How to choose a real estate agent in Los Angeles
The right agent can save you money, time and stress, and the wrong one can cost you all three. These are the checks worth making before you sign with anyone in Los Angeles, whether you are buying, selling or both.
1. Check the license
Every agent in California must hold a license from the Department of Real Estate (DRE). Look the agent up on the DRE public license lookup. It shows whether the license is active, which brokerage the agent works under, and any disciplinary action.
2. Look for recent local activity
Ask for homes the agent has sold or helped buy near you in the last year or two. An agent who works your area knows which streets sell faster, what buyers pay extra for, and how pricing changes from one tract to the next. In the West Valley, for example, a single-story pool home near Shadow Ranch Park in West Hills and a hillside home south of Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills attract different buyers.
3. Read reviews on more than one site
Read reviews on Google and on sites such as Zillow or Realtor.com. Look at the dates and the details: recent reviews that describe what the agent actually did tell you more than a star rating alone.
4. Ask how they would price a home
A good answer starts with recent sales of similar homes on the same streets, adjusted for size, condition and lot. Be careful with an agent who quotes the highest number without showing the sales behind it. If you are selling, ask for a written home evaluation.
5. Understand the agreement and the fee
Commissions in California are fully negotiable. Since January 1, 2025, California law requires buyers to sign a written agreement with their agent no later than when they make an offer. The agreement must state the agent’s compensation, the services, and an expiration date no more than three months out. Many agents ask for it before showing homes, because their multiple listing service requires it. Read it before you sign, and ask what happens if you want to end it early. The DRE explains these rules in its consumer alert.
6. Language and communication
Contracts, disclosures and inspection reports are long. If you would rather discuss them in Farsi or another language, look for an agent who can explain every document in that language, and ask how quickly they usually reply to calls and messages.
Questions to ask at the first meeting
- How many homes have you sold or helped buy in this area in the last year?
- How would you price this home, and which recent sales support that price?
- Who will I deal with day to day: you, or a team member?
- How do you market a listing, and where will it appear?
- What is your fee, and what does it include?
- How long does the agreement last, and how can it be ended?
- Can you share recent clients I can read reviews from?
- Which language will you use for documents and meetings?
How Rana works
Rana Khanjani, MBA (DRE #02021891, Sync Brokerage) has helped clients buy, sell and lease in Los Angeles for over a decade, with about 140 transactions and a 5.0 rating from 60+ Google reviews. She works across the West San Fernando Valley, including West Hills, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana and Calabasas, and in Beverly Hills, in English or Farsi. Read her client reviews or get in touch.
FAQs
Do I need a written agreement with my buyer’s agent?
Yes. In California, a buyer must sign a written representation agreement with their agent no later than when they make an offer, and many agents ask for it before showings.
Are real estate commissions negotiable?
Yes. In California, commissions are fully negotiable between you and the agent.
How many agents should I interview?
Two or three is usually enough to compare pricing advice, marketing plans and fees.
