Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent on the First Call

The first call with a real estate agent is an interview that runs in both directions. The agent is learning about you, and you are deciding whether this is the professional you want leading your transaction. Here are the questions I think a client should ask on that call, and the kind of answers that would worry me.

Start with your end goal

Ask questions specific to whatever your end goal is. If you are extremely motivated on a certain neighborhood, a certain zip code or a certain strategy, ask about the agent's experience within that particular context.

A strategy could be buying your first home, selling a home you inherited or buying a rental property. Experience with one does not always carry over to another, so ask about yours directly. A good answer has specifics in it, like recent work in that area or with that kind of client.

Then ask if there is any homework you should be doing, and what the agent can provide, so you are a more educated client. That might be a guide to the process, a list of what a lender will ask for, or recent sales in the area you care about.

If your goal is investing, Find an Investment Friendly Agent With FABA goes deeper on that.

Ask how their process works from A to Z

Ask what their overall process is, from A to Z. How does it work when you work with this agent? What should you expect? What does the communication look like? Are there any preferences or things you need to know?

Communication is worth slowing down on. Do they prefer calls, texts or email? How quickly do they usually respond? How often will you hear from them when nothing is happening? Knowing that up front saves frustration later.

Ask who you will be working with

Ask whether you will be working directly with them or with someone on their team. What is their role within the team? Do they do the showings and write the contracts, in full representation, or are certain aspects of the business outsourced?

Many agents work on teams, and that is not a bad thing. One person may show homes while another handles paperwork and deadlines. You just want to know who does what before you start, so there are no surprises about who you will be dealing with.

Ask about programs in the area

Ask if they know about any programs, grants or down payment assistance programs. Anything that is niche to the area, that you can take advantage of, and that your everyday person might not be aware of.

Down payment assistance is help with the upfront cost of buying, usually offered through state or local programs or through lenders. These programs change, and each has its own rules on who qualifies. An agent can point you to them, and the lender or the program itself confirms whether you are eligible. For more on the upfront cost, read Saving for a Down Payment.

The answers that would worry me

The answers from an agent that should worry a client are generalizations.

If you feel like the agent is saying yes to everything, or saying that everything is a good investment, or every area and neighborhood you share is getting the same kind of blanket statement, I would be worried. It tells me the agent is not really listening and hearing you. They are more concerned with moving the deal along than with taking the steps to get things done right.

A good agent will sometimes tell you something you did not want to hear. That is usually a sign they are paying attention.

You do not need to ask all of these in one sitting. Pick the ones that matter most for your goal. For more on picking an agent, read How to Choose the Right Black Real Estate Agent. And if you want to be introduced to an agent you can have this first call with, start at findablackagent.com.