The Smart Buyer’s Guide: Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor

Hiring a realtor isn’t just picking a name from a recommendation list, it’s choosing the person who will guide the biggest purchase or sale of your life. We get practical about how to interview a real estate agent so you can separate real expertise from confident talk, especially in the Colorado Springs housing market where timing, pricing, and negotiation details matter.

We start with the essentials: what to ask about experience, why a newer agent can still be a great choice with the right mentorship, and how to judge “fit” beyond production numbers. We share specific questions that uncover responsiveness and communication style, including the best way and best time to reach your agent and whether they’re actually available for you. We also talk about asking for a resume-like summary of work history, typical transaction volume, and reviews so you can verify market knowledge instead of guessing.

Then we get into real-world negotiation. We explain why negotiation strategy is often property-specific and how factors like seller close date, buyer flexibility, neighborhood demand, and property condition can create leverage. You’ll also hear how strong local connections show up in everyday moments, like getting fast, trustworthy referrals for repairs and improvements, plus the red flags to watch for in that first meeting, especially impatience or a lack of respect. 

If you’re buying or selling a home, take these questions with you before you sign a written agreement. Subscribe for more Colorado Springs real estate guidance, share this with a friend who’s house hunting, and leave a review with the one question you think every buyer should ask.

To learn more about RE/MAX Properties Inc. visit:
https://www.LoriThompson.REMAX.com
RE/MAX Properties Inc. 
Colorado Springs 
719-332-1807 

Transcript

Show Setup And Promise

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome to your Colorado Spring Life Hall, where real estate is real time. Maybe a little too much cover. Hosted by Remax Properties licensed realtor broker and producer Lori Thompson, a local legend who's been helping military families and civilians buy himself for over 40 years. Whether you're PCSing, upsizing, downsizing, or just a dream, Lori's got you covered. Why? Because she's your lifetime realtor. And she actually answers her phone. Imagine that.

SPEAKER_03 0:45

Choosing the right realtor can make or break your buying or selling experience. Today we're sharing the questions that reveal who's truly qualified and who's just talking a good game. Welcome back everyone. Frederick here, co-host and producer in the studio with Remax Properties licensed realtor and broker, Lori Thompson. Lori, how's your week been?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Oh, not too bad. And I have the answer to your question. They just should hire me.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

You know what? That you're giving the ending uh away before we get there. But that's that's the truth, everyone. So uh so Lori, uh, like I mentioned, today's topic is what questions should I ask when interviewing a realtor? So, Lori, uh, shall we jump

Experience, Mentorship, And Fit

SPEAKER_03 1:29

in? When someone sits down to interview a realtor, what is the very first question you think they should ask?

SPEAKER_00 1:36

You know, it's kind of interesting because I think it's worthwhile to find out how long they've been doing it. But at the same time, I remember when I was a fresh new realtor and the ink wasn't quite dry on my license, and I was so excited to get going with my new job. If they are a newer realtor, I think it's critically important to make sure they have some kind of a mentorship program, that they have a more experienced realtor working with them to make sure that they can get through the nuances of the Colorado State contract and the buying and selling process. I was really lucky in that I had different mentors throughout my career when I was newer. And that's just something good to have if they are a newer broker. If they're more experienced, the most important thing you can find out is how comfortable you feel with them. And that's just a conversation more than just here's a list of questions that you can ask your realtor. I mean, it doesn't matter as much what their production numbers are, that is a good indication that they know what they're doing. Like I'm a member of Peak Producers, that is the top 10% of local realtors based on the number of homes that they sell. Well, that's a good indication that I know what I'm doing. Um, but at the same point, you want to make sure they're not too busy where they don't take you seriously. And you've got to make sure that you feel comfortable with that person because this is the biggest investment you're gonna make in your lifetime. And you must feel comfortable asking them questions. I always tell my clients the only dumb question is the one you did not ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. And so I think it's even more important than to have this question or that question. It's how comfortable do you feel with the person that you're meeting with? And if you don't feel comfortable, it doesn't matter who recommended them. They can't start representing you without a written agreement. And if you're not comfortable, make an excuse and get out of Dodge because you're gonna be with that person for months.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

Agreed, agreed. 100% being comfortable and trusting your intuition after doing research and everything is key. But then now my follow-up question to that is aside from comfort, trusting your intuition, um, that's still small voice.

Proving Local Market Knowledge

SPEAKER_03 4:05

How can a buyer or a seller tell whether a realtor truly understands the Colorado Springs market? Is it the peak producer? Uh you know, uh membership, yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Um, no, that is definitely an indication. It's just to ask them, like I have the equivalent of a resume. It is totally acceptable to ask, hey, do you have a resume or a summation of your work experience? How many homes do you sell a year? What is the best way and time to contact you? And so those are some really vital questions to know are they available? Do they know what they're doing? Do they care about me as a home buyer?

SPEAKER_03 4:49

Wow, Lori, uh, that's great information. Thank you so much for sharing that. So, aside from asking realtors questions that will help the client understand whether the realtor is a good fit from a communication perspective as well as from uh does this person care about me as a buyer perspective? Are there any other questions that you recommend clients should ask about the realtor's experience, certifications, or specialties?

SPEAKER_00 5:12

Yeah, I think so. Because, like I said, I'd like to know what their production numbers are. When I'm referring one of my clients to a realtor in another state, I always look up how long have they been licensed, what are their production levels, uh, what are their reviews like? So there's a couple of ways to kind of check things out. And once again, to get the equivalent of a realtor's resume, what is your experience? What are you involved with? And that is one of the best ways is to look that over and say, hey, are we a good fit?

SPEAKER_02 5:45

Wonderful. Yeah, totally.

SPEAKER_03 5:46

So we've talked about questions that clients can ask realtors to understand if the realtor is a good fit, as well as if they're uh experienced enough and they have the relevant certifications and specialties. So the next question I have for you is what questions should clients ask uh to understand how the realtor negotiates on their behalf?

Negotiation Depends On The House

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Well, and keep in mind negotiations, they're usually house specific. One good question I always like to ask is when would the sellers like to close? If they need a little extra time, sometimes that can make a difference. Sometimes people will choose the timing that better suits them even over a higher price. And so that's one avenue that's so house specific. There's no right one way to negotiate on each house. So a lot of it has to do with the buyer's timing, the seller's timing. Does the house need work? If the house needs a little bit of love, that's a better opportunity to negotiate concessions towards closing costs or other things. One of the tricks of the trade that I like to tell people is you know, if you see a house and it looks like it could be kind of decent and the pictures really suck, then you know the realtor probably used their cell phone to take the pictures. Let's go take a look at it. It could be a hidden gem rather than the one that was lit up and professionally photographed and marketed, which is what I would do with my own listing, is to professionally highlight them. There's just so many different variables. If it's a really hot to trot neighborhood, are you ready to move and move fast? If you've got a little bit of time with a different area, then let's look for what are the key points, what's most important to you. And that's why active dialogue is so incredibly important. Then when I'm showing them houses, to be honest with you, I look at the house, I look for obvious problems, but most of the time I watch the buyers, I watch their reactions, and I get a better feel for what they're really looking for beyond what they're telling me.

SPEAKER_03 7:57

Wow, yeah, that's very insightful of you. Thanks for

Vendor Network And Fast Answers

SPEAKER_03 8:00

sharing that. So, how can clients evaluate whether a realtor has strong local connections and resources?

SPEAKER_00 8:08

You know, most of it is looking for, hey, if we wanted to do this, what would be the best direction to go? Um, everything from okay, if I wanted to replace the flooring, who would you recommend I go through? Um you know, it's kind of interesting because there's so many different ways that we touch people's lives. I would just ask them for recommendations in different areas and see how quickly they can respond to questions like that.

SPEAKER_03 8:39

Well, that's a good strategy, just that human to human uh, I guess, interaction, active communication, like you say. So thanks for sharing that, Lori. So in closing, uh this is a good question for you.

Interview Red Flags And Respect

SPEAKER_03 8:52

What red flags should someone watch for during that first interview?

SPEAKER_00 8:57

If they are not friendly, if they are impatient, I would look for the degree of respect that the realtor shows you. Do they respect you as a client? Do they respect you as a person? And if you are not feeling that vibe um of respect, maybe it's time to find somebody else. And by the way, I do the same thing in reverse. If I have an impatient, angry, or abrupt client, they may not be a good fit for me.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

True, true, 100%. Well, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to educate us.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

Uh everything you said was very helpful today, and I'm sure everyone listening appreciates it. I know I do. These questions really empower people to choose the right professionals, so thank you so much for that. And everyone tuning in, thanks for joining the journey, and we'll see y'all next time. Bye.

How To Reach Lori

SPEAKER_01 10:00

That's a wrap for this episode of Your Colorado Springs Life and Home. Got questions? Need advice? Just want to talk about interest rates and granite countertops? Call or text Laurie at 719-332-1807. Yes, she'll really respond. Or visit Laurie Thompson.reemax.com to get started with your Lifetime Realty. Because when it comes to Colorado real estate, Laurie doesn't just know the market, she is the market.