I’m going to say something most agents won’t: the most well-known agent in the market might not be the right agent for you. Volume doesn’t equal attention. Name recognition doesn’t equal care. Before you sign with anyone, ask these five questions — including me.
1. “How many clients are you currently working with?”
This isn’t about judging success. It’s about understanding what kind of attention you’ll actually get. An agent juggling dozens of active clients simply can’t give each one the same level of presence as an agent with a more focused client load. Neither approach is wrong — but you deserve to know which one you’re getting before you sign anything.
2. “Will I be working directly with you, or with a team member I haven’t met?”
Some top-producing agents hand off most of the actual work — showings, negotiations, even communication — to team members you may never speak with until closing day. There’s nothing dishonest about that model, but you should know upfront who you’re actually going to be working with throughout your transaction.
3. “How will you price my home, and can you show me your reasoning?”
Any agent can hand you a number. A good agent can walk you through exactly how they got there — recent comparable sales, current competing listings, and current market conditions — and explain their reasoning in plain language. If an agent can’t explain their number, that’s worth noting.
4. “What happens if my home doesn’t sell as quickly as we hoped?”
This question tells you a lot. A good agent has a real answer — how they’ll reassess pricing, adjust marketing, or address buyer feedback. A generic answer, or a defensive one, is a signal.
5. “Can I talk to a recent client?”
Reviews matter, but a direct conversation with someone who recently went through the exact process you’re about to start tells you more than any star rating. A confident agent will connect you without hesitation.
What you’re really evaluating
Underneath all five questions is one real question: will this person actually show up for me? Not just at the listing appointment — through every phone call, every negotiation, every moment things get stressful. That’s what determines whether your experience feels supported or feels like you’re managing your own transaction while paying someone else a commission.
A note on my own approach
I spent more than 30 years as a healthcare executive before I became a REALTOR®. That background taught me how to manage complex, high-stakes situations, advocate for the person in front of me, and stay calm and strategic when things get emotional — because in healthcare, they often do. I bring that same approach to real estate. I’m newer to this career, but I’m not new to showing up for people when it matters most.
One more thing worth knowing
You’ll still be working directly with me — not handed off to someone you’ve never met. But that doesn’t mean I’m figuring out every question on my own. My brokerage backs me with a full support team, and I can reach my managing broker — someone with more than 20 years as a REALTOR® in the Pittsburgh market — and typically hear back within minutes when something needs a second opinion.
I think of that as a strength, not a gap to explain away. Before real estate, I spent decades as a Regional President and Market CEO for some of the largest companies in healthcare. Running organizations that size taught me that the best outcomes never came from having every answer myself — they came from a strong team, and from knowing when to ask a question instead of guessing. I’ve always loved the saying that you can accomplish almost anything if you don’t worry about who gets the credit. That’s still how I work. When you hire me, you get me — and everything I can call on to make sure you get the right answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does April work alone, or is she backed by a support team?
Both. You’ll work directly with April throughout your transaction, and she’s also backed by her brokerage’s full support team, including a managing broker with more than 20 years in the Pittsburgh market for quick answers on complex questions.
Does the most experienced agent always get the best results?
Not necessarily. Experience matters, but attentiveness, communication, and pricing strategy often matter more to your actual outcome than years in the business alone.
Should I choose an agent based on the lowest commission?
Commission is worth discussing, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor. An agent who prices and markets your home well can often net you more, even after commission, than one who simply charges less.
What’s the difference between a listing agent and a buyer’s agent?
A listing agent represents sellers and markets the home to attract buyers. A buyer’s agent represents the buyer’s interests during the search and negotiation. Some agents, including me, work with both buyers and sellers.
How do I know if an agent is a good fit for me personally, not just professionally?
Pay attention to how they communicate during your very first conversation. If they’re patient, direct, and genuinely curious about your situation rather than pitching you, that’s usually a good sign of what working together will actually feel like.
If you’re interviewing agents right now, I’d love to be one of the conversations you have. Ask me all five questions. I’ll give you honest answers — and if I’m not the right fit for you, I’ll tell you that too.
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