Finding the right real estate agent in Los Angeles is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your home buying or selling journey.
Ask the wrong questions, or none at all, and you could end up with an agent who is unavailable when it counts, unfamiliar with your specific neighborhood, or simply not equipped to compete in one of the most complex real estate markets in the country.
I'm Danielle Edney. I'm a third-generation Angeleno, a Los Angeles real estate specialist, and a Certified Real Estate Negotiator with 15 years of experience representing buyers and sellers across Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista.
Here are the questions you should be asking, and the answers you should expect from the right agent.
Question 1: Are You a Full-Time Agent, and Are You Available When I Need You?
This is the first question that matters and the one most buyers forget to ask.
Real estate in Los Angeles moves fast. The median days on market in Ladera Heights and View Park-Windsor Hills right now is 15-16 days. That means when the right home appears, you need an agent who is reachable immediately, not someone who treats this as a side project or a part-time pursuit.
What the right answer looks like: A full-time agent who is available six to seven days a week, responsive within hours, not days, and has a clear plan for coverage if they're ever unavailable. If they can't tell you immediately what happens when they're sick or traveling and you need to see a home, that's a red flag.
What Danielle's answer is: Real estate is my full-time career. I run my business like a business, with systems, a trusted team, and a commitment to being present for my clients at every stage of the process. I have a collaborative partner and trusted colleagues who ensure my clients are never left without support.
Question 2: How Well Do You Know the Neighborhoods I'm Looking In?
This is the question that separates a good agent from the right agent for you.
Los Angeles is not one market. It's a collection of micro-markets, and the difference between a block in Ladera Heights and a block two streets over can mean a $100,000 difference in value, a completely different buyer profile, and a fundamentally different negotiation strategy.
An agent who covers all of LA but specializes in none of it cannot give you the insight you need to make a confident decision.
What the right answer looks like: An agent who can tell you, without hesitation, what specific streets command premiums, what the current inventory looks like at your price point, how long homes in your target neighborhood are sitting, and what buyers in that area are actually paying relative to list price.
What Danielle's answer is: I specialize specifically in Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Vista, Culver City, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista. I pull my own MLS data regularly, I can tell you right now that 65.96% of homes in View Park-Windsor Hills sold within 30 days in early 2026, at an average of 101.49% of list price. That's the kind of specific, current knowledge that helps my clients make confident decisions.
Question 3: How Do You Handle Multiple Offers and Competing Situations?
In a market where well-priced homes receive multiple offers within days, your agent's ability to compete, and win, is the difference between getting the home and watching someone else close on it.
What the right answer looks like: An agent who can walk you through specific examples of competitive situations they've navigated, how they structured the offer, what terms they used to strengthen it beyond price, and how they communicated with the listing agent to position their buyer favorably.
What Danielle's answer is: As a Certified Real Estate Negotiator, negotiation is a specialty, not an afterthought. I approach every competitive situation strategically: understanding what the seller actually needs, structuring offers that speak to those needs, and leveraging my professional relationships with listing agents to position my buyers favorably before offers are even reviewed.
Question 4: Will You Run a CMA Before I Make an Offer?
Most buyers don't know to ask this, and most agents don't volunteer to do it.
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), typically used by listing agents to price a home for sale, can and should also be used by your buyer's agent before you make an offer. It tells you whether the home is priced fairly, what similar homes have actually sold for recently, and whether you're about to overpay.
What the right answer looks like: Yes, every time, without being asked. A buyer's agent who doesn't run a CMA before an offer is leaving you financially exposed.
What Danielle's answer is: I run a CMA for every home my buyer clients intend to offer on. You deserve to know what a home is actually worth before you commit, not after.
Question 5: How Do You Communicate, and How Often?
One of the most common complaints buyers have about agents is not hearing from them. In a fast-moving market, silence is costly.
What the right answer looks like: A specific, clear communication protocol, how often they'll update you, through what channels, and what response time you can expect after hours and on weekends.
What Danielle's answer is: I send bi-weekly updates to every client I'm working with, on marketing activity, market changes, and next steps. I respond to calls, texts, and emails promptly. And I make sure you always know where your transaction stands, not because you had to ask, but because I believe informed clients make better decisions.
Question 6: What Happens If You're Unavailable and I Need to See a Home?
This question reveals more about an agent's systems and professionalism than almost any other.
What the right answer looks like: An immediate, confident answer, a specific plan involving a trusted colleague who has been briefed on your search, your needs, and your pre-approval. Anything less is unacceptable in a market that moves as fast as Los Angeles.
What Danielle's answer is: I work with a trusted partner and collaborative team. If I'm ever unavailable, my clients are never without experienced, informed support. I introduce clients to my team early so there are no surprises, and no missed opportunities.
Question 7: What Are Your Credentials and How Long Have You Been in This Business?
Experience matters, but experience in the right market matters more.
What the right answer looks like: An agent with meaningful transaction experience in your specific neighborhoods, relevant professional credentials, and a track record of results, not just years of license renewal.
What Danielle's answer is: I bring 15+ years of Los Angeles real estate experience, deep roots in the southwest LA and Westside corridor as a third-generation Angeleno, and professional certifications including Certified Real Estate Negotiator, Certified Probate and Trust Specialist, and Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist. My marketing platform, including targeted digital advertising, professional photography and videography, Matterport virtual tours, and a growing SEO and AEO presence, brings a level of reach and sophistication to every listing that most agents in this market simply don't have.
The Question Most Buyers Forget to Ask
After all the credentials, the communication styles, and the market knowledge, there's one more question worth asking:
Does this agent actually have my best interests at heart?
The right agent will tell you when not to make an offer. They'll tell you when a home is overpriced. They'll tell you when the timing isn't right, even if that means waiting. They will not push you into a transaction just to close.
That's the standard I hold myself to with every client I work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a real estate agent in Los Angeles? Look for a full-time agent with deep, specific knowledge of your target neighborhoods, a clear communication system, demonstrated negotiation experience, and the willingness to run a CMA before every offer. Local roots and community knowledge are significant advantages in a market as nuanced as LA.
How do I know if a real estate agent knows my neighborhood well? Ask them specific questions, current median days on market, recent sold-to-list price ratios, and what's currently active in your price range. An agent who knows the market will answer without hesitation. One who doesn't will give you generalities.
Is Danielle Edney a good real estate agent for first-time buyers in Los Angeles? Yes. Danielle specializes in guiding buyers through one of the most complex real estate markets in the country, with concierge-level service, data-driven guidance, and the kind of local knowledge that only comes from 15+ years of working specifically in Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista.
What neighborhoods does Danielle Edney specialize in? Danielle Edney Homes specializes in Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Vista, Culver City, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista, the southwest LA and Westside corridor where she has worked and lived as a third-generation Angeleno for her entire career.
How do I get started with Danielle Edney? The best first step is a conversation. Reach out directly through DanielleEdneyHomes.com, call (424) 353-2761, or email [email protected]. There's no pressure and no obligation, just a real conversation about what you're looking for and how she can help.
Ready to Work With the Right Agent?
If you're buying or selling in Los Angeles, and you want an agent who knows your neighborhood, competes strategically, and genuinely has your best interests at heart, let's talk.
Visit DanielleEdneyHomes.com to connect directly.
Danielle Edney is a real estate agent in Los Angeles, California specializing in Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista, helping homeowners sell their homes for top value with a smooth, strategic process.
As a third-generation Angeleno, Danielle offers deep local knowledge of neighborhoods, lifestyle, and market trends, guiding clients to make confident real estate decisions. She is known for her concierge-level service and results-driven approach, making her a trusted resource for buyers and sellers across Los Angeles.
Danielle Edney Real Estate Agent | Los Angeles, California
