How do I choose a listing agent to sell my house in San Diego?
Ask every listing agent three things: how they will get your home seen by as many people as possible, how much business they have done in your area, and whether they work with buyers. Then ask for their price, backed by comps, before you say yours. I'm Jared Harman, a San Diego REALTOR®, and here are my answers.
Published . Last updated . Figures are from my own records unless a source is linked.
- 250K+
- average local views a month on my San Diego real estate content
- 800+
- homes personally toured in 2025
What should I ask a listing agent before I hire them?
Three questions, and ask every agent you interview the same three.
- How are you going to get my home seen by as many people as possible?
- How much business have you done in this immediate area?
- Do you work with buyers?
Why ask a listing agent whether they work with buyers?
It's a bit of a curveball. Some agents are listing specialists, and more power to them.
But at the end of the day, if you're selling a house, you need someone to bring a buyer. An established agent who does a lot of business in your area may have that buyer already, or attract one through their network.
That makes your life a lot easier, and the whole sale a lot less stressful.
For what it is worth, my own business is roughly half buyers and half sellers.
How will my home get seen?
Ask for a number. Mine: my San Diego real estate content averages more than 250,000 local views a month, built with no ad spend. I have about 23,000 followers across platforms.
And that audience brings buyers. When I start talking with a seller about selling, I share a story to gather an early interest list. At my Burlingame listing in North Park in June 2026, three interested parties reached out to me through my social network before the home hit the market.
What is the red flag when an agent prices your home?
When they ask what you want to list it for, and go along with your answer. Your number is often higher than what's realistic, and an agent who runs with it is pricing to win the listing, not to sell the house.
So don't answer. Ask them to put their pricing strategy forward first. Have them back it with data: comps, meaning recent sales from the last 6 to 12 months, and their thinking behind the number.
The market is what the market is. You want an agent who is forthright about it.
What does a good pricing explanation sound like?
Specific. I personally toured more than 800 homes in 2025, and 2026 is a very similar story. So when I price a house, I can usually point to homes I have stood in.
It sounds like this. I walked a house nearby that's a lot like yours. The layout isn't as good, but the kitchen is more updated and the backyard has a lot more space. The listing says three parking spaces, but they're all tandem in the driveway, so your two side-by-side spaces are easier to live with. That's why I think your price belongs here.
Do these questions work in my neighborhood?
Yes, anywhere in San Diego: North Park, Normal Heights, South Park, Golden Hill, Kensington, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills or Point Loma. For the second question, ask how much business they have done within a few blocks of you, not across the county.
Can I leave my listing agent if it is not working?
With me, yes. The No Handcuffs Guarantee lets sellers cancel any time, with no penalty.
Want a number before you interview anyone? Tell me about your place and I will personally research what you would actually walk away with. That is a Net Number, back to you in 24 hours.
Who is Jared Harman?
Jared Harman is a real estate agent and REALTOR® in San Diego, California, licensed under DRE 02193879 with MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc. He is based in North Park and works with buyers and sellers across the central San Diego neighborhoods. His San Diego real estate content averages more than 250,000 local views a month, and he personally toured more than 800 homes in 2025.