Watch Out For These Red Flags In Your Realtor
Buying a property, selling property and moving can all be very exciting and nerve-wracking times and realtors are supposed to provide support, guidance and assistance to help you make the best decision for you, your goals and your current situation. However, unfortunately, like in every industry, there are reliable professionals with your best interests at heart and there are less experienced and less honest realtors who you may want to keep an eye out for and avoid if you can. To make the process as smooth, comfortable and beneficial to you as possible, read below to find out what red flags you should be on the lookout for when deciding on a realtor.
Realtors can be a great help when it comes to real estate investment, but only if they are looking out for you.
What To Watch Out For
Many of the warning signs and BRFs (Big Red Flags) to look out for when working with a real estate agent have to do with communication, or a lack thereof. Things like avoiding questions, calls or messages can be warning signs that the realtor you have chosen may not be the right one. You can also determine underlying motives or shading goings-on through their actions, such as being evasive, not punctual and pushy when it comes to things you’re hesitating on. A good realtor will always provide you with the resources, tools, time and understanding to make an informed decision that works best for you. They should not be rude, absent, aggressive, or dismissive of your feelings, circumstances, or situation.
1. They don’t answer your questions directly.
Dodging or avoiding questions, like beating around the bush when asked something directly, is a tell-tale sign that the realtor you’re working with may not have your best interests at heart. When it comes to some common questions about the commercial property such as “how long was the previous business in business before they shut down?” the realtor dances around answering this question and avoids answering directly by saying things like “they did well, and have been here for a while, but they decided to move on” you may want to do further research and look elsewhere. If you ask something along the lines of “how long was the space vacant for?” and the realtor tries to avoid answering the question by saying something along the lines of “oh, not too long, just a couple of months” and then changes the topic to something else, this is a cautionary tale you may want to pay attention to.
Avoiding answering straightforward questions that are important for a possible tenant or renter to know is a huge red flag when it comes to working with a realtor. If the answer to the question is something that might make the realtor or property look bad, instead of being upfront and honest about it, they might try to hide and downplay it. They may do this so as to avoid discussing or acknowledging the concerns altogether. When it comes to realtors, you need to work with someone who is trustworthy and looking out for you.
2. Realtor is non-responsive and not punctual.
A red flag that the realtor you are working with may not be professional, reliable or trustworthy is if they are not responsive and are not punctual. If they do not answer your messages, emails or phone calls within a reasonable amount of time, or seem to be ignoring them, this is a red flag. If your realtor is always showing up late, or missing meetings, viewings and appointments this is a sign that they do not care about their profession or care about you as a client. If you find yourself being treated this way by your realtor, we suggest looking elsewhere for a new agent. If the realtor does not have the common courtesy to be on time and responsive with their partners and clients, that is a bad omen for what is to come in the future if you continue to work with them. You deserve to work with a realtor who respects both you, your time and your schedule.
3. Realtor is being too pushy
The third red flag to look out for in your realtor is if they are being too pushy or insistent about choices, decisions or purchases that you seem to be hesitant about or need more time to think through. If you do not feel comfortable, or confident making a purchase decision a good realtor will respect your boundaries and will not act aggressive or hostile towards you, instead of providing support and resources to help you with the decision-making process. At the end of the day, you and your realtor should be on the same team, working together to come to a decision that is beneficial and profitable for everyone.
4. Bad Reviews
It is a good idea to do some research about the realtor you are going to work with. Although there might not always be reviews available on every realtor, try looking for reviews regarding the realtor you’re interested in working with. Most realtors have their names out there on the internet, whether that be a website or social media and you can browse reviews and comments to check for positive or negative feedback. It is common practice for realtors to advertise their properties and personal brands on Facebook, so you can often find reviews there. If someone you know has worked with a realtor before or heard of an experience from someone else and they have a negative opinion of that realtor that is a red flag.
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