How to Disqualify a Recruiting Prospect

by | Apr 28, 2026

Last week, I gave you a call script for screening new-to-real-estate prospects.

The script demonstrated how to quickly set up an interview with a qualified recruiting prospect.

But what happens when the prospect is NOT qualified?

If you’re being selective and focused on hiring talented agents, at least 80% of recruiting prospects are not going to meet your standards.

Here are some ways to wrap-up a call with an unqualified prospect.

Just say no. If you’re certain an individual does not have the capacity to be a high-performing agent, it’s appropriate to let them know during the call.

Based on what we’ve discussed, I don’t think this position is a good fit for you. Thanks for taking the time to apply.

Force self-activation. If you have even a small amount of positive hope for the person, give them an assignment to complete.

I appreciate you taking the time to apply and spending some time on the phone with me today. I’m going to send you an email with the real estate licensing requirements. Once you get signed up for classes, give me a call back, and we’ll discuss next steps.

Both techniques will move the unqualified prospects off your list and allow you to focus on those who have the most potential.

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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.

The Attrition Variables

The Attrition Variables

While these attrition constants still have the greatest influence, there are some emerging attrition variables worth noting. People also tend to leave companies when: They feel like they’re not doing as well as others in their peer group outside the company. They feel like they’re not as far along as they should be at a certain point in life.

The Attrition Constants

The Attrition Constants

If you’re not focusing most of your retention effort on these issues, you’ll miss the mark. If you’re not focusing most of your recruiting effort on exploiting these weaknesses among your competitors, you’re missing the best opportunities.

The Persistence Mindset

The Persistence Mindset

A leader equipped with this mindset can have a profound effect on the life and career of each individual they engage. It works because an agent is getting a real-time glimpse of what it would be like to work on your team. But it only becomes believable when it is persistently applied over time.