Choosing an agent · Massachusetts
How to choose a buyer's agent in Massachusetts
Most buyers do not choose an agent so much as accumulate one — the person who happened to be hosting the open house, or a colleague's cousin. That worked tolerably when buyers signed nothing and paid nothing directly. Since August 2024 you sign an agreement before touring, which makes the choice both earlier and more consequential.
Ask Devarshi about your situationWhere candidates actually come from.
Referrals from people who transacted recently in your target town beat directory rankings, because directory position is usually a function of advertising spend rather than performance. Open-house agents are a convenience sample, not a shortlist.
The most reliable source is someone who bought or sold in the last year in the town you are targeting, asked pointedly whether they would use their agent again. Recency matters because the rules changed in 2024; a glowing recommendation from a 2019 transaction describes a different job.
Directory sites and "top agent" lists are a weaker signal than they appear. Placement on most of them is paid or driven by volume alone, and volume rewards agents who close many transactions quickly rather than agents who represent a careful buyer well.
The agent hosting the open house is the path of least resistance and the one to be most careful with, because that agent represents the seller. Meeting them is fine; drifting into representation with them is how dual agency conversations start.
Five things worth verifying before the conversation gets warm.
Licence status, recent local transaction volume, who you will actually work with day to day, the brokerage's default agency practice, and how compensation is structured. All five are answerable in a first meeting, and evasiveness on any is the signal.
The licence. Every Massachusetts salesperson and broker is licensed by the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, and status is public. Ask for the number; check it. It is a low bar, which is exactly why hesitation is informative.
Recent local volume. Not career totals — transactions in your towns in the last twelve months. Massachusetts towns differ enough in tax policy and paperwork that genuine familiarity does not stretch far.
Who you will deal with. Teams are common and often good, but know at the outset whether the person you are interviewing will be the one writing your offer.
Agency practice. What happens when you want to see one of the brokerage's own listings? The answer tells you whether you will face a dual-agency consent form later.
Compensation structure. Not just the number — what happens when a seller contributes less than it. That gap is yours to cover and it is usually cash at closing.
How many to interview, and when to commit.
Two or three is enough to calibrate; more produces diminishing returns and delay in a market where inventory moves quickly. Interview before you need to tour, because signing a representation agreement in a hallway is how you end up with terms you did not read.
The sequencing that works: interview two or three agents before you are ready to make offers, ask each the same set of questions, and notice who answers narrowly and who answers in generalities. A specific question about a specific town separates them faster than anything else.
Ask for the representation agreement in advance rather than at a showing. An agent who will send it gives you an evening to read it; an agent who will not has told you something. And a first agreement does not need to be a long exclusive term — short touring agreements exist precisely so you can try someone before committing.
One caution against over-shopping: in a tight market, weeks spent interviewing are weeks not making offers. Calibrate quickly, then commit.
Questions about choosing an agent.
Does years of experience matter more than recent activity?
Recent activity matters more. An agent who closed thirty transactions a decade ago and three last year is not currently in the market you are entering, and the rules governing buyer representation changed in 2024. Longevity is a useful secondary signal, not the primary one.
Big brokerage or small one?
It matters less than the individual. Large brokerages bring more inventory exposure and more in-house support; small ones often bring more of the principal's attention. The more consequential structural question is what happens when the brokerage is on both sides of your transaction — a large firm with many listings raises that scenario more often.
Do designations and certifications mean anything?
Some represent real additional training; many are a weekend and a fee. Treat them as weak positive signals rather than as differentiators, and weight demonstrated local transaction history far more heavily. If a designation is being presented as the main qualification, ask what it required.
Can I switch agents if it is not working?
It depends on your agreement, which is why the termination clause is worth reading before you sign rather than when you want to leave. Most brokerages will release an unhappy client, but many agreements carry a protection period covering homes the agent introduced you to. The agreement is covered in detail here.
Should I use a friend or a relative?
Only if they would clear the same bar as a stranger — recent transactions in your towns, availability that matches the market's pace, and a willingness to tell you no. The failure mode is not incompetence, it is that you will find it harder to fire them, and harder to push back on advice you doubt.
What if my agent does not know the town I settle on?
Say so early and ask directly. A good agent will either demonstrate real familiarity or refer you to someone who has it, and a referral is a normal professional courtesy rather than a failure. What you do not want is someone learning your town at your expense during a competitive offer.
I am relocating and cannot interview in person. What changes?
Very little about the substance, but weight responsiveness and communication style much more heavily — you will be relying on someone else's eyes. Ask specifically how they handle video walkthroughs, how quickly they can get to a new listing, and what they will tell you about a property that photographs well and shows badly.
Sources
Every figure on this page is reproduced from the source listed against it, for orientation rather than as advice. Massachusetts fiscal years roll on 1 July and municipalities republish on their own schedules, so confirm anything you plan to rely on before you rely on it.
- National Association of Realtors settlement terms
- 254 CMR 3.00 — Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
Last verified .
Putting together a shortlist?
Devarshi is happy to be on it, and equally happy to tell you if your situation would be better served by someone else. Send your towns and timing.