7 Questions I Ask Before Referring Someone to a Realtor

After more than 15 years in real estate, I’ve met a lot of great agents.

I’ve also learned that “great agent” and “right agent” are not necessarily the same thing.

Someone can be incredibly successful and still be completely wrong for a particular client. That’s why, when someone asks me for a referral, I want to know more than who sells the most homes in that ZIP code.

Here are seven questions I care about.

1. Where do you actually work?

There’s a big difference between being willing to work somewhere and truly knowing that market.

I want to know where an agent consistently works, what neighborhoods they understand, what price points they operate in, and whether they know the nuances that won't show up in a quick online search.

2. Who are you especially good at serving?

First-time buyers and experienced investors need very different things.

So do luxury sellers, relocating families, seniors, move-up buyers, and someone selling a property they've owned for 30 years.

The best agents usually know where they're strongest.

3. How do you communicate?

Some clients want detailed explanations and frequent updates.

Others want three bullet points and a recommendation.

Some live by text. Others want phone calls.

Neither style is right or wrong. The question is whether the agent and client are compatible.

4. What does your actual service model look like?

If I refer someone to you, who will they really be working with?

You?

A showing assistant?

A buyer's agent on your team?

A transaction coordinator?

Teams can provide phenomenal service, but consumers should understand the experience they're signing up for.

5. How do you handle difficult conversations?

Real estate isn't difficult when everything goes according to plan.

I care about what happens when the inspection is ugly, the appraisal is low, negotiations become tense, or the client needs to hear something they don't particularly want to hear.

That's where good representation becomes valuable.

6. What kinds of clients probably aren't a good fit for you?

I love this question.

An agent who says, “I'm perfect for everybody,” hasn't thought hard enough about it.

Self-awareness matters.

7. Would I trust you with someone I care about?

This is ultimately the test.

Not:

“Would this agent take the lead?”

Not:

“Will they pay a referral fee?”

Not even:

“Do they sell a lot of houses?”

Would I feel comfortable telling a friend or family member, I think you should talk to this person?

That's a much higher bar.

And that's the standard we're trying to build APTIS around.

There are thousands of real estate agents available to you.

The hard part isn't finding one.

It's finding the one who fits.

Need help finding yours? APTIS will do the homework with you.