When people search for a realtor in North Jersey, they usually find a long list of names, photos and star ratings. The best way I know to choose is simple: talk to two or three agents and ask every one of them the same questions.
Here are the ten questions I'd ask if I were buying or selling in Passaic, Bergen or Morris County — and what a good answer sounds like. Yes, I'm a realtor myself, so ask me these too.
1. Is your New Jersey license active?
This takes two minutes. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) has a free online Real Estate Licensee Search where you can look up any agent or brokerage and see whether the license is active, inactive, suspended or revoked. A good agent will happily give you their license number so you can check.
2. How well do you know the towns I'm considering?
North Jersey towns can be very different from one another: property taxes, commuting options, housing types, how fast homes sell. Ask the agent which towns they work in most and how they keep up with recent sales there. If you're looking in several places — say Clifton, Hackensack and Parsippany — ask how they'd help you compare them on facts like commute, taxes and the kinds of homes available.
3. What business relationship will we have?
In New Jersey, agents must give you a Consumer Information Statement that explains the ways a brokerage can work with you. Under the rules New Jersey updated in 2024, those are seller's agent, buyer's agent, disclosed dual agent, designated agent and transaction broker. Ask the agent which one they're proposing and what it means for whose interests they represent — especially if you might be interested in a home their own office has listed.
4. Can I see your brokerage services agreement before I sign?
Since August 1, 2024, New Jersey law requires a brokerage to have a written agreement — called a brokerage services agreement — with the buyer or seller it works for. Ask to read it ahead of time and look for: how long it lasts, whether it's exclusive or non-exclusive, and how either of you can end it. Don't sign anything you haven't had time to understand, and if a clause worries you, ask a New Jersey real estate attorney.
5. How are you paid, and what happens if the seller doesn't pay it?
The agreement has to state the brokerage's compensation and how it's calculated — a flat fee, a percentage or another method allowed by law. It also has to say clearly that broker compensation is fully negotiable and not set by law. For buyers, ask what happens if a seller offers no compensation, or less than your agreement says, to your agent's brokerage. A good agent will walk you through this plainly, before you tour homes, not at the closing table.
6. Who will I actually work with?
Many agents, me included, work as part of a team. That can be a real plus — more coverage for showings and quick answers. Just ask who will show you homes, who writes and negotiates your offer, and who you call when something comes up on a Saturday.
7. How will we communicate — and in what language?
Ask how fast they usually respond and whether they prefer calls, texts or email. If you or someone in your family is more comfortable in Spanish, ask if the agent can explain the whole process in Spanish — not just say hello. A bilingual realtor should be able to walk you through the contract, the Consumer Information Statement and the loan steps in your language. I wrote more about this in why work with a bilingual realtor in New Jersey.
8. Can you walk me through the New Jersey process?
Buying or selling here has steps that surprise people from other states, starting with the three-business-day attorney review after a contract is signed. Ask the agent to explain the timeline from offer to closing in their own words.
9. Who do you work with — and why?
You'll also need a lender, a real estate attorney, a home inspector and an insurance agent. A good agent can give you a few names, explain why they recommend them, and tell you if they have any business relationship with them. The choice is always yours, and comparing at least two lenders is a smart habit.
10. How will you help me decide on price?
For buyers: how will the agent help you judge whether a home is priced fairly? For sellers: how will they recommend a list price? In both cases, the answer should involve recent comparable sales nearby — not a gut feeling and not a number chosen just to win your business. Ask them to show you the sales they're using.
A few red flags
- Pressure to sign an agreement on the spot without reading it.
- Vague answers about how they're paid.
- Promises about a price or a "guaranteed" sale.
- Steering you toward or away from a town or neighborhood based on who lives there instead of your budget, commute and wish list. Fair housing laws protect you — a good agent shows you homes wherever you want to look.
Choosing a realtor isn't about finding someone who claims to be "the best." It's about finding someone whose answers are clear, honest and make you feel informed. I'm a bilingual realtor with the MorrisAgent Team at RE/MAX Select in Boonton, serving Passaic, Bergen and Morris County, and I'm glad to answer all ten questions in English or Spanish.
This post is general information, not legal advice. For questions about a specific agreement or contract, talk to a New Jersey real estate attorney.
Interviewing agents and want to start with me? Call or text me at (973) 381-1205.