When you are in the market to buy a new home, there is no doubt a lot to think about. It feels like you need to be “on-call” all the time! Some of the best houses in our area are only on the market for a few days before they are pending a sale. Talk about pressure! If you aren’t up-to-date with your search and always keeping an eye in the MLS portal for new listings, you’ll miss your dream home being available. You also need to go see the home in person, apply for the necessary financing, and go through the paperwork to put in an offer.
As you can see, nearly all of this involves a real estate professional. You can’t do what you need to do, if he or she isn’t doing their part of the job. That is why working with the wrong Realtor is so devastating. The good news is that it is not too late to make a switch. If you recognize any of the following, it is time for you to seriously consider these thoughts:
#1 You only chose them because of a personal connection. Too many times, a potential home buyer will go with a friend or family member who is a real estate agent, only to find out it isn’t a good match at all. Just because you like them as a person doesn’t mean they know the area you want to buy in, the details of the paperwork, or the Southwest Florida real estate industry at all. This is certainly really tough, but the sooner you make the break (nicely!) the better.
#2 They have poor communication skills. This is a big one. Perhaps they never answer the phone when you want to speak with them, or they don’t check their email very often. Maybe even in person, there just isn’t a good conversation flow. You must be able to tell your real estate professional exactly what you are looking for and they should be receptive to it. If they can’t or don’t understand you, or vice versa, it is never going to be a positive home buying experience.
#3 They seem more interested in their own needs than yours. How can you tell when this is happening? They may show you homes outside of your price range, in order to get a bigger commission. They may try to push a house on you on which they are also the selling agent If you prefer to speak via email because you are working during the day, they may insist on calling you instead. All of these are signs of a major problem; they just don’t care about you and what you actually want.
#4 Your questions are going unanswered. It can be tough when a real estate agent is nice, yet simply doesn’t know their job or your desired area of town very well. Perhaps they are new to the industry. The truth is that this person isn’t here to be your friend, they are here to do a very complicated job for you. If you are asking questions that they can’t answer or you feel they are struggling with what you need, it’s best to be honest with them so they can grow in their profession and move on to an expert.
#5 There is a personality difference. Some people just don’t get along very well. While you may have to put up with a pushy mother-in-law or a boss that is always condescending, you don’t have to put up with any personality traits you don’t like in your real estate agent. They should be friendly and knowledgeable; don’t accept anything less.
It is important to remember that if you feel things aren’t working out and you would be better suited to someone else, it isn’t too late to find a new real estate agent. Even if you’ve already begun working with someone; even if you’ve already looked a few houses with them. Unless you have signed a buyer’s broker agreement or actually put an offer in on a house, you are not “owned” by any real estate agent. No agent has claim on you, and you can switch to another agent you prefer.
Before you ruin what should be an amazing experience by going through it with someone who isn’t the best, come to The Beattie Realty Team! We know this can be a stressful time in your life, and we are here to make it a wonderful experience for you. You need to make some big decisions, and our honesty, integrity, and knowledge of the local Southwest Florida real estate market will make it easier for you. Don’t let the perfect house for your family be bought out from under you because you just aren’t working well with your current Realtor. Click on this link to reach out to us today!