Recruiting conversations are two-way streets. While brokers evaluate agents for fit, agents are equally assessing whether your brokerage can help them grow, earn more, and simplify their business. The questions they ask reveal their priorities—and your ability to answer them with clarity and confidence determines whether you win the hire. This guide covers the most common questions agents ask during recruitment, why they matter, how to answer them persuasively, and how to prepare assets that make your responses credible and consistent.
Executive Summary #
Agents’ top concerns cluster around economics, support, lead flow, marketing, culture, and growth opportunities. The most common questions: What’s the split and cap? Are there monthly fees? Do you provide leads? What tech and marketing support do I get? How fast is onboarding? Can I build a team? What makes you different? Prepare a Recruiting FAQ Sheet, a One-Page Value Proposition, and a First 30 Days Map to answer confidently and visually. Use proof points—case studies, screenshots, and testimonials—to make claims believable. Train recruiters and team leaders to answer with brevity, clarity, and confidence, then pivot to the agent’s goals.
You may also want to check out my blog post: Real Estate Agent Recruiting FAQs: Everything Brokers Need to Know
Why These Questions Matter #
Every question signals a pain point or aspiration:
- Economics → They want predictability and fairness.
- Support → They fear being left alone after signing.
- Lead flow → They want to know if you’ll help fill their pipeline.
- Marketing → They care about brand lift and listing win rate.
- Culture → They want belonging and collaboration.
- Growth → They’re thinking beyond today—teams, leadership, expansion.
Answering well builds trust and shortens decision cycles. Answering poorly—or inconsistently—creates doubt and stalls momentum.
The 12 Most Common Questions (And How to Answer Them) #
1. What’s the Commission Split and Cap? #
Agents want clarity on split structure (flat fee, tiered, 100% model), annual caps, and whether there are hidden fees.
How to answer:
“Here’s our model in plain English: [X]% split until you hit [cap], then you keep 100%. No monthly desk fees, no hidden tech charges. E&O is included in the transaction fee of [$X]. Here’s a one-page breakdown.”
2. Are There Monthly or Desk Fees? #
They’re filtering for cost predictability.
How to answer:
“We have zero monthly or desk fees. You only pay when you close a deal. That means your overhead is near zero if you’re between transactions.”
3. What Technology and Tools Do You Provide? #
Agents expect a modern stack: CRM with automation, transaction management, and marketing platforms for social, email, and listing promotion.
How to answer:
“We provide a full tech suite: [CRM name] with smart lists and automations, [transaction platform], and a marketing center with templates for social, email, and print. Here’s a screenshot of the dashboard.”
4. Do You Provide Leads or Lead Generation Support? #
Follow-ups include: Are leads exclusive or shared? Is there a cost? Do you train on conversion?
How to answer:
“We provide [X] leads per month at no cost, plus training on speed-to-lead and scripts. We also teach you how to generate your own leads through social and sphere marketing.”
5. What Training and Mentorship Programs Are Available? #
They want to know if you’ll help them ramp.
How to answer:
“We run a structured 30-60-90 onboarding plan, weekly masterminds, and one-on-one coaching. New agents get a mentor for their first three deals; experienced agents can join advanced strategy sessions.”
6. How Do You Support Marketing and Branding? #
Expect questions like: Do you provide listing photography and video? Can I use my own brand? Do you offer co-branded or white-label marketing?
How to answer:
“We cover pro photography and video for every listing. You can operate under your own brand with our compliance guardrails. We also provide a marketing kit with social templates, email campaigns, and print collateral.”
7. What’s Your Culture and Community Like? #
Agents want belonging.
How to answer:
“We’re collaborative, not cutthroat. We run weekly huddles, monthly in-person events, and a private Slack/Teams channel for quick wins and questions. Here’s a peek at our last mastermind.”
8. How Fast and Smooth Is Onboarding? #
They fear downtime.
How to answer:
“Most agents are fully live in 48 hours: MLS access, CRM, and marketing kit ready. Here’s our First 30 Days map so you know exactly what happens when.”
9. Are There Opportunities for Growth? #
They’re thinking long-term.
How to answer:
“Yes—team building, leadership roles, and expansion into new markets. We also offer revenue share for agents who recruit, and we’ll show you the math.”
10. What Makes Your Brokerage Different? #
This is your moment.
How to answer:
“Three things: 1) Zero monthly fees—pay only when you earn. 2) Marketing muscle that wins listings—pro creative, PR, and geo-targeted ads. 3) A culture of speed and support—agents get answers in minutes, not days.”
11. Do You Offer Revenue Share or Profit Share? #
If yes, explain simply.
How to answer:
“Yes—we pay [$X] per closed transaction for every agent you refer, for [X years]. No caps, no fine print. Here’s the one-page explainer.”
12. What Are Your Compliance and Risk Management Processes? #
Experienced agents care about liability.
How to answer:
“We have a dedicated compliance team, pre-built checklists in our transaction platform, and an escalation path for complex deals. Our E&O coverage is robust and included in your transaction fee.”
How to Prepare for These Questions (And Win the Conversation) #
Build Three Core Assets
- Recruiting FAQ Sheet: One page, plain language, covering all 12 questions with numbers, screenshots, and proof points.
- One-Page Value Proposition: Visual summary of your differentiators: economics, marketing, tech, culture, and growth.
- First 30 Days Map: Timeline of onboarding milestones: logins, MLS, CRM, marketing kit, first lead, first appointment.
Train for Consistency
- Role-play top 10 questions weekly.
- Use the same language across recruiters, team leaders, and marketing.
- Audit calls for clarity and confidence.
Advanced Tips: Turn Questions into Conversations #
- Mirror and pivot: “Great question—what’s most important to you about [topic]?”
- Stack proof: Answer, then show a screenshot, testimonial, or case snippet.
- Close with alignment: “Does that solve the concern you had about [topic]?”
FAQs #
What’s the #1 question agents care about?
Compensation—but they also care about support and marketing. Lead with value, then explain economics.
How do I answer if my splits aren’t the highest?
Show the net effect: marketing, leads, and support that increase their GCI. Use math: “Our agents net 18% more after expenses.”
Should I send the FAQ before or after the call?
After the first conversation. Use it as a follow-up asset to reinforce trust and reduce friction.
How do I handle “What makes you different?” without sounding generic?
Anchor in specifics: zero monthly fees, 48-hour onboarding, pro creative for every listing, or a unique recruiting model.
How do I avoid sounding defensive on tough questions?
Acknowledge, answer plainly, and pivot to value: “Yes, we charge a $X transaction fee—but that includes E&O and compliance review, so you’re fully covered.”
About MNKY Agency #
MNKY Agency helps brokerages recruit top real estate agents with personalized outreach, structured onboarding, and marketing systems that scale. We recruit Realtors for all brokerages and operate on a pay-per-transaction model: $100 per closed deal, no monthly or annual fees.
About the Author #
J. Stuart Hill is the founder of MNKY Agency and a 20-year veteran in real estate recruiting and marketing. He builds omnichannel systems that make recruiting predictable and onboarding frictionless, helping brokers scale without bloated overhead.
