If you’re dissatisfied with your buyers agency, it doesn’t always indicate they’re operating dishonestly. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, there are situations when your selected buyers agency isn’t up to the job.
A buyers agency that isn’t getting the job done may not be the proper personality match for you, maybe prioritizing other customers, or may lack the tools you need to stand out in a crowded housing market.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs of a shady buyers agency so you can safeguard your interests during your next real estate deal.
Signs that you’re dealing with a terrible buyers agency
Although no buyers agency is flawless, and even the greatest agents are likely to irritate you at times, you should try to avoid as many of these warning signals as possible.
They fail to communicate with you in the first place.
When you employ a buyers agent to assist you in selling or buying a house, you’re entrusting them with guiding you through a complicated and sometimes time-sensitive process. If you don’t get clear updates from your buyer’s agency and find it difficult to interact with them, you risk losing out on excellent possibilities and making the whole process much more stressful than it needs to be.
If you contact your buyers agency with a question, problem, or need, you can expect a response within 24 to 48 hours. The sooner the better, in my opinion. You don’t want to lose out on an opportunity to make an offer on your ideal house because your agent isn’t returning your calls. Click here to read about 3 Crucial reasons why you need a buyers agency to aid your home buying process.
When you contact your buyers agency, they should listen carefully and enable you to ask as many questions as you need in order to feel comfortable going ahead. Your agent should also ask you the correct questions since this is a two-way street. They need to know your time period, how you like to interact (phone or email), and what you anticipate from them, whether you’re buying or selling.
They aren’t ready to take the reins.
Buying and selling a house are both complicated procedures, and the goal of working with a buyers agency is to make the process as painless as possible. Working with a buyers agency that is confident in their talents and eager to help you through the process is essential. Because you’re depending on their knowledge and experience, they should embrace it and take control of the process while still respecting your thoughts and judgments.
They act in an unprofessional manner.
Your buyers agency should always operate professionally, which goes without saying. You should consider finding a new agent who you feel comfortable representing you if they are late for meetings, don’t dress properly, and reject your attempts to connect with them.
Honesty is also important here. If your buyer’s agency encourages you to lie about disclosures or make a misleading claim on an advertisement, this is a significant red flag. If your agent expects you to violate a code of ethics, walk away and don’t look back.
They put you under a lot of stress.
As much as you want to be able to depend on your agent’s knowledge, they should never push you into purchasing or selling a house that you aren’t comfortable with. Whatever their viewpoint is, they must accept that your perspective is the most important, and they must be willing to back your judgments. This is particularly true for purchasers, since the buyers agency isn’t the one who will live in your new house for the next three decades or pay the mortgage.
They are unable to negotiate.
Being a good negotiator is a crucial talent, and it’s likely one of the reasons you engaged a buyers agency in the first place was to obtain assistance with negotiations. Working with an agent who can negotiate on your behalf will not only make your life simpler, but it will also guarantee that you receive the best bargain available. If you can prevent it, you don’t want to sell your property for less than it’s worth or give up contingencies when purchasing.
It takes some effort upfront to obtain a sense of if your buyers agency is a skilled negotiator before you’re at the negotiating table. Before you select a buyer’s agency, acquire references from former customers and read internet reviews to see whether they’re a strong negotiator.
They aren’t a whiz at marketing
If you’re selling a house, look for an agent with good marketing abilities, since they’re a really useful tool. You want to attract the proper purchasers, and an agent who understands marketing strategies can help you do that.
Before you sign a contract with an agent, do a quick Google search to see how active their website is. If they have a terrific website and many active social media pages, it’s a positive indicator that they have a large enough audience and reach to make selling the house simpler. Inquire about their marketing strategy for your house, which is particularly crucial in a buyer’s market.
Their priorities are incorrect.
To some sense, it’s natural why real estate brokers are more enthusiastic about customers who have costly properties to sell or who have larger budgets to purchase. However, just because you’re paying a higher commission doesn’t mean your agent should treat you any differently than if you’re paying less. If you get the impression that your agent isn’t putting your needs first (shows up late for appointments, doesn’t return your calls promptly, etc. ), it’s possible that they are. You want to deal with an agent who is willing to show you as many listings as you need or who will put in the same amount of effort to sell your house as if it were worth twice as much.
How can you get rid of a buyers agency?
If you discover that your buyers agency isn’t the ideal match for you, you have the option of parting ways. This is a relationship of some type, and not every connection is a good match. You may politely terminate your agent and part ways amicably.
Step 1: Express your displeasure.
Tell your buyers agency why you don’t believe they’re a suitable match for your requirements. There’s a strong probability they’ll let you off the hook for the contract you signed. They may even agree to discuss or correct their conduct in order to save your relationship. Tell them exactly what you need and when you need it, and they could just rise to the occasion.
Step 2: Be willing to compromise.
Even if a buyers agency agrees to allow you out of your contract, you may have to make some concessions here. When you terminate your contract, you’ll probably have to deal with terms like reimbursing the agency for any marketing and advertising charges. If you’re dissatisfied with their services, a tiny concession like this might be worth the chance to walk on.
Step 3: Hire an attorney.
If the buyers agency refuses to budge and release you from your contract, you might seek legal help. They may be able to get you out of your contract, particularly if the agent failed to fulfill their obligations.
