How fast should a real estate agent respond to a client?

A responsive agent should reply to a client within the same business day for most questions, and much faster, often within an hour or two, during active negotiation when an offer or counteroffer is time-sensitive. Slower response times become a real problem specifically during a competitive multiple-offer situation, where delay can cost a buyer the home entirely. Setting expectations upfront about typical response times and preferred communication method avoids frustration on both sides. Joel Boss treats fast response as a baseline expectation rather than an exception.