Chances are, you won’t experience issues working with professional agents or Realtors. A professional who prides themselves on top-tier services leaves little room for mistakes. Unfortunately, there will be a few bad apples lurking in the bushel. So how do you know when it’s time to change the real estate agent you’re working with?
Look out for the following red flags when you’re buying or selling a home.
Little or no follow-up
Some people just can’t be bothered to return a text or phone call. For agents, this is a critical flaw. Success in the industry – for both professionals and the clients they serve – requires clear communication and timely responses to rapidly changing circumstances.
Suppose you can’t reach an agent for advice after you learn that a bidding war has taken place on the property you made an offer on. If you’re unsure about what to do next because you need the advice of your agent, you could lose out on landing that dream home.
Lack of follow-up manifests in other ways. For instance, if your agent is not lining up properties for you to check out after you’ve conveyed your wish list, that’s a red flag. Agents should constantly look for ways to put you closer to your real estate goals.
Your words seem to fall on deaf ears
Whenever you feel like your instructions or preferences are being bypassed or ignored, you may have a problem on your hands.
You’ll know if your agent keeps walking you through properties that don’t fit your criteria without explaining why. Or, they may push you to make certain decisions that don’t account for your long-term interests. When things like that happen, chances are your agent hasn’t really listened to your needs.
See to it that the agent you’re working with acts decisively on the inputs you’ve shared.
Inconsistency
Picture this: everything is going swimmingly at first. Your agent has been responsive and quick to the draw. Then, during key negotiations with the seller, your agent isn’t available or buckles under the task at hand.
Agents should be delivering top-notch service from start to finish. They can’t start strong and leave you hanging towards the end – not when you’re so close to the finish line. Make sure to spot signs of inconsistency early on before proceeding to the more crucial stages of making an offer and negotiating.
Lack of significant progress
There are also cases where an agent isn’t necessarily doing anything wrong. You just feel like you’re going around in circles and not achieving meaningful outcomes.
You’ve seen many properties but you’re still short of finding a suitable home. If the market is tight, your agent should inform you about it so you can manage your expectations. Otherwise, the waiting game can be frustrating.
Or, it’s the nth month of your listing and your agent hasn’t pulled in qualified buyers. Again, you should be told about what’s keeping buyers from making an offer on your home. Otherwise, the inaction may be a sign that your agent is simply not doing enough to achieve your goals.
If your agent gives you reason to rethink their services based on two or more of the scenarios listed above, it may be time to look for someone new.
Contact David DePaola & Company Real Estate
If you’re looking for seasoned agents in Central New Jersey who can really get the job done, get in touch with David DePaola & Company Real Estate. Call us at 609.731.0581 or send an email to david(at)depaola(dotted)com.