You finally decide to sell your home. You contact a seemingly trustworthy real estate agent. You agree to let them list your house for sale. You twiddle your thumbs and watch the weeks turn into months, the once frequent phone calls dwindle away, and the for sale sign grow dusty as it sits forlornly at the end of your driveway.
This narrative occurs far too frequently when homeowners ignore the signs of a bad real estate agent.
What Are The Telltale Signs Of A Bad Real Estate Agent?
Did you relate to the previous narrative? Are you worried that your once seemingly “reliable” real estate agent has been dropping the ball and turning away potential buyers? The signs of a bad real estate agent might be staring you in the face. In case you have any doubts, use the following signs as a checklist that can help you stop a bad home selling experience in its tracks.
1. Your Agent Lacks Experience
When it comes to real estate sales, experience can make all of the difference. Does your real estate agent have more than two consecutive years of experience in your local market? If you answered no, then you might want to reconsider your chosen home selling strategy.
With this in mind, agents that lack experience often make mistakes in paperwork, lack industry knowledge, and don’t have the professional connections needed to make the selling process a stress-free walk in the park.
2. You Are Unable To Get Ahold Of Your Agent
Is your real estate agent like an elusive unicorn? Are you tired of leaving voicemails, sending text messages, writing emails, and dropping by the office to find a “sorry we missed you” sign? Real estate agents might have busy professional lives, but they are working for you, and as such, should never be too busy to talk to you.
A bad real estate agent will not keep you in the loop about changes and updates to your listing. In today’s communication friendly world, there is no valid excuse for consistently failing to return your calls, emails, texts, or social media messages.
3. Your Agent Doesn’t Listen
A bad real estate agent will let what you say go in and immediately out the other ear. In other words, bad real estate agents don’t listen to your needs, which means that they aren’t putting your best interests at the forefront of every action. A good real estate agent will find solutions by first listening to your specific situation. They will ask questions that include:
- What is the time frame to buy or sell?
- What features are you looking to find in your new home?
- What is the desired price range for your home?
- What do you expect from me (the agent)?
- What is your preferred communication style?
4. Your Agent Is Unprofessional
A bad real estate agent is unprofessional. They may also lack the necessary education – proper agents should have graduated from a real estate school. This is why it’s important to verify a real estate agent’s license. More often than not, they are unprofessional in appearance, late to meetings, cancel appointments at the last minute, and communicate in an unprofessional or rude fashion. Remember, the real estate agent is supposed to be the face of your home. If they are unprofessional, then how will they attract potential buyers?
5. Your Agent Has Poor Marketing Abilities
Effective marketing is one of the keys to selling homes. Unfortunately, bad real estate agents typically have poor marketing abilities. A lack of digital skills, coupled with the inability to create beautiful marketing materials, and no networking capabilities can cause your home to sit, undiscovered by prospective buyers.
6. Your Agent Seems Untrustworthy
It should go without saying, but for the sake of your checklist we will include this sign; a bad real estate agent is often untrustworthy. Whether it is giving conflicting information, constantly changing cell or office phone numbers, trying to take shortcuts, or being too desperate for your business, there are countless signs that your real estate agent might not be all that he says he is.
7. Nothing Actually Happens
The final and arguably the biggest red flag of a bad real estate agent is that your home sits on the market. When nothing is happening, and no progress is made, it is clear that you are working with a bad real estate agent.
Avoid Working With A Bad Real Estate Agent
Do you have a home that you need to sell, but are frustrated by working with a bad real estate agent? Kick your agent to the curb and instead sell your home quickly with the help of HomeGo.
The HomeGo team is made up of local agents that make a same-day offer and close on your home in as few as seven days, so there’s no risk that a bad agent can keep your home from selling. If you want to avoid the hassle of working with a bad real estate agent by selling your home quickly, then contact HomeGo today.
