iRealtor Academy Blog

Buyers aren’t the only ones who can ask questions during a buyer interview. As an agent, you can do the asking too. There are many articles online designed to help buyers find the right agent but there aren’t many that tell agents what they should be asking buyers. It’s time to put yourself out there as the knowledgeable and helpful expert by asking these questions.

To help you help your buyers better,  we’ve taken the liberty to create a set of questions for you (which you can use in your next appointment!):

• Why buy and why now?

Gain valuable insight into their reasons for buying a property that will help you tailor your services (and the rest of your conversation with them) to their situation.

• Are you working with a lender?

Asking this will lay the ground for a financial conversation. If they’re not pre-approved yet, this is your chance to help them by recommending a lender.

• How many properties have you already looked at?

Find out if they have viewed other properties before seeing you. This will help you understand the type of properties they are interested in and how you can help them out accordingly.

• How do you prefer to be contacted?

Demonstrate your communication skills by offering to communicate via phone, email, text or even Skype! Take this opportunity to set expectations as to when they (and you) are available.

• What if we found your desired property tomorrow?

This can help you understand their ideal timeline better. Are they looking to move in the next 3 months? If they’re first-time buyers, this is the time for a discussion and the closing process.

• What are your 3 favourite neighbourhoods?

Throw in a casual question so your conversation isn’t serious or boring. Find out where they’d like to live, how important schools are and showcase your neighbourhood or area expertise!

• How important is outdoor / garage space?

This can eliminate a number of options so it’s best to get it out of the way early. Would they be willing to live in a condo with a parking space or will they need a private front and backyard?

• How long do you think you'll live in the property you buy?

There is a difference between buying a place to enjoy for now but will be easy to sell later and buying a forever home with more particular requirements. Best to find out sooner than later!

• What is the deal breaker for you?

Understand what ticks them off before closing the deal. Roads with too much traffic? Condo with annoying neighbours? No front yard? Save time by knowing their deal breakers upfront!

Whether you’re a new agent who is learning the ropes or a veteran real estate agent looking to freshen up your routine, we hope our buyer interview questions help you secure and keep more happy buyers because you know that they can lead to… more referrals!