Real Estate Agent in Richmond? What to Check Before Hiring

The license, local track record, negotiation process, and Virginia agreement terms to confirm before you sign, whether you're buying or selling.

Quick Answer: The right real estate agent in Richmond holds a Virginia license you've verified through DPOR, has real transaction experience in your specific locality, and can explain how they'll negotiate for you. Virginia law requires a written brokerage agreement before an agent provides brokerage services, so read its services, fees, termination date, and exit terms before you sign.

Written by Mike Boone, Owner and Broker of Boone Residential, a Richmond, VA brokerage. Licensed by the Virginia Real Estate Board. Last updated: October 2026.

What should I look for in a real estate agent in Richmond?

Look for four things: a verified Virginia license, recent experience in your specific locality, a clear negotiation process, and an agreement you fully understand. Whether you're buying or selling, those four tests separate a good fit from a friendly voice. I'd rather you interview a few agents and pick the best one than hire the first person who calls you back.

Key Takeaways

• Verify the license first. Virginia brokers and salespersons are licensed and regulated by the Virginia Real Estate Board, and you can confirm any license through DPOR in a few minutes.
• Local pace varies widely. Recent CVRMLS data shows median days on market ranging from 18 in Henrico to 53 in Chester, so pricing and strategy should differ by locality.
• The agreement must be in writing. Under Va. Code § 54.1-2137, a brokerage agreement must state the fees, the services, and a definite termination date. If no end date is written in, it ends after 90 days.
• Compensation is negotiable. Agent fees are not set by law, and there is no standard rate in Richmond.
• Ask about dual agency up front. In Virginia, an agent can represent both sides of a residential sale only with written consent from everyone involved (Va. Code § 54.1-2139).

How do I verify a Richmond agent is licensed and legitimate?

Look the agent up through the Virginia Real Estate Board's license lookup at DPOR (the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation). You'll see whether the license is active and which firm supervises the agent. It's the first thing I'd do with any agent, including me.

Does the Real Estate Board actually set standards for agents?

Yes. The Board licenses brokers and salespersons and sets standards for licensure and professional conduct in the Virginia Real Estate Board Licensing Regulations (18VAC135-20). A license tells you the agent met the state's requirements. It doesn't tell you whether they're the right fit for your move.

What should I check on the brokerage and marketing?

Look at how the agent advertises. Under 18VAC135-20-190, all real estate advertising in Virginia must show the firm's licensed name and office contact information and be supervised by the principal or supervising broker. That covers websites, yard signs, business cards, and social posts.

If an agent's ads don't clearly show the firm, ask why. Clean disclosures usually mean a brokerage that actually supervises its people.

What's the difference between a REALTOR® and a licensed agent?

A licensed agent holds a Virginia license. A REALTOR® is a licensee who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and bound by its Code of Ethics. Someone can be licensed without being a REALTOR®, so ask which one you're talking to.

Does the agent really know my part of the Richmond area?

Ask for proof, because "local expert" isn't a credential. The Richmond region runs from city neighborhoods to suburban and exurban settings across Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Powhatan. Ask how many transactions the agent has handled in your specific locality, not just "the Richmond area."

Here's why it matters. Recent CVRMLS data shows how differently these areas behave:

Source: CVRMLS data via InfoSparks, trailing ~90 days as of October 2026. Smaller communities such as Salisbury and Rosemont have fewer sales, so a handful of transactions can move their medians a lot.

These are area-level medians. Your home's value depends on its condition, street, build year, and timing. But the spread is the point: a Henrico home has been going under contract in a median of 18 days, while Chester's median is 53. A seller in Chester needs a different pricing and pacing plan than a seller in Henrico, and a buyer in Salisbury needs to be ready to act faster than one in Chester.

The Midlothian area alone has 455 active listings, 225 new listings in the last 30 days, and 454 homes sold in about 90 days. An agent who works that market every week can tell you which of those listings are priced to move and which are sitting for a reason.

How I handle it: I work Midlothian, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Powhatan every week, with a focus on neighborhoods like Hallsley, Founders Bridge, RounTrey, Tarrington, and Salisbury. Over the past 12 months, I've successfully closed 23 real estate transactions, giving me firsthand insight into local pricing trends, buyer demand, and market conditions. My experience goes beyond simply tracking sales. I use real-time market data and neighborhood-specific knowledge to help my clients price strategically, identify opportunities, and negotiate with confidence.

What should I ask about experience?

NAR suggests asking about experience with clients like you, relevant designations, how the agent runs a property search, references, and which service providers they recommend. I'd add:

• How many transactions have you handled in my specific locality, and in which property types?
• Have you worked with someone in my situation (relocating, investing, selling a complex property, buying for the first time)?
• Who do you recommend for inspections, lending, and other services, and why?
• Who will actually work on my file day to day?

A high transaction count alone doesn't prove fit. A volume leader might be a great match, or might hand your file to someone you've never met. If you're coming from out of state, my Henrico relocation guide covers the questions worth asking before you tour.

How do I use references the right way?

Ask for references from clients whose goals and property types match yours. Then ask those references about responsiveness, negotiation, accuracy, follow-through, and whether the agent explained risks clearly. The last one is the tell. Good agents say the uncomfortable thing early.

How do I know an agent will advocate for me?

Judge advocacy by process, not promises. Anyone will say they'll fight for you, so ask them to walk you through exactly how.

What process questions reveal real advocacy?

• Who attends inspections, and what do you do with the results?
• How do you evaluate offer terms beyond price (financing, contingencies, settlement date)?
• How do you handle competing offers?
• How do you document difficult conversations?
• Who covers for you when you're unavailable?
• If I want to see or sell a home your firm represents, how do you handle dual agency?

That last question matters for buyers and sellers alike. Under Va. Code § 54.1-2139, an agent can't act as a dual agent or dual representative in a residential sale without written consent from all parties, given after written disclosure of what that means. In a dual relationship, the agent can't share confidential information from one client with the other. Ask how the agent handles it before it comes up, not in the middle of a negotiation.

How I handle it: I take a hands-on approach throughout every transaction, attending inspections alongside my Transaction Manager and making it a priority to respond to client questions and concerns the same day. When reviewing offers, I walk clients through each term step by step, explaining their options and identifying strategies that can make their offer more competitive or strengthen their negotiating position. Together, we determine the best approach based on current market conditions and the information we have about the other party's needs and motivations. I believe every client deserves an advocate who explains each step, so they're never signing something they don't understand. An agent who gets impatient with your questions before you've hired them won't get more patient later.

What should the agreement say before I sign?

In Virginia, a licensee must enter into a written brokerage agreement with you before providing brokerage services (Va. Code § 54.1-2137). That applies to buyers and sellers. The law requires the agreement to:

• Have a definite termination date (if none is stated, it ends 90 days after signing)
• State the brokerage fee and how and when it's paid
• State the services the agent will provide
• Include any other terms you and the agent agreed to

Read all four before you tour homes or list your property, and ask how either side can end the relationship early.

What should a buyer look for in a buyer agreement?

Focus on services, length, termination, and compensation. Agent fees are fully negotiable and not set by law, and they can take different forms: a flat fee, a percentage, or an hourly rate. There is no standard rate in Richmond or anywhere else. If you want to know how I'd structure it for your situation, ask me directly and I'll walk you through it before you sign anything.

What should a seller look for in a listing agreement?

A listing agreement authorizes an agent to represent and market your home and sets the pricing strategy. Before you sign, review the services, duration, termination provisions, and marketing commitments. Ask what marketing you'll actually get, how often you'll hear from your agent, and how you can exit if it isn't working.

If you're curious what selling would net you, I cover the categories in how much you'll net selling in Richmond, and I'll run a personalized look for your home in a consultation. In Virginia, your settlement agent handles closing and the funds; my closing timeline post shows how that fits after you accept an offer.

Don't hire on charm alone. Pick the agent whose license checks out, whose local experience is specific, whose references are enthusiastic, and whose paperwork you understand. Any real estate agent in Richmond worth hiring will welcome those questions.

If you'd like to see how others describe working with me, you can read my reviews on Google, Zillow, and Realtor.com.

FAQ

How do I verify that a real estate agent is licensed in Virginia?

Use the license lookup from the Virginia Real Estate Board through DPOR, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. It shows whether the license is active and which firm supervises the agent. Check it before you share your goals or sign anything.

Does Virginia require a written agreement with a real estate agent?

Yes. Under Va. Code § 54.1-2137, an agent must have a written brokerage agreement with you before providing brokerage services. It must state the fee, the services, and a definite termination date. If no termination date is listed, the agreement ends 90 days after it's signed.

What questions should I ask a Richmond real estate agent before hiring them?

Ask about experience with clients like you, how many transactions they've handled in your locality, references, and which service providers they recommend. Then ask about process: who attends inspections, how they handle competing offers, how they handle dual agency, and who covers for them when they're unavailable.

Should I choose an agent who specializes in one locality?

Yes, if that's where you're buying or selling. Recent CVRMLS data shows median days on market ranging from 18 in Henrico to 53 in Chester, so pricing and pacing differ by area. Ask how many transactions the agent has handled in your specific locality and property type.

What is the difference between a REALTOR® and a licensed real estate agent?

A licensed agent holds a Virginia license. A REALTOR® is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and bound by its Code of Ethics. An agent can be licensed without being a REALTOR®, so ask which applies.

Can I change agents if the relationship isn't working?

It depends on the termination terms in your agreement, which Virginia law requires to include a definite end date. Ask up front how either side can end the relationship early. If problems come up later, the agent's supervising broker is often a good first call.

The best agent for you is the one who can answer these questions clearly, show their work, and put it in writing. If you want to talk through your situation, whether you're buying, selling, or still deciding, Schedule a Call with Mike. I'll answer every question above before you commit to anything.

About Mike Boone

Mike Boone is the Owner and Broker of Boone Residential, a Richmond, VA real estate brokerage serving buyers and sellers across Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Powhatan counties. He has grown the company through authentic, client-first service.

Boone Residential · 804-409-8655

Equal Housing Opportunity. Real estate licensees in Virginia are regulated by the Virginia Real Estate Board. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice; confirm your own numbers with your settlement agent, tax advisor, or lender. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently reviewed and verified.