Searching "best realtor near me" gets you ads and directories. None of them tell you who will do the work well for your house. This is how I'd check an agent if I were hiring one. Run me through it too.
1. Check the license
Every real estate broker in Illinois is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Its free online License Lookup shows whether a license is active, which brokerage sponsors it, and any discipline. It takes a minute.
2. Look at recent sales near you
Ask for the agent's closed sales from the last year or two in your town or price range, and match them against a public source such as their Zillow profile. Sales tell you more than listings. A listing that never sold isn't a result.
3. Read reviews the agent can't edit
Reviews on Zillow and Google are tied to real accounts, and the agent can't rewrite them. Look for specifics, meaning what the agent actually did, rather than how nice they were.
4. Ask how they got to the price
Any agent can quote a high number to win your listing. Ask which closed sales the price rests on and why those ones. If the answer is vague, the price is a pitch. A house priced on hope usually sits, and then sells for less.
5. Ask what happens in the first two weeks
Photography, video, a floor plan, where it's marketed, and whether it launches publicly or to agents first. Ask who does each part. A good answer is specific and comes with dates.
6. Find out who you'll actually talk to
With a team, you may meet one person and work with another. Neither setup is wrong, but you should know before you sign. I work solo, so the person you hire is the person who answers.
7. Read the agreement
Illinois now requires a written agreement with every client. Read how long it lasts, how you can end it, and exactly what you'll pay. If it isn't written down, it isn't agreed.
How I measure up
- 113 homes sold
- 35 reviews on Zillow, averaging 5.0
- $47M in closed sales
- Top 5% Chicagoland area Realtor
- Licensed real estate broker, sponsored by United Realty Group, Inc.
- English and Russian
Check the sales and reviews on Zillow and my license in the IDFPR License Lookup. I can also walk you through my career volume and award records directly.
If you’d like to run this checklist on me in person, request a call.
Questions people ask
How do I check if a real estate agent is licensed in Illinois?
Use the License Lookup on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website. Search by name; the record shows license status, the sponsoring brokerage and any discipline.
What should I ask a realtor before hiring them?
Which closed sales support the price, what happens in the first two weeks, who you'll deal with day to day, and what the agreement costs and how you can end it.
Is it better to use a team or a solo agent?
Either can work well. With a team, ask who handles your sale day to day. With a solo agent, ask how showings and calls are covered.
Do I have to sign an agreement with a buyer's agent in Illinois?
Yes. Since January 1, 2025, Illinois brokers need a written agreement with every client, including buyers, and it has to state the compensation.