Guide for interviewing a realtor during your initial phone screen

As you probably already know, hiring a realtor is one of the most important parts of selling or buying a home. But how can you pick the right realtor when there are so many people to choose from? One way to get started is to ask for referrals from friends, neighbors, or colleagues. You can also do an online search to find realtors in your area who have experience with the types of homes and the neighborhood that you are targeting. Once you have a list of potential realtors, you’ll need to narrow down your list to the person who will be most compatible to help you achieve your real estate goals. The best way to do that is with a phone screening. You don’t need a lot of time to figure out who you might want to hire — if you do it right. With this guide with tips for interviewing a realtor, you’ll be on track in no time. 

Set a script and stay focused

Like any interview, you want to be prepared. By doing some research in advance about your real estate goals and also looking up the background on your potential realtors, you’ll be set up to ask the questions that will help you find the realtor of your dreams. You’ll want to write a script with general questions and background info about each person you are interviewing, and within about five minutes on the phone with your top three picks, you can be ready to understand if they might be a good fit for you. 

Understand their track record

You can look into the track record for potential realtors in advance, but asking the tough questions is important too. If you are selling, you’ll want to know their average number of days on the market for selling homes. It’s also important to know how many homes they have sold or helped people to purchase during the last 12 months. The sale price to list price ratio is another important one for sellers. Knowing about your targeted market in advance can help you ask informed questions. 

Ask about the neighborhood

A realtor who knows your target neighborhood will be in good shape to be an advocate for your real estate goals. While you may be able to find this information on their website, it doesn’t hurt to ask your potential agent how well they know the area and about their involvement in the wider local community. Having an agent on your side can help you in the buying and selling process, and be a trusted advisor for your future real estate goals.

You know your priorities as a buyer or seller, and it’s important to ask the same for your potential real estate agents. Knowing if they work with more buyers and sellers, how they work with their clients, and what their goals are as a real estate agent can help you decide who might be the best person to work with.