Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor

Here is a list of questions I have recommended to people when they are going to work a Realtor from other areas.  No these are the same questions I ask when looking for someone to refer one of my clients to.  I do practice what I preach.

1. Are you a full time or part time agent?  Only work with full time agents.  Avoid those who are hobbyists or those who are not good enough to make a full time living at this.
2. What designations do you have?  Look for those who have a CRS designation in particular.  This will tell you if this agent is someone who takes his profession serious enough to invest in training and education.  The CRS tells you that this agent is probably in the top 4% of agents.
3. How long have you been in the business?  If the answer is a month, I just graduated, ask if their parents sell real estate.  Just kidding.
4. What level of license do you have?  Most agents have a salesman license, but if they have a broker's license this is a plus.  That tells you again this is a seasoned agent with stronger training and experience.
5. What services do you provide?  This does vary from agent to agent and company to company.
6. What is my responsibility as a client if I choose to work with you?  This is one many do not think about.  I have actually seen realtors hand business cards to their friends and family and tell them to go to open houses and if they find the one they like they will write it up for them.
7. Do you have a written Services Pledge? Most top agents and their companies have a seller's pledge and a buyer's pledge that expresses in writing what a client should expect from their agent and brokerage.  It also usually has some form of guarantee tied to it.

On the flip side of this list, think about how you would do if someone I sent asked you these questions.  Of course I did get all 7 correct.  The prize for answering all of these correctly is more and better business.  Good luck and keep growing and improving.  There is no substitute for professional behavior and development.