How does BiggerPockets screens agents before they are added to the site?

[Yury Nedelin]

I am curious about the screening process and reliability of the agents on this site.

[Milton Chamberlain]

I can share my experience! In late 2022, their sales team approached me to become a featured 'premium' agent. I believe the cost was $1000, or maybe $1250 – I can't quite recall. Along with the title of 'Premium' agent, the $1000 included 20 (or 25?) leads. The interview process was conducted by someone named Matt Rice. While they might have delved into my sales history before the interview, I suspect they were primarily salesmen, granting the title to anyone willing to pay. However, I can't be certain; there might have been a more in-depth background check that I wasn't aware of.

At that time, business was slower for me, allowing me to work through the leads. Unfortunately, the initial months brought very few responsive leads – either no response upon my initial contact or locations 60+ miles away from my service area.

Long story short, it was a chaotic situation. I assume they have a third party managing this aspect of their business. They mistakenly placed my 'service' area in a rural part of the state, which took many months to correct (I couldn't switch it personally; they had to on their end). Once fixed, they inundated me with leads that I couldn't process quickly enough, especially during a busy season. They wouldn't pause the leads, so regrettably, many went uncontacted.

Worth noting, I am guessing 50% of the leads never responded after the initial contact. From my perspective, it felt like a waste of time. While I've connected with great individuals organically through the site, I've never successfully worked with a paid lead from BP.

My suggestion for finding a great agent would be: If you know the market you're interested in, explore forums related to that market and look for engaged agents answering questions. Research them, and if you like what you see, reach out to them.