5 Red Flags That Should Raise Concern When Choosing a Real Estate Agent

#1. Showing Up Late Or Unprepared

Showing up late, dressed poorly, or unprofessionally is an indicator that the agent doesn’t have their ducks in a row. If you own a $150,000 house you will be paying your agent $9,000 at a 6% commission. Do you think this is enough incentive for an agent to show up on time, dressed professionally, and not wear shorts and flip-flops? You should expect them to be prepared with data on the sales of comparable properties in your area. This information should be readily available and presented in a neat and organized manner.

#2. Full Timers Only

5 Red Flags That Should Raise Concern When Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Would you hire a dentist who only practiced his profession part-time? Your home is your single largest investment and should not be trifled with. Do business with someone who does real estate full-time. I have a great agent to that I refer all my business and they do real estate full-time. Practicing different facets of the real estate business is fine but it must be full-time real estate.

#3. The Cover Up

If I encountered an agent who suggested covering up or hiding damage then I would run the other way. Anyone who lies for you will lie to you. In the state of North Carolina, all sellers are required to fill out a Residential Property Disclosure Form. The agent is prohibited from filling this out for you, but they should offer guidance on how to fill out the form properly. They should also suggest necessary repairs that should be made prior to putting the house on the market.

#4. No Online Presence

Real estate is a considered purchase. This means that almost all buyers will do extensive online research before buying a home. Just having a website is not enough. A strong online presence is required to sell a home in today’s market. Your agent must be familiar with many forms of digital marketing. This is no longer a new frontier on which to obtain an advantage, it is a requirement to communicate with the millennial generation of home buyers. The easiest way to find out about your agent’s online progress is to search for them. They should not be difficult to find. Check and see if they have reviews on sites like Facebook and Yelp.

#5. Buying The Listing

There is an old trick called “buying the listing”. This is when an agent promises the owner that they can sell their house at an inflated price. The house then lags on the market and the agent recommends major price drops. The worst thing you can do as a home seller is to overprice your home from the beginning. To have an agent promise you an inflated price is unacceptable. Some agents are unethical and others do this out of ignorance. Sometimes when we need to sell a house fast we become vulnerable to bold promises. A great resource to research real estate agents in North Carolina is www.RealEstateABC.com

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2 responses to “5 Red Flags That Should Raise Concern When Choosing A Real Estate Agent”

Kayla says:

01/31/2018 at 7:35 pm

I didn’t know that agents should also suggest necessary repairs that should be made prior to putting the house on the market. My parents are planning to sell our house and move to another city. My aunt suggested having a real estate agent and shared this article with them.

1. Mike Otranto says:
  
  01/31/2018 at 9:25 pm
  
  Hi Kayla,
  
  Thank you for your reply and for the share. Let me know if you have any other questions.