What to do if You Aren’t Happy with Your Agent
The home buying and selling process can be stressful. To help with the journey, most people hire a real estate professional to make the experience more enjoyable. But, what happens when you find the home of your dream but an agent of your nightmares?
Interview Tons of Real Estate Agents
Hiring the right realtor for the job is critical to the success of buying and selling a home. Unfortunately, you set yourself up for potential problems without a seasoned professional (and team). It is best practice to interview multiple real estate professionals and pick the person that best fits your needs. When interviewing the individuals, make sure to ask the right questions.
- What are the cancellation policies in the event of a dispute?
- What services will be rendered?
- Do they have any referrals?
- How many clients are they currently representing?
- What is their experience? Network?
- What fees do they charge? What is their commission rate?
- How comfortable are they in your home buying/selling market?
- Will you be working with them personally or a team?
- What is the average list-to-sale price ratio?
- Can you have a look at their contract and policies?
Possible Reasons the Relationship Isn’t Working
There are clear signs that the real estate/client relationship needs to end — situations where a partnership isn’t working, and the job isn’t getting done. For example
- You can never reach them
- Quick and clear communication is key to any property transaction.
- They are not getting results
- Hire an agent that is immersed in the real estate scene and gets results.
- Omitting necessary information
- Honesty is a must when buying and selling homes.
- Steer you towards a bad deal
- A real estate agent’s role is to guide you through the process and not be pushy. They are looking out for your best interest.
- Poor negotiation skills
- An agent should know their way around a contract and be able to negotiate for your benefit.
- Unfamiliar with the market
- A real estate professional should be familiar with your market and know the area.
Read Your Contract
If you find yourself tackling any of the above-mentioned problems, the best thing to do is end the relationship before it escalates. If you aren’t happy with your real estate agent, read over the agreement to better understand the cancellation process. If you did your homework, this question should have been addressed in the hiring process.
Talk to the Agent
Once you know your rights and responsibilities outlined in the contract, have a civilized conversation with the real estate agent. If the agent has a broker, talk with them to get to the root of the problem. Once a term has been decided upon, put it in writing.
Be Honest and Fair
Regardless of the situation, be fair and take ownership of your end of the deal. Then, promptly pay any amounts that are due as a result of your cancellation and move on with your life.
Oak City Properties Can Help!
At Oak City Properties, we have been helping those in the Raleigh area purchase homes for years! Whether you are a family trying to purchase a home or an investor looking to diversify their rental portfolio, our full-service property management company is here for you.
Want to learn more about our commitment to effective real estate investing and property management? Contact us or give us a call at (919) 232-9222. Feel free to also check out our website at oakcityproperties.com or check out our Facebook Page.
Want to Read More?
Take a look at a few more blogs that may help with your real estate investment journey.