1. Confirm the right licence
Match the person or legal corporation to the government licence record. Check status, expiry, licence type, classes and any conditions. An agent's licence is different from the agency corporation licence.
Searching by suburb alone may miss people who work in an area but have registered details elsewhere. If you're unsure, request the licence number. How to check a licence.
2. Check published regulatory action separately
Licence status and published regulatory actions answer different questions. Search the NSW Fair Trading Name and Shame Register for the same person or legal entity, then review the actual notice and date.
No result is not an all-clear: the register has publication criteria and retention periods. Read the separate register guide.
3. Ask for relevant, verifiable sales evidence
Ask for recent sales of genuinely comparable properties in your suburb, the original advertised price, final price, marketing time and how each property compares with yours. A high sales figure without the property context can mislead.
Seek clear explanations of the price opinion, marketing strategy and how offers will be communicated.
4. Understand what awards and rankings measure
Ask who runs an award, what geography and dates the ranking covers, how results are measured and whether payment affects eligibility, placement or recognition. Some awards are credible; a badge on its own isn't independent evidence.
5. Check referral incentives and the agreement
If a matching platform or referrer recommends an agent, ask whether a referral fee, paid placement or commercial relationship influenced the recommendation. Request clear written details of commissions, marketing expenses, agreement duration and termination terms before signing.