Buyer and seller guide
The right agent makes the whole thing easier - and gets you a better number. Here is exactly what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags to avoid, from someone who has done this full time for nearly a decade, closed $40M+ across Staten Island and Brooklyn, and earned 80+ five star reviews. Let's find you the right fit.
Start with two things: track record and local knowledge. A good agent can tell you exactly how many homes they closed last year, in which neighborhoods, and at what price points - not just that they are "top producing." On Staten Island, that local piece matters more than most people realize. Great Kills prices differently than Todt Hill, and the North Shore moves on a different clock than the South Shore. An agent who works the Island every day knows the school zones, the flood maps, the commute realities, and which blocks quietly command a premium.
Beyond the numbers, look for someone who communicates like a professional and tells you the truth even when it is not what you want to hear. Whether you are on the buy side or the sell side, you want an agent who runs real math with you, responds fast, and treats your deal like it is their own. If you want to see how I approach the work and who I am, my about page lays it out plainly.
The interview matters. Ask how long they have worked full time and how many deals they closed last year. If you are selling, ask about their pricing strategy, their marketing plan, and their average days on market - and ask them to walk you through how they would price your home block by block. If you are buying, ask how they find off market and coming soon homes and how they handle a multiple offer situation, because on Staten Island the best homes move fast. Real proof looks like our success stories, where the numbers and the outcomes speak for themselves.
Then get specific about your neighborhood. If you are looking in Great Kills or Todt Hill, ask how many deals they have personally done there and what they think drives value on those streets. A great agent will have an answer ready. A weaker one will talk in generalities. That difference tells you almost everything you need to know.
The biggest one on the listing side is an agent who overpromises on price just to win your business, then comes back two weeks later pushing for a reduction. A good agent gives you honest, defensible numbers up front, backed by recent comparable sales - even when the honest number is lower than you hoped. Other warning signs: slow or vague responses, no verified reviews, a thin or fuzzy track record, and pressure to sign a contract fast before you have had time to think.
Part time agents are another quiet risk. Real estate rewards people who live in it every day, know the players, and can move at a moment's notice when the right home or the right offer appears. If you want to compare, my client outcomes and reviews are all in the open, and I am glad to put you in touch with people I have worked with so you can hear it straight from them.
Common questions
Ask for specifics, not adjectives. A good agent can tell you how many homes they closed in the last year, in what neighborhoods, and at what price range. Look up their verified reviews on Google, and ask for the names and numbers of recent clients you can actually call. On Staten Island, ask how many of their deals were on the Island itself versus other boroughs. I have nearly a decade full time, $40M+ closed across Staten Island and Brooklyn, and 80+ verified five star Google reviews - and I am happy to connect you with past clients.
Ask how long they have worked full time, how many deals they closed last year, and how well they know your specific neighborhood. For sellers, ask about their pricing strategy, marketing plan, and average days on market. For buyers, ask how they find off market homes and how they handle multiple offer situations. Then ask how they communicate and how fast they respond. The answers tell you whether you are hiring a full time professional or someone doing this on the side.
Watch for an agent who overpromises on price to win your listing, then pushes for a reduction two weeks later. Be wary of anyone who is slow to respond, vague about their track record, or unfamiliar with your neighborhood. Part time agents, no verified reviews, and pressure to sign fast are all warning signs. A good agent gives you honest numbers up front, even when they are not what you hoped to hear.
It matters a lot. Staten Island is a patchwork of very different neighborhoods - Great Kills, Todt Hill, Tottenville, and the North Shore each price and sell differently. A local agent knows the school zones, flood maps, commute realities, and which blocks command a premium. That knowledge translates directly into a sharper list price for sellers and a better read on value for buyers. An agent who mostly works other areas will miss the details that move the number.
Interview me the way this guide suggests. Ask the hard questions, check the reviews, and get honest numbers up front. If it feels right, we'll get to work. It starts with one quick conversation.