Buyer Questionnaire to Ranked Search Criteria
Takes a buyer's questionnaire answers or intake notes and turns them into a clear, ranked list of search criteria the agent can use to set up searches and talk with the buyer.
Before and after
Ranked Search Criteria: Vincent Jackson and Violet Kelley
Agent: Wade Levine, Deerwick Realty, 402-555-0114
Must-haves
Price and budget
- Maximum price 385k, firm (Violet: not going over 385 no matter what)
Location and commute
- Winterhollow
- Not on a busy road (they disliked this at their rental)
Size and layout
- 3 bedrooms minimum
- A real home office, not a closet (Vincent works from home 3 days a week)
Lot and outdoor space
- Fenced yard for Biscotti, their Tibetan Mastiff (a big dog)
- Parking for a boat trailer, in a driveway or side yard
Condition and age
- Move-in condition, no major work
Timing
- Move by end of August (lease ends then)
Strong preferences
Size and layout
- Kitchen with an island (Violet)
Lot and outdoor space
- Garage, 2 cars preferred (Vincent). One-car garage is acceptable.
Special needs
- Room to park Vincent's 2017 Honda Pilot, tan, along with the boat trailer
Nice-to-haves
Size and layout
- Basement (not a big deal)
Condition and age
- Hard flooring instead of carpet (they are willing to redo floors if needed)
Avoid
- Busy road location
- Fixer-upper or major repairs
- Pool (Vincent said no, Violet had mentioned it maybe)
Points to discuss with the buyers
- The garage is Vincent's preference but one car is acceptable. Confirm if a one-car garage plus driveway parking works with the boat trailer.
- Violet mentioned a pool, Vincent said no. Confirm they agree it is on the Avoid list.
- The 385k limit is firm, and they have not talked to a lender yet. We recommend they speak with a licensed lender so the search matches what they can finance. Please confirm any local figures yourself.
- They want to move by end of August and also want move-in condition with no major work. Ask which items they would trade off first if both cannot be met.
Questions for the owner
- Is 385k the total price or the monthly payment target? The notes mention both.
- Does the office need a door, a certain size, or a certain floor?
- What is the exact move-out date in August?
- How big is the boat trailer, and does it need to be on a hard surface or hidden from the street?
- Does the fence need to be a certain height for Biscotti?
- Is the buyers' best phone number the 402-555-0114 listed, or do they have their own?
What it does
Takes a buyer's questionnaire answers or intake notes and turns them into a clear, ranked list of search criteria the agent can use to set up searches and talk with the buyer. It sorts deal-breakers from strong preferences and nice-to-haves, and flags conflicts and gaps.
Use it when: Use when a real estate agent needs to turn a buyer's questionnaire, intake notes, or rambling wish list into ranked home search criteria, such as "rank what this buyer wants," "turn this questionnaire into search criteria," or "what are their must-haves."