Short Answers to Typical Buyer Interview Questions

Call or email me for more detailed answers to the questions below as well as other questions and answers...

How did you get to be in the real estate business and why is this your chosen profession?

Becoming a full service real estate broker and certified building analyst allowed me to unite my desire to stay in social services with my passion for wealth building, real estate investment, housing design, contract negotiation, and sustainable construction / renovation. And I’m now even more convinced that Real Estate agents serve an important social service function.

What do you consider your main role as an agent when working with a buyer?

I am a seasoned guide for my clients – helping them understand what they can and cannot control during the buying process. I thoroughly educate my clients both before and during the transaction process on real estate investment, the local market, and specific housing information. This preparation allows my clients to construct realistic expectations from the start, which then reduces the number of negative surprises that occur as we progress. As a result, my clients feel more in control of the buying process and more capable in making their decisions.

What is the most important thing you do that makes you a great agent for buyers?

I leave no stone unturned, when most other Realtors don’t even look out for rocks. It is incredibly rare that everything goes perfectly in a purchase transaction, so I have found that proactively looking for issues and already having possible solutions is best for us all.

What are your 3 best skills – the ones that separate you from any other agents I’ll interview?

1. I will take your finance and housing goals quite seriously and expect you to do the same.
   
2. I will tell you things you don’t want to hear and/or didn’t think you would hear.
   
3. I thoroughly enjoy negotiations and I also rarely take no for an answer without pushing back.

What are your views on pure dual agency? What about designated agency?

I think pure dual agency (the situation in which one individual agent from a single real estate company represents BOTH the buyer AND the seller simultaneously) is dangerous for all parties involved.

I am willing to participate in designated agency situations (in which two individual agents both from a single real estate company each represent the buyer or the seller in a transaction.)

(Please note that the practice of pure dual agency is completely legal in North Carolina and often practiced. Review the Working with Real Estate Agents Brochure to further understand this concept or call me directly about it if you have any questions or concerns about what this means for you.)

What do you expect from your buyer clients?

Honesty. Effort. Open and consistent communication. Respect. Commitment to the process. A good sense of humor. Loyalty. Enthusiasm.

Have you ever fired a client before and, if so, why?

Yes, several times. Firing a client means an agent has decided to terminate the agency relationship with a certain buyer and stop representing him. Any agent who has good boundaries, a sound business plan, and enough time in the business will eventually fire some clients. Why? Because there are just unrealistic and/or disrespectful buyers / sellers out there and I don’t want to work with them.  

How many clients are you currently working with now and how many clients will you take on at one time?

I do not take on more clients than I can reasonably and responsibly care for equally.  Please call me directly as these numbers flucutate throughout the year.

Do you use a showing assistant or are you part of a larger / mega team?

I am an independent agent who does not work as head of or part of a mega team nor do I hire permanent staff positions. My clients work directly with me at all times and for all parts of the transactions unless we’ve specifically agreed otherwise.