Who picked your shortlist?
Nobody picks an agent out of thin air. First you build a shortlist.
Before most people choose an agent to sell their home, they end up with a handful of names. A friend's recommendation, a sold sign down the road, a website that sends a few suggestions. That's normal, and it's a sensible way to start.
Each way of building that list has something going for it, and each has something worth keeping in mind. Here's a look at the most common ones, then what to compare once the agents come through your door.
How most people build a shortlist
A recommendation from someone you know
A friend, a family member or a neighbour sold recently and tells you who they used.
Why it works
You're hearing first-hand how an agent handled a real sale, start to finish. That's hard to beat.
What to watch for
Their home and their situation might be quite different from yours. Ask what the agent actually did for them, how the sale went and what they'd change, not only whether they liked them.
An agent who has kept in touch
Maybe they've dropped a market update in your letterbox for a few years, or helped you buy the home in the first place.
Why it works
You already know how they communicate and how they follow through, which is a big part of selling a home.
What to watch for
Knowing an agent is a good start. It's still worth a proper conversation about the rest: their plan for your home, their recent results and what makes them a good fit for you.
Recent sales near you
The property portals show what has sold around your area and who sold it, and sold signs tell the same story out on the street.
Why it works
It shows you which agents are selling homes like yours right now.
What to watch for
Look past the sold sign. Ask how long the home took to sell and how long ago it sold, so you're comparing like with like. And if an agent mostly sells in one area, that's usually a good sign. It often means they know that area and its buyers very well.
Online reviews
Agent profiles on the portals, Google and agency websites often carry reviews from past clients.
Why it works
You get a lot of voices in one place, and you can read about the kind of sale you're planning.
What to watch for
Read the detail rather than the star rating, and look at how recent the reviews are. A one-star review isn't always the full story either. Check whether the agency has responded, and whether the issue is relevant to what you'd be using them for.
Seeing an agent at an open home
Some people pop into a local open home or two to see agents in action.
Why it works
You get a feel for how an agent talks to people and how well they know the property.
What to watch for
An open home is one small part of the job. Much of the work, like following up buyers and negotiating, happens behind the scenes.
Agent comparison sites*
You enter your address, answer a few questions, and the site sends you two or three suggested agents. OpenAgent and LocalAgentFinder are two of the better-known ones.
Why it works
It's quick, free for sellers and does some of the legwork for you. The sites say they look at sales data and reviews before suggesting anyone.
What to watch for
Agents pay the site, not you.* OpenAgent’s FAQ says the agent pays a referral fee of 20 to 30 per cent of their commission when the home sells, and LocalAgentFinder’s FAQ lists 0.395% of the sale price, capped at $4,750 plus GST. Introductions go to agents who have signed up to those terms, so the list comes from a smaller pool than every agent in town.
Worth knowing
OpenAgent also offers a Premier Agent subscription. Premier Agents pay so they always appear in the recommendations, as long as they meet OpenAgent's benchmarks. If you see a Premier or Sponsored label next to a name, that agent has paid for the spot. It doesn't mean they aren't good at what they do. It means they're on the list partly because they subscribed.
*That includes us. When one of these sites sends us a listing, we usually need to charge our full fee, even when we'd rather have some room to move.
Get two or three appraisals
However the names landed on your list, the next step is the same. Invite two or three agents around to look at your home and tell you what they think. That's enough to compare properly without it all becoming a blur.
Weighing up the quotes
Once the appraisals are in, it's tempting to go with whoever said the highest number or charges the lowest fee. Slow down here, because this is where the decision gets made.
The price
Ask each agent to show you the recent sales behind their figure. The agent with the clearest evidence is usually more useful than the one with the biggest number, because that evidence is what buyers will be weighing up too.
The marketing
Marketing is where you get what you pay for. A bigger campaign reaches more people, which means more potential buyers see your home. Pay a little, get a little. Compare what each package actually includes, from photos to online ads to signage, rather than the total alone.
The costs
In Queensland, your agent's appointment form (Form 6) sets out the commission, the marketing costs and how long the appointment runs. Read it properly and compare what's included, not only the commission rate.
The plan
Ask how they'd sell your home: which method, what sort of timeframe to expect, and what they'll do if your home takes longer to sell than you'd hoped. A good agent will tell you when they'd sit down with you to review the approach, and what they'd look at changing.
Who you'll be working with
Find out who'll run the open homes, take the buyer calls and handle the negotiating. Many agents work with an associate who looks after a lot of the day-to-day. That's a good thing, because it means two people are working on your sale. Ask how they share the work and who you'll hear from, because every agent and associate works a little differently, and the roles aren't always called the same thing.
Their results
Ask for the addresses of homes they've sold recently that are similar to yours, then look them up yourself. How long did they take to sell? How did the final price compare with where they started? Results you can check beat promises you can't.
Every one of these questions should be answered by the agent you're speaking with. We're happy to answer all of them.
Common questions
How do most people find a real estate agent?
Usually through a mix of recommendations from people they know, agents they've dealt with before, recent sales nearby, online reviews and agent comparison sites. Most people end up with a shortlist of a few names before inviting agents to appraise their home.
Are agent comparison sites free for sellers?
Generally, yes. OpenAgent and LocalAgentFinder both say they're free for homeowners. They're paid by agents, usually through a referral fee when the home sells. Check each site's current terms, as these can change.
How many agents should I get to appraise my home?
We'd suggest two or three. That's enough to compare prices, costs and plans side by side without drowning in paperwork.
Should I go with the agent who gives the highest price?
Not on the number alone. Ask each agent for the recent sales behind their figure and choose the one whose evidence stacks up, along with their plan and their results.
Should I go with the agent who charges the lowest fee?
Not on the fee alone. Compare what each agent includes for that fee, their plan for your home and their recent results. Your Form 6 sets out the commission and costs, so you can compare them side by side.
Of course, we're a little biased
We'd love to be on your shortlist, and we reckon we'd earn the spot. (We would say that, wouldn't we?)
But choosing who sells your home is a big call. Get the quotes. Weigh up what each agent is actually offering. And look hard at their results, ours included.
Want to know the next steps?
As our Sales Director, Annette Neil can connect you with the right agent or investor services support from the start.
General information only and current as at October 2026. Fees and terms for third-party websites are as published on those websites at the time of writing and may change. This isn't financial or legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please speak with a qualified professional.
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