4000-home-sales
About the Author and The Star Home Team
Susan Starwalt is the Broker Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes and The Star Home Team, serving Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Licensed since 1998, Susan works alongside Jim Starwalt and the company's management team to support agents and clients throughout the region.
The Star Home Team has helped more than 4,000 families buy and sell homes, serving communities throughout Lake County, McHenry County, Kenosha County, and surrounding areas.
Our team provides local market knowledge, real estate guidance, marketing, and personalized service.
The Star Home Team serves clients in Illinois and Wisconsin through appropriately licensed real estate professionals.
Ready to Buy or Sell a Home?
If you're considering buying or selling a home in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin, we'd welcome the opportunity to learn about your goals.
Whether you're preparing for a move now or simply gathering information, our team can help you explore your options.
Visit StarHomeTeam.com to learn more about The Star Home Team, explore real estate resources, or connect with our agents.
The Star Home Team | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes
Proudly serving Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Real estate services provided by appropriately licensed professionals in Illinois and Wisconsin.
