What questions should you ask each listing agent?

North of 635 is a different world. A listing presentation should make sense for your home and your plans, whether you are selling in Frisco or preparing to move up from a home in McKinney. Share your timing, the condition of your home and any privacy concerns. Give each candidate the same circumstances and compare the written proposals side by side.

Start with these questions: How did you select the comparable sales? What differences between those homes and mine matter to your recommendation? What will you do before the listing goes live? Who pays for photography or other preparation? Who will handle appointments, collect feedback and keep me informed?

Also ask who will review offers with you and how the agent would negotiate price, financing, requested concessions, repairs and closing dates. An agent should be able to explain the tradeoffs in plain language and show you how you will make the final decisions. Find out who steps in when your primary contact is unavailable, and how concerns reach the broker. Put each candidate’s answers next to the written proposal.

How should an agent support the asking price?

A price needs a story supported by evidence. Look at the comparable sales behind the recommendation and why each was selected, including differences in condition, features, location and sale timing. In Prosper or Celina, discuss how your resale home will be presented alongside competing listings and new construction. Comparable sales inform a recommendation; they are not a promise of an eventual sale price.

A useful proposal also explains what happens after launch. Ask what information the agent will review, how showing feedback will reach you and when you will discuss a change in price or presentation. Decide together how a recommendation would be made rather than agreeing in advance to an automatic reduction. If an agent recommends a price far above the evidence, request the specific support and discuss the risk that strategy creates for your plans. Put the comparable sales and competing listings beside the proposed price.

What should the marketing plan cover?

The first impression matters. Kaitlin describes luxury as a level of service, not a price point, and her approach to luxury includes telling the story of a property. A written schedule should cover preparation, photography, listing copy, online exposure, showings and follow-up. Discuss whether video, a floor plan or other material fits your property, what each item costs and who approves the description.

Showing arrangements matter as much as the launch. Ask how appointments are requested, who confirms them, how access is controlled and how quickly feedback will be shared. If you need notice before a showing or have privacy concerns, discuss those needs before signing. The North Dallas guide to choosing a Realtor offers more questions to bring to the conversation.

What does the IABS tell you about representation?

The Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services form^[1] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026, is IABS 1-2, dated November 3, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026. It describes how brokers may represent parties, their duties to clients and non-clients, and the license holder and broker contact information. At the first substantive communication about a specific property, the notice is generally required, subject to the exceptions in the rules.

The IABS form^[2] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026, describes minimum client duties: putting the client’s interests above the broker’s, sharing material information, answering questions, presenting offers and treating all parties honestly and fairly. Texas Occupations Code chapter 1101^[3] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026, addresses these duties and intermediary relationships. Ask the agent to explain what representation means before you sign the listing agreement.

If the brokerage also represents a buyer interested in your home, ask about intermediary status. The IABS explains that written consent is required and that the broker must act impartially. It also describes limits on disclosing confidential information. Ask whether separate associated agents might be appointed and what that would mean for your advice and communications. Review IABS 1-2, effective January 1, 2026, before signing.

What should you review in the listing agreement?

Request the complete agreement early enough to read it carefully. TREC explains^[4] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026, that a listing agreement is a private contract between the owner and broker and is not a TREC-promulgated form. Ask the broker to explain every provision you do not understand; a Texas real estate attorney can advise you about a contract or dispute.

Review the start and end dates and how an extension would be agreed. Identify the listing broker and the services covered. Ask how the agreement may be canceled, whether the broker must agree to a release, and whether any cancellation charge or unpaid expense would remain. Do not rely on an oral description when the written terms say something different. The Texas listing agreement cancellation guide explains questions to raise if circumstances change.

Read the compensation and expense provisions together. TREC consumer information^[5] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026, says fees are set by agreement, and the IABS states brokerage fees are fully negotiable and not set by law. Ask what the listing broker receives, when it is earned or payable, and who pays for photos, staging, advertising or other services. Get any negotiated changes in the signed agreement.

Look for a protection period after the listing ends. Texas REALTORS described its residential listing form’s protection period^[10] in January 2021: it can address prospects identified by the broker and compensation if a sale to one of them occurs after the term. That description is historical, not a substitute for your current agreement. Ask how prospects must be identified, what conditions apply, and whether a later listing or release changes your obligations.

How does buyer broker compensation affect an offer?

Under NAR’s settlement practice changes^[11] (NAR, 2024), effective August 17, 2024 and checked November 7, 2026, offers of compensation are not made on the MLS. Sellers may still offer compensation off the MLS and may offer buyer concessions on the MLS. Ask the listing broker how any proposal will be communicated and approved, and how it affects your proceeds.

The TREC resale contract^[12], form dated May 4, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, provides for each party’s broker compensation under separate written agreements and allows a seller contribution toward the buyer’s broker. A contribution is a term to consider with the rest of an offer. Ask for an estimated net sheet showing the assumptions and compare offers on their complete terms, including financing, contingencies and timing.

What red flags should you watch for?

Be cautious if a candidate cannot explain a proposed price, avoids providing a written marketing plan, or promises a particular outcome. A vague answer about who will handle showings or how often you will hear from the team makes it harder to judge the service. Pressure to sign before you can read the contract is another reason to pause.

Check the license and any disciplinary history through TREC’s consumer information and license lookup^[6] (TREC, 2026), checked November 7, 2026. Ask for clarification when a proposal is unclear and verify that the person you expect to work with will be involved. The North Dallas agent selection overview provides additional context for evaluating candidates.

Once you have compared the proposals, ask the agent you select to put the agreed scope, costs and communication expectations in writing. Keep a copy of the signed agreement and your marketing plan. Put the agreed scope, costs and communication expectations in the signed paperwork before the listing begins.