20 Questions

Questions to Ask When Joining a Real Estate Team

Strategic questions to help you evaluate real estate teams, understand team dynamics, and ensure you find the right fit for your real estate career.

1

What's the team structure and how do agents collaborate?

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Why this works

Reveals the organizational hierarchy and helps you understand how the team operates, who you'll work with, and how decisions are made.

2

What support systems and resources does the team provide?

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Why this works

Shows what tools, training, and assistance you'll have access to, helping you understand the level of support available for your success.

3

How does the team handle lead generation and client acquisition?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's approach to business development and helps you understand how you'll get clients and build your business.

4

What's the commission structure and how are splits determined?

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Why this works

Clarifies the financial arrangement and helps you understand how you'll be compensated and what percentage you'll receive.

5

How does the team handle marketing and advertising?

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Why this works

Shows the team's marketing approach and helps you understand what marketing support you'll receive for your listings and business.

6

What training and mentorship opportunities are available?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's commitment to agent development and helps you understand what learning opportunities you'll have access to.

7

How does the team handle administrative tasks and paperwork?

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Why this works

Shows how much administrative work you'll be responsible for and helps you understand what support you'll have for paperwork and compliance.

8

What's the team's approach to technology and tools?

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Why this works

Reveals the tech stack and tools you'll use, helping you understand what systems and software you'll need to learn.

9

How does the team handle client relationships and follow-up?

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Why this works

Shows the team's approach to client management and helps you understand how you'll maintain relationships with past and current clients.

10

What's the team's culture and values?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's work environment and helps you understand if the culture aligns with your values and working style.

11

How does the team handle conflicts or disagreements?

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Why this works

Shows the team's approach to conflict resolution and helps you understand how disputes are handled within the team.

12

What's the team's track record and success metrics?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's performance and helps you understand their success rate, average sales, and overall team performance.

13

How does the team handle market changes and challenges?

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Why this works

Shows the team's adaptability and helps you understand how they navigate market fluctuations and industry challenges.

14

What opportunities are there for growth and advancement?

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Why this works

Reveals career development opportunities and helps you understand potential paths for advancement within the team.

15

How does the team handle referrals and networking?

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Why this works

Shows the team's approach to building relationships and helps you understand how you'll develop your network and referral sources.

16

What's the team's approach to continuing education and professional development?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's commitment to ongoing learning and helps you understand what professional development opportunities you'll have.

17

How does the team handle marketing materials and branding?

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Why this works

Shows the team's branding approach and helps you understand what marketing materials and branding support you'll receive.

18

What's the team's approach to work-life balance?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's culture around work-life balance and helps you understand the expectations for availability and work hours.

19

How does the team handle new agent onboarding?

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Why this works

Shows the team's approach to welcoming new agents and helps you understand what support you'll receive during your transition.

20

What makes this team different from other real estate teams?

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Why this works

Reveals the team's unique qualities and helps you understand what sets them apart from other team options in the market.

Best Practices for Evaluating Real Estate Teams

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Focus on Support Systems

Ask about training, mentorship, and resources available to help you succeed. A good team should provide comprehensive support for new agents.

Understand the Financial Arrangement

Clarify commission splits, fees, and any costs you'll be responsible for. Make sure you understand the financial implications of joining the team.

Evaluate Cultural Fit

Ask about team culture, values, and work environment to ensure you'll be comfortable and productive in the team setting.

Question Sequences

The Support Sequence

1
What support systems and resources does the team provide?
2
What training and mentorship opportunities are available?
3
How does the team handle new agent onboarding?
4
What's the team's approach to continuing education and professional development?

The Business Sequence

1
How does the team handle lead generation and client acquisition?
2
How does the team handle marketing and advertising?
3
What's the team's approach to technology and tools?
4
What's the team's track record and success metrics?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Focus Only on Commission Splits

While commission is important, also consider the support, training, and resources you'll receive. A higher split might not be worth it if you lack support.

Don't Ignore Team Culture

Make sure the team's culture and values align with your own. A toxic team environment can hurt your career and mental health.

Don't Assume All Teams Are the Same

Each team has different structures, support systems, and approaches. Ask specific questions to understand what makes each team unique.

Conversation Templates

The Support Template

1
Step 1: Start with: "What support systems and resources does the team provide?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What training and mentorship opportunities are available?"
3
Step 3: Deepen with: "How does the team handle new agent onboarding?"
4
Step 4: Connect with: "What's the team's approach to continuing education and professional development?"

The Business Template

1
Step 1: Begin with: "How does the team handle lead generation and client acquisition?"
2
Step 2: Explore with: "How does the team handle marketing and advertising?"
3
Step 3: Understand with: "What's the team's approach to technology and tools?"
4
Step 4: Learn with: "What's the team's track record and success metrics?"

Further Reading

"The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Gary Keller
"Real Estate Teams" by Brian Icenhower
"The Real Estate Agent's Business Planning Guide" by Danielle Kennedy
"Building a Real Estate Team" by various authors

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