Choosing an agent is one of the most important decisions in a real estate transaction. In a market like Midland, where the energy economy can shift inventory and pricing fast, you want someone who lives here, sells here and answers the phone. Here is how I tell clients to vet any agent, including me.
Check the license and the track record
Verify that your agent holds an active Texas real estate license and ask how long they have been in the business. A broker-level license, like the one I hold (TX 0788885), means the agent has gone beyond the base license. Then ask the honest questions: how many transactions in the last 12 months, and how many in Midland specifically? Local frequency matters more than a long career somewhere else.
You can look up any Texas license on the Texas Real Estate Commission website, and you should.
Ask who they work with
Some agents focus on buyers, some on sellers, some on relocation and land. Make sure your agent actually does the kind of work you need, day in and day out. A buyer's agent who negotiates every week knows inspection timelines, lender expectations and offer strategy cold.
Interview for communication
The best agent in town is no good if you cannot reach them on a deadline. Ask about response times up front, and pick the communication style that matches yours: texts, calls, email. You should feel like you are working with a partner, not leaving voicemails into the void.
Interview for local knowledge
Ask about neighborhoods, schools, commute patterns and what list prices actually sell for in your target area. The right agent answers from experience, not from a script. When you find someone who can tell you why a street floods after heavy rain or which block backs up at school drop-off, you have found a local.
The bottom line
Whomever you choose, make sure they know Midland from the inside out. And if you want a second opinion on your plans, I am always happy to sit down for coffee.
Written by a local
Alli Moore
Wife, mom to two boys and a Fathom Realty broker associate serving Midland and the Permian Basin. Alli writes these guides between showings, from the streets she actually lives on.
