Are you looking for a real estate mentor? To help you find the best match and make the most of your mentorship, I’ve rounded up the top questions to ask a real estate mentor. If you are interviewing potential mentors, bring this list of questions with you to the meeting to help ensure you are both aligned with the goals and purpose of the relationship. These questions can also be helpful if you feel like your current mentorship has gotten off track.
Remember, a mentee should never show up and expect the mentor to do all the work. While a mentorship foundation is based on a student-teacher relationship, it is not meant to only be a lecture series. As someone trying to learn and develop skills from an expert who is willing to share, it’s vital for the mentee to ask the right questions in the right way and at the right time.
Initial Questions to Ask a Mentor
It’s extremely important to start off your mentorship on the right foot. Just like any relationship, you should start slow and build from there. Making a good first impression will likely set the tone for the entire relationship.
Consider starting with the following questions:
- How do you spend your time?
- What do you wish you would’ve known when you were just starting your career?
- What are some of the bigger mistakes you made when you were just starting out?
- What used to be some of your greatest weaknesses and how did you improve on them?
- Is this where you thought you’d end up?
- How can I help you?
Relationship-Building Questions to Ask Your Mentor
Any relationship has personal elements. Even a boss-employee dynamic involves sharing personal aspects of life. Asking questions that lead to sharing stories is an excellent way to build relationships, relate to each other, and create overall trust. It also shows an interest in who this person is outside of a business environment.
Here are some examples of rapport building questions:
- What are you most proud of?
- Is there a place you’ve traveled to that had a big impact on you?
- What experiences led you to become a mentor?
- How do you envision our mentor-mentee relationships?
- Can you share some of the pivotal moments in your career?
F.O.R.M.
This acronym stands for Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Motivation. Here are examples of universal rapport-builders.
- Do you have any kids or pets?
- What job did you enjoy the most?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- What are some things that motivate you?
SITUATIONS
As a mentee, it is very important to find a mentor you feel comfortable bouncing ideas and scenarios off of. You’ll find that getting feedback and advice from someone who you value and trust is hugely beneficial to your growth personally and professionally. It’s also a win for the mentor, as they get to share their experience and knowledge while feeling validated by your trust.
Some situational questions might include the following:
- What would you do if you were me?
- What would you do in situations X, Y, or Z?
- How would you suggest I navigate this situation?
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Mentor
Next is a list of real estate-specific questions to consider asking your mentor:
- How long have you been investing in real estate?
- What investment strategy have you had the most success with?
- How did you find your investing niche?
- What are your long-term goals within the real estate industry?
- What do you think is the best way for a beginner to get started in real estate investing?
- What specific things do you look for in an investment property?
- What real estate investing (REI) technology do you recommend?
- Do you recommend any helpful resources for investors?
- How do you feel about investing in property out-of-state?
How do mentorships play out in the real world? Listen to this episode on the Real Wealth Show podcast to hear how Kathy Fettke found her first real estate investing mentor, Gary Massari.
Self-Awareness Questions to Ask
Questions that revolve around self-awareness can be difficult to ask and sometimes even more difficult to answer. Asking a question about yourself that you may not like the answer to says a lot about your dedication to growth. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself and your mentor some tough questions.
Consider the following self-awareness questions to ask:
- Where do you see my strengths, and what should I focus on to improve?
- What do you see as some of my blind spots?
- How do you think others perceive me?
- How do I come across as posed and calm?
- Do I communicate clearly, and where can I improve?
- What am I doing wrong?
Skill-Building Questions to Ask
Most mentees work with mentors because they have certain skills they would like to learn and emulate. If this is the case for you, make sure to ask specific skill-building questions.
Consider the following potential questions:
- What is your approach to risk-taking?
- This is my financial situation; if you were in my shoes, what would you do?
- How do you make sure a project stays on budget?
- How do you determine the difference between a good deal and a bad deal?
Future Questions to Ask
Building a mentor-mentee relationship takes time. Therefore, there are certain questions you’ll want to wait to ask until rapport and trust have been established. Asking too much too early can put a quick end to any mentorship, and you don’t want to present yourself as entitled or assuming.
Consider the following questions when the time feels right:
- Who else would you recommend I connect with?
- Continually ask, How else can I help you and add value?
Questions Not to Ask a Mentor
Every situation is different, so use your best judgment when asking questions. A good rule of thumb is to avoid asking super broad questions. Be specific, thoughtful and purposeful in the questions you ask your mentor.
Consider the following questions “off-limits” to ask your mentor:
- Do you have any advice for me?
- How did you get where you are?
- Would you introduce me to ________?
Your Next Steps
When it comes to the best questions to ask a real estate mentor, there is no “best” answer. Make a list of questions that are relevant to your situation before each meeting with your mentor. When you do this, it helps to ensure that every single interaction with your mentor is productive and efficient.
A great way to ensure further communication and meetings with your mentor is to say, “If a question comes up, can I follow up with you?” Don’t leave a mentor meeting without setting up a future encounter.
How RealWealth Provides Real Estate Mentorship
Many of our members are busy professionals who want to invest in real estate but are pressed for time to shift through all the real estate investing information out there and find someone to help them find the best real estate markets and turnkey providers. At RealWealth, we simplify the entire process. The information we provide is 100% free with no backend hidden fees. When you become a member, you get access to:
- All of our real estate investing education
- An assigned investment counselor to help guide and support you
- Investment opportunities through vetted turnkey providers in the best markets for investors
Everything we provide your members sets you up for real estate investing success. If you want to learn from industry pros, join RealWealth today!
