Building a New Agent Checklist

by | Mar 13, 2026

In previous Insights, I’ve encouraged you to spend some time quantifying your ideal recruiting prospect.

It may be helpful to go one step further and convert your collection of desirable characteristics into a checklist–especially for new agents.

Your checklist should include some basic screening items such as:

My ideal new agent recruiting prospect is…

-willing to focus full-time effort on being a real estate agent.

-financially stable and capable of working in a full-commission environment.

-able to use basic technology tools (email, texting, CRM, etc.).

But your checklist should also include more specific items that relate directly to your observations.

For example:

Individuals who excel in my office…

-love competition and typically played sports during their formative years.

-have always wanted to start and own a business.

-use systems to get things done in their personal and professional lives.

How long should you make your checklist?

Try to keep it to 10 items or less.

The purpose of any checklist is to reduce the number of errors that happen when a process is being executed.

Recruiting is no different.

Hiring managers are often driven by appearances, emotions, and other biases.

The checklist will keep you from being harmfully swayed.

 

The Simple Psychology of Real Estate Recruiting [2nd Edition]

Unlock the secrets of effective real estate recruiting. Revised to include actionable frameworks for sharper execution and to help you turn psychological theory into a repeatable recruiting system.

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Notice the two parts to Nir’s formula: a pre-commitment and an external force to keep you accountable to that commitment. For recruiting setting goals and time-blocks in your schedule is not enough. Most people need some kind of external accountability, as well.

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

It’s not that people with a growth mindset don’t experience failure—they just see failure as an opportunity to learn new things, to be challenged, and to experience curiosity. This is an important topic to cover during interviews and follow-up conversations with your prospects. If you find someone who likes being measured, you’ve likely found someone who will push through the inherent failures of growing a real estate business and experience long-term success.