Buying or selling in Los Gatos is a significant financial and personal decision. Before selecting a real estate agent or team, ask a few direct questions about service, access, and representation. The answers can help you choose an agent whose approach fits the level of care you expect.
1. Who will actually answer my calls and show my home?
Ask who will be your day-to-day point of contact. Will the agent you interview be present for key conversations, property tours, open houses, and negotiations — or will those responsibilities rotate among several people? A clear answer helps you know whether you will have one trusted adviser who understands your priorities from start to finish.
In a high-volume model, it is common for different team members to handle showings, offer review, inspections, and closing coordination separately. That can create efficiency for the team — but it can also mean that no single person holds the full picture of your transaction.
2. Does your agent represent both buyers and sellers on the same property?
In California, this arrangement is called dual agency. It is legal and must be disclosed, yet it presents an inherent conflict because the buyer and seller have different financial interests. An agent in a dual agency situation is legally obligated to both parties — which can limit how candid they can be with either one.
Ask how dual agency is handled and whether the agent’s practice is designed to preserve focused advocacy for each client. The best representation puts your interests first — not the commission on both sides of a deal.
3. How many active transactions is my agent personally managing?
Volume alone does not tell the whole story. What matters is how much attention your agent can bring to pricing, preparation, negotiations, inspections, and the unexpected details that arise before closing.
Ask how the agent stays personally involved when several transactions are active at once. A thoughtful answer — not just a number — tells you a great deal about how your transaction will actually be handled.
4. Will my listing be shown to all qualified buyers, or only buyers within your team?
Every seller deserves broad, fair exposure to qualified buyers. Ask how buyer inquiries and showing requests are handled, and how the marketing plan encourages the widest appropriate audience.
When an agent represents both a seller and a large pool of their own buyers, there can be a financial incentive to keep the deal in-house — earning both the listing and buyer’s commission. The best strategy keeps the focus on your property’s strongest possible result, not on where a buyer originated.
5. Who knows the personal story of my transaction — start to finish?
Life changes, timing, privacy, and property history all shape a successful move. You should know who has the context to give a thoughtful answer when another agent calls or a decision needs to be made quickly.
A buyer’s agent calling about a serious offer deserves to speak with someone who truly knows the property, the seller’s situation, and what it will take to put a deal together. When too many people are touching a file, that knowledge can get lost — and so can offers.
A dedicated individual agent can offer continuity and accountability that is difficult to replicate in a handoff-driven model.
The Bottom Line
There is no single right answer for every buyer or seller. But asking these questions before you hire will help you understand exactly what kind of service you are signing up for — and whether it fits what your move deserves.
For buyers and sellers who value direct communication, deep local knowledge, and one-to-one representation, I am happy to have a confidential conversation about your Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, or Saratoga real estate goals.
Contact Annette Seaborn →
(408) 859-5881 | aseaborn@cbnorcal.com
Coldwell Banker Realty · Los Gatos, CA · DRE 01348743
