When my family moved from Utah to Arizona, I chose a real estate agent without really knowing what questions to ask. By closing day, I was crying. I was confused about how everything worked, and I didn't feel like anyone had my back.
That experience has stayed with me. It influences how I work with buyers and sellers today, because I know how unsettling it feels to make a huge decision without understanding what happens next.
If you're choosing a Realtor in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, or another East Valley community, take time for a conversation before you commit. Ask about local experience, communication, who will handle your transaction, how they'll help you make difficult decisions, and what support looks like after closing. Also ask them to explain their services, fees, and agreement before you sign. 
You deserve to understand what working together will actually feel like. A familiar name or an impressive sales total can catch your attention, but the interview is where you find out whether the service fits your needs. Here are the questions I'd encourage you to ask.
1. Will you take the time to understand what I need?
At the end of every buyer or seller consultation, I ask:
“What can I do to make this experience an amazing one for you? What do you actually need from me in this transaction?”
The answers are different every time.
One seller needs to focus on the strongest possible price. Another needs extra time in the house. Someone else needs patience because leaving a longtime home is emotionally hard.
Those priorities should shape the plan.
Before we start showing houses or listing a property, Kellie Quinn and I make time for a consultation. We discuss the market, the process, our services, and what everyone needs to do to move forward. Buyers need a realistic budget and a conversation with their lender. Sellers need to understand preparation, showing access, and pricing.
It's also a chance for all of us to decide whether we're a good fit. You should feel comfortable saying, “This is what I need from you,” and asking how your agent will meet that expectation.
2. How will you keep me updated?
Ask for specifics. How often will you hear from your agent? Will updates come by phone, text, or email? What happens when you have a question between scheduled check-ins?
For my sellers, the standard is a Tuesday email update and a phone call. That gives us time to review the weekend's activity and gather the information on Monday.
We discuss what we've done to market the home, available online activity, showings, feedback, how the home compares with its competition, and our plan for the coming week.
Tuesday is our scheduled check-in. Important information gets communicated as it happens. If useful showing feedback arrives on Wednesday, I share it then, especially if there's something we can address before the next showing. Offers, deadlines, and problems require communication throughout the week.
Some clients appreciate more frequent contact. Others prefer fewer interruptions. We talk about that and adjust as we get to know each other.
I also set realistic expectations about availability. I may be with another client, in an appointment, or away from my phone. Call, text, and leave a message so I know what you need; I'll respond as soon as I can. Ask any agent you're interviewing what their process is when they can't answer immediately.
3. How do you handle difficult conversations?
I've always felt that the voice of a text is the voice of the reader. If you're already stressed, even a well-intended message can land differently than the sender meant it.
That's why I pick up the phone for important conversations, good or bad. Sometimes we meet in person when that's what the client prefers.
You should be able to ask questions, hear the explanation, and understand your options. A pricing discussion or inspection concern deserves enough time and attention for that to happen.
Ask a prospective agent: “If there's a problem, how will you explain it and help me decide what to do?”
4. Who will actually handle my transaction?
Whether you're considering an individual agent or a team, understand who will do the work and who you can contact when help is needed.
At Heart to Home AZ, your lead agent takes the lead on your transaction. If you're my client, that's me. If you're Kellie's client, that's Kellie. We handle our clients' showings and coordinate coverage for each other when needed.
Kellie is also my transaction coordinator, helping make sure paperwork is signed and organized in the file. We're both included in the group text so we can stay informed and help each other's clients when needed.
Whenever possible, we attend the consultation together. If we can't, we use an introduction video so you can put a face with the other person's name.
The questions to ask are straightforward: Who handles negotiations? Who coordinates paperwork and deadlines? Who covers showings? And if your lead agent is unavailable, who knows enough about your situation to help?
5. How do you make time for each client?
When you're comparing East Valley Realtors, you may see agents or teams advertising a hundred or more transactions a year. Experience matters, and those numbers can be impressive. But a sales total doesn't tell you how much personal attention you'll receive, who you'll work with, or how well that person will know your situation.
Ask what the number represents, too: the whole team's transactions or the individual agent's? Then ask how many clients your main contact works with at a time and how they make room for the conversations and decisions you'll need help with.
My approach is intentional. I aim to handle a few transactions a month so I can give each client the white-glove service that matters to me. That means having time to explain the process again when you need it, talk through a concern, follow up on details, and understand why this move matters to you.
Kellie and I support each other, and your lead agent stays personally involved. I want to know what's happening in your transaction and how you're feeling about it.
A larger team may be a great fit for you. What matters is understanding its approach and whether it matches the experience you want. Seeing someone's name everywhere, or finding them near the top of a search, is a starting point for your research. Take the next step and ask how they'll take care of you.
“How will you make sure I get the attention I need, and what will you personally handle?” is a question worth asking, whatever the team's size.
6. How does your East Valley knowledge help me make decisions?
Local knowledge should connect to what matters in your daily life: your commute, preferred amenities, home features, budget, and the places you want to spend time.
For example, I worked with buyers considering The Bridges in Gilbert who valued access to outdoor recreation. Being able to explain the plans for nearby Gilbert Regional Park helped them understand what was proposed for that land and how it related to their priorities.
For current park information, use the Town of Gilbert's official park resources. Proposed development can change, so it's important to distinguish existing amenities from future plans.
An agent should also help you find objective information and investigate an area yourself. Visit at different times, try your commute, explore the amenities you care about, and review relevant public resources.
Whether you're comparing homes in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, or Queen Creek, the decision belongs to you. My job is to help you understand the options and where to find answers.
7. Will you be honest when my expectations need to change?
I tell clients upfront that I'll be honest with them, including when the conversation is uncomfortable.
For buyers, that can mean revisiting the difference between needs and wants. I like to start with five of each. If your wish list doesn't fit your budget, we can look at what matters most and what you might change later.
A home with dated paint or flooring may offer possibilities in the location and price range you want. We still need to consider the work, its cost, and whether it fits your plans. The goal is to help you make a realistic choice you're comfortable with.
For sellers, honesty often involves pricing. On one listing, we saw more than 30,000 reported online views in a week and only one showing. That prompted a direct conversation about price, supported by comparable sales and the home's competition. It eventually sold at the price level I'd discussed with the sellers.
Online views alone don't establish value. I look at the broader picture: relevant comparable sales, competing homes, condition, exposure, showing activity, and feedback. When the response isn't what we expected, we review the evidence and discuss what to change.
The same care applies to a beautifully updated home. Improvements don't automatically support any asking price. We need to look at what comparable properties support and discuss the uncertainty around future resale value.
Ask: “Will you show me the evidence behind your advice, even if it means telling me something I don't want to hear?”
8. What should I expect on closing day—and afterward?
Because of my own experience, I care deeply about making sure clients understand closing day. We stay in touch as the transaction progresses and explain what happens next, including when the home is officially ready for access.
When I can meet buyers at the house, I do. If I can't, we coordinate access. There's a gift, congratulations, and a lot of excitement.
And I want the relationship to keep going.
We stay connected through client events, happy hours, barbecues, holiday gatherings, and occasional visits. We also maintain a vendor list and share updates so past clients have somewhere to start when they need help with their homes.
Sometimes the extra help is very practical. I've shipped belongings that out-of-state clients left behind. I've also helped an overseas seller coordinate selling and donating furniture when she couldn't return to handle it herself.
These are examples of how I've helped, rather than a promise that every situation will need the same services. What matters is being willing to listen and help clients find a workable next step. For legal questions, that means connecting them with the appropriate professional.
Referrals are the heart of our business. When someone trusts us enough to recommend us to family or friends, it means the world to us.
Take time to interview the person helping you move
There is a lot of work behind a home purchase or sale: preparation, research, negotiations, paperwork, deadlines, coordination, and conversations that can be surprisingly emotional.
I love helping people through that process. I want you to understand your options, feel comfortable asking questions, and know someone is paying attention to the details. Keeping my workload at a level that lets me stay personally involved is part of how I deliver that care.
Before hiring an East Valley Realtor, take time to ask how they'll take care of you. Read reviews for specific examples of communication, problem-solving, and follow-through. You can also check an agent's license through the Arizona Department of Real Estate's public database.
If you're planning to buy or sell in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, or Queen Creek, Kellie and I would love to sit down and learn what you need.
What would make this an amazing experience for you? That's where we'll start.
Connect with Heart to Home AZ.
Frequently asked questions about choosing an East Valley Realtor
What should I ask an East Valley Realtor before hiring them?
Ask about experience in your target area, communication, who will handle your transaction, pricing or offer strategy, services and fees, and support after closing. Ask for examples that show how they handle problems and adapt to a client's needs.
Should I interview more than one real estate agent?
It can help you compare approaches, explanations, and communication styles. Take enough time to understand the services offered and the agreement you're being asked to sign.
Is a high-volume real estate team the best choice for me?
Transaction volume is one piece of information to consider. Ask whether the advertised total belongs to the team or an individual, who will work directly with you, and how they manage their workload. At Heart to Home AZ, Megan aims to handle a few transactions a month to stay personally involved and provide attentive service. Compare the actual service with what you need from your move.
How often should my real estate agent contact me?
Agree on a schedule and preferred contact methods before starting. At Heart to Home AZ, my sellers receive a Tuesday email and call, with additional communication as important news arrives. Contact becomes more frequent around deadlines and decisions.
Will I work with Megan Haynes or Kellie Quinn?
Your lead agent remains your primary contact. Megan and Kellie stay informed through shared communication, provide coverage for one another when needed, and introduce both team members early. Kellie also coordinates transaction paperwork for Megan's clients.
Can I contact my Realtor after closing?
Ask what ongoing support they provide. Our past clients can reach out for vendor recommendations, local market guidance, and help finding appropriate resources. Legal questions should go to a qualified legal professional.
Author bio
Megan Haynes leads Heart to Home AZ at Realty ONE Group and serves buyers, sellers, and people relocating to Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and the surrounding East Valley. Alongside Kellie Quinn, she focuses on personal guidance, clear communication, and relationships that continue beyond closing.