Hire the record,
not the pitch.
For a DC row house owner interviewing listing agents, and for a buyer choosing an agent to write offers. If you already have an agent you trust, use this page to check the record together.
How do I choose an agent to sell my DC row house?
Ask for the record, not the pitch. Every house the agent listed in the last two years, with its first asking price, its sale price and its days on the market. That list shows how the agent prices, which is the decision that matters most before a buyer walks in.
How much do results differ between agents?
A lot. Over the last two years, 150 listing agents sold five or more DC fee simple row houses, 1,478 of the 3,637 sales. A quarter of them sold 22% or fewer of their listings within two weeks at 98% of the first ask or better. Another quarter did it on 60% or more. Agents work different neighborhoods and price points, so compare records on houses like yours.
| Across these agents | Bottom quarter | Median | Top quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of listings priced right | 22% | 40% | 60% |
| Median sale, % of first ask | 96.4% | 98.8% | 100% |
| Median days on market | 27 | 15 | 8 |
What should a listing agent show me before I sign?
A price, with the sales behind it. Each comparable sale should come with the adjustments for size, condition and parking, and a reason it was chosen. Then a plan for the first two weeks on the market, when the strongest offers arrive. If the number cannot be traced to sales, it is a guess.
Should I pick the agent who suggests the highest price?
No. A high first price wins the listing, not the sale. Houses that cut their asking price sold below where they started, and later (see what a price cut costs). Ask each agent which sales support their number, then compare the sales, not the numbers.
What does an agent cost?
Whatever you agree to in writing: commissions are negotiable. Since August 17, 2024, offers of compensation to a buyer's agent are no longer posted on the MLS. A buyer must also sign a written agreement with their agent before touring a home. Read each agreement for the fee, the term and how either side can end it.
I am buying. What should a buyer's agent do for me?
Show you the sales before you write an offer. A buyer's agent should tell you whether the house is priced like the ones that sold in their first two weeks or the ones that sat. The answer decides how hard you push on price and terms.
Read next: what a price cut costs and row house prices by neighborhood.
Every closed sale on your block for 24 months, in two sections. No charge, no obligation.
Send me every sale on my blockSources. BrightMLS closed sales of DC fee simple row houses in the two years to October 24, 2026, grouped by listing agent; no agent is named. National Association of Realtors, August 17, 2024 practice changes.