By Triolo Realty Group, Keller Williams Carmel Valley/Del Mar
Last updated: November 2026
To choose a real estate agent in San Diego, check the license on the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) website. Next, find out what each award or ranking on the agent's site measured. Then interview more than one agent with the same questions and compare written answers. Client surveys, Google reviews and verified sales data measure different things.
This guide is for homeowners interviewing listing agents and buyers choosing one.
How to check a real estate agent's license in California
Anyone can look up a California real estate license on the DRE's Public License Information page, searching by name or license ID. The record shows the license status and expiration date. It also names the responsible broker the agent works under.
- Open the California DRE Public License Information page.
- Enter the agent's name (last name, first name), a company name or the license ID.
- In the result, read the License Type, License Status, Expiration Date, Responsible Broker and Comment fields.
- From the same lookup page, open the DRE's Disciplinary Actions page. The DRE describes it as showing "disciplinary actions taken against licensees and individuals for violations of the Real Estate Law."
Five Star's award research matches each candidate's license to the state record, including disciplinary history.
What real estate agent awards actually measure
This guide sorts agent recognitions into three kinds. Client satisfaction surveys ask past clients to rate the agent. Google review rankings are built from public reviews. Verified production rankings use transaction data the brokerage reports, which is checked before the agent or team is ranked.
| Kind of recognition | Example | Who supplies the data | What it measures | What it can't tell you | How to check it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client satisfaction survey | Five Star Real Estate Agent award | Recent clients via a third-party survey, plus peers | Client ratings on ten criteria, plus license and complaint review | Future performance, by Five Star's own disclaimer | Read Five Star's published research methodology |
| Google review ranking | BusinessRate | Google reviewers | Google review scores: all-time, recent and review quality | Any sales result | Read the agent's Google reviews yourself |
| Verified production | REAL Trends Verified | Brokerage-reported transaction data, verified before ranking | Sales results such as transaction sides and volume | How clients felt about the service | Ask for the period, sale count and list-price basis |
Client satisfaction surveys
The Five Star Real Estate Agent award is a client satisfaction survey program. A third party surveys recent homebuyers and sellers, who rate agents on ten criteria. Five Star caps the final list at no more than 7% of agents in each research area, and agents don't pay to be researched or named.
Winners need at least five years as a licensed salesperson, a favorable regulatory and complaint history and minimum production over one and three years. Agents may pay for a print profile or publicity tools; Five Star says that doesn't affect selection. Read how the Five Star Real Estate Agent award is chosen.
Google review rankings
Some local rankings, such as BusinessRate, are built only from Google reviews in the same business category and area. According to Main Street Hanover's published summary of the method, BusinessRate scores businesses from 0 to 300, weighting all-time reviews at 60% and reviews from the last 90 days at 33%. Review quality makes up the remaining 7%.
It shows how reviewers felt and how recently, but no sales results. It also only reflects clients who chose to leave a review.
Verified production and the sales-to-list ratio
Verified production rankings such as REAL Trends Verified use an agent's or team's reported transaction data instead of asking clients for opinions. One useful number is the sales-to-list ratio: the sold price as a percentage of the list price. A ratio above 100% means homes sold for more than their asking price.
Ask whether the ratio uses the original list price or the final list price after reductions. After price cuts, the final-price version looks better. Ask how many sales and what period it covers, too.
What awards don't tell you
Awards look backward. Five Star says its award "is not indicative of the real estate agent's future performance." None of these programs tells you who will handle your sale day to day. They also can't show how an agent will price your home, or what your contract lets you do if things go badly.
A line like "#1 in our office" needs a source, so ask who did the counting and what they counted. A selective list also says nothing about the agents left off it. Five Star says its list "is not intended to be exhaustive."
Questions to ask a real estate agent before hiring
Ask every agent the same questions, and get written answers where it matters. Good questions come from two places: the criteria past clients rate agents on, and the issues that can cause trouble in a listing, such as inflated pricing, contract terms, hand-offs to other agents and low appraisals.
Questions built from what clients rate
Five Star asks clients to rate agents on ten criteria. Each one works as an interview question.
| What clients rate | Question to ask | What a useful answer includes |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service | If escrow hits a problem, who do I call? | A named person and a response time |
| Integrity | When did you last tell a client something unwelcome? | A concrete example |
| Market knowledge | Which homes near mine closed recently, and for how much? | Specific sales with prices and dates |
| Communication | How often will you update me, and how? | A schedule and a channel |
| Negotiation | Walk me through a recent multiple-offer negotiation. | What happened and what the client got |
| Closing preparation | What happens between accepted offer and closing? | A step list or timeline |
| Post-sale service | What do you do for clients after closing? | Specifics, or an honest "nothing formal" |
| Finds the right home (buyers) | How do you search beyond the listing portals? | A process, not promised off-market access |
| Marketing of home (sellers) | What goes into your marketing plan? | A written plan before listing day |
| Overall satisfaction | Can I speak with two recent clients? | Names you can call |
Five Star also asks whether the client would recommend the agent to a friend, as a cross-check.
Questions about pricing, contracts and who does the work
- What price do you expect my home to sell for, and which closed sales support it?
- What is your sales-to-list ratio? Ask for the period, sale count and list-price basis.
- Can I end the listing agreement early, and on what notice? Get a copy of the agreement before you sign.
- Who will I actually work with? Ask who negotiates offers and who answers the phone on a Saturday.
- What do you do if the buyer's appraisal comes in below the contract price? The FAQ below explains how we handle it.
- Would you tell me to wait, or fix something first, even if it cost you the listing? Listen for hesitation.
- What is your DRE license number? Then look it up yourself.
How to compare agents after the interviews
Lay the written answers side by side. Compare each agent's suggested price with the closed sales they used to support it. Then read the marketing plan and the agreement's termination terms. A higher suggested price is not a better offer if the comparable sales don't back it up.
For pricing, read how pricing for a 30-day sale works. To estimate your net proceeds, read our guide to seller closing costs in California.
An example: what one San Diego team's recognitions measure
Our own recognitions cover all three kinds.
Darin Triolo, individually rather than the team, has been named a Five Star Real Estate Agent in the San Diego market every year from 2009 through 2027. That is 19 consecutive years. The first came in 2009, during the housing crash.
The Five Star award is not indicative of the real estate agent's future performance. The inclusion of a real estate agent on the Five Star Real Estate Agent list should not be construed as an endorsement of the real estate agent by Five Star Professional.
BusinessRate, which ranks from Google reviews, named Triolo Realty Group among the "Top 3 Real Estate Agencies in Carmel Valley for 2025."
Per REAL Trends Verified data for 2010 to 2024, Triolo listings sold at an average of 102% of original list price, against a regional broker average of 96.5% over the same period. Past results don't predict the price of any future sale. Triolo Realty Group's REAL Trends profile shows 2025 sales data: 31 sides and $48.15M in volume.
See Triolo Realty Group's awards and recognition, or request a free home valuation.
Frequently asked questions
Are real estate agent awards pay-to-play?
It depends on the program. Five Star says agents don't pay to be researched or named. They can pay for a print profile or marketing tools, which Five Star says doesn't affect selection. Winners with a digital profile on its site paid a promotional fee.
What does the Five Star Real Estate Agent award mean?
Past clients rated the agent on ten criteria in a third-party survey. Winners need five years as a licensed salesperson, a favorable regulatory and complaint history and minimum production. The list holds no more than 7% of agents per area.
How do I check a real estate agent's license in California?
Search the agent's name or license ID on the California DRE's Public License Information page. Check the License Status and Responsible Broker, then the DRE's Disciplinary Actions page, linked from the same lookup page.
Do Google reviews matter when choosing a real estate agent?
Yes, as a read on what many clients experienced. BusinessRate, for example, uses only Google reviews, weighting all-time reviews at 60%, the last 90 days at 33% and review quality at 7%. Reviews show no sales results.
What is a sales-to-list price ratio?
It is the sold price as a percentage of the list price, so above 100% means the home sold over asking. Ask whether a quoted ratio uses original or final list price, and what period it covers.
Can I cancel a listing agreement if I'm unhappy with my agent?
That depends on the termination clause in your agreement. Ask for a copy before you sign. Read how and when you can end it, and what notice it requires.
What happens if the appraisal comes in lower than the offer?
When an appraisal comes in low on one of our listings, we start with what the purchase contract says about the appraisal. We walk sellers through three options: renegotiate the price, ask the buyer to bring additional cash to close, or release the buyer and re-list. We also price homes at a level supported by closed comps and prepare a comp packet for the buyer's appraiser.
About Triolo Realty Group
Triolo Realty Group is a San Diego County real estate team led by Darin Triolo, REALTOR®, a licensed California real estate salesperson (CA DRE #01376927), with Keller Williams Realty (CA DRE #01524589). Darin has worked in San Diego County real estate for more than two decades.
Each office is independently owned and operated. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. You should rely on this information only to decide whether or not to further investigate a particular property. BEFORE MAKING ANY OTHER DECISION, YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY INVESTIGATE THE FACTS (e.g. square footage and lot size) with the assistance of an appropriate professional. You may use this information only to identify properties you may be interested in investigating further. All uses except for personal, non-commercial use in accordance with the foregoing purpose are prohibited. Redistribution or copying of this information, any photographs or video tours is strictly prohibited. This information is derived from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) service provided by San Diego MLS. Displayed property listings may be held by a brokerage firm other than the broker and/or agent responsible for this display. The information and any photographs and video tours and the compilation from which they are derived is protected by copyright. Compilation © 2024 San Diego MLS, Inc. Licensed in the state of California.