Most Brokers Do Not Want Agents to Ask These Questions

Most Agents Do NOT Know they SHOULD Ask.  

Blog Author: Renee Funk | Team Leader The Funk Collection Brokered by eXP Realty

Most agents only ask one question when interviewing a brokerage: “What is the split?”

This is the first red flag.

A split alone does not build a career. A split alone does not create a top producer. A split alone will never give an agent the clarity, support, or long-term security a pro needs. If you want to grow a real estate business… the questions need to go much deeper.

Many brokers do not want agents asking deeper questions. Stronger questions reveal gaps. Stronger questions make leaders uncomfortable when the value is not there.

That is exactly why real estate agents must ask the deep questions BEFORE choosing a Brokerage.

And when an agent learns how to ask better questions, everything changes. They stop choosing brokerages based on assumptions, empty promises, or shiny recruiting pitches, and start choosing based on alignment, resources, leadership, and truth.

There are 46 specific, high-impact questions brokers hope you will never ask. Below is a preview of the categories every agent should be exploring, based on the real checklist created by Jeffrey Funk and Renee Funk. Want the full Checklist? What to Ask a Brokerage BEFORE You Make a Move: Get the INSTANT DOWNLOAD 

This is not the typical recruiting conversation. This is the conversation most brokerages hope you will never initiate.

1. Defining “Team” and Support

Most brokerages use the word “team” loosely. Agents deserve clarity. Here are sample questions from the full checklist:

• What does the word “team” mean to you as a brokerage or team leader?
• How much of my time will be spent in the field versus behind a computer?
• What 3 to 5 activities should an agent (at my current experience level) focus on during the first 90 days in your office?

These questions immediately reveal whether a brokerage understands real-world implementation… or hides behind slogans.

2. Culture and Collaboration

Every brokerage claims to have culture. Seldom is it proven. Sample questions:

• Which training can I attend as a guest before joining? (Try before you choose)
• How are top producers incentivized to share their strategies? (Proof that the top producers will open their playbooks. NO SECRET sauce, NO closed office doors.)
• What does accountability look like inside your office?

If a brokerage hesitates here, you learn everything you need to know.

3. Compensation and Transparency

The split is one datapoint to consider, but going deeper with transparency is key.  Sample questions:

• Are compensation plans transparent?
• Are there “secret deals”? Do senior agents have a better split than new agents?
• What hidden fees (“plus-plus” fees) should I expect?
• What are the fees for mentorship, coaching, or new agent training?
• If I choose to offboard, what is the policy with my listings and pending contracts? Is the transition plan outlined in the ICA?

Agents who ask this line of questions protect their future.

5. Leads, Tools, and Resources

This is where clarity is key, and most brokerages are muddy at best. Sample questions:

• Will I receive buyer leads, listing leads, or both? And when, how often?
• How are the leads nurtured? Agent nuture or ISA nuture?
• What percentage of leads are portal leads with additional referral fees?
• Which CRM and marketing tools are included, and which require fees?

If the answer is vague, the value is vague.

6. Benefits and Beyond

The overlooked category that often decides everything. Sample questions:

• What healthcare options are available to agents?
• What meetings do you expect agents to attend, and are they remote or in person?
• What is the philanthropic focus of the brokerage?
• What support do I receive from day 1? Transaction Coordinator, Listing Coordinator, etc,

This is where culture is either revealed or collapsed.

Here Is the Truth

If a broker becomes uncomfortable, defensive, or evasive when an agent asks real questions… that is your answer.

The right brokerage will welcome your curiosity. The wrong one will avoid them. The agents who save themself expensive decisions are the agents who seek clarity before commitment, who see the importance of slowing down the process to speed up the outcome. 

Want the Full List?

This resource only scratches the surface. There are 46 specific, high-impact questions brokers hope you will never ask. Every category includes detailed prompts that uncover the truth before you make a decision that impacts your income, your time, and your long-term trajectory.

Agents who use the full checklist report one of two outcomes:

1. They confirm alignment with the brokerage they are considering.

2. They discover the misalignment early, saving themselves months or years of frustration.

    

Your real estate business deserves clarity. Receive the full list of Questions Agents Must Ask Before Hiring a Brokerage INSTANT Download

It is free.
Built for agents who take their careers seriously.  And it will change the way you evaluate recruiting conversations going forward.

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- Blog Written by Renee Funk, Professional Speaker | Exactly What to Say® Certified Guide | Co-Owner of The Funk Collection | Windermere, Florida | Direct Cell 407-575-4877