When Is It Time To Ditch Your Real Estate Agent?

     I have seen and heard many stories in my 7 years in real estate and to constantly hear stories about some of the most basic functions of real estate agents not being performed, irks me to no end. I just want to cover some of the most common mistakes bad real estate agents make, so a consumer can pick up the signs. Preferably, consumers should check reviews and interview agents before choosing one. Well in this article, they already made their bed and are lying in it....for now.

1. The agent never returns your phone calls in a timely manner.

     The agent should be almost immediate in repsonse. I can understand certain extenuating situations but if an agent can't get back to a client or potential client in a timely manner, you have to ask yourself: Does that agent care about me? Does he/she want my business?

2. The agent does not seem to listen and sends me homes I do not want to see or only shows me homes that are his/hers or their companies' listings.

     The greedy agent that wants a double sided deal. That is pretty self explanatory. Dual agency can occur, but if it does, it should occur naturally as the result of a full search of all properties for the best home. If an agent is only showing you their listings, don't walk...RUN!

3. The agent doesn't give me feedback from showings, no feedback about the marketing they have done, etc.

     The agent has a duty to follow up with his seller client about how many people have seen the home, ask the showing agent for feedback and report those findings back to the seller as well as providing a market report on where their home is being advertised and when. Anyone can stick a home on the MLS and there is some syndication, but let me say that there are dozens of real estate sites out there as well as social media sites and if your agent isn't using social media today in advertising, they potentially missed out on selling your home.

4. The client is calling to set up showings.

     You are working with an agent that is supposed to represent you and you are setting up your showings by calling the listing office? It is the buyer's agent that needs to speak with the listing agent to make those arrangements. There could be special instructions that are not for the public with regards to showing the property. Are you kidding me?! This is the most basic duty an agent has, to show homes. If you are the buyer, you don't want to be talking with the sellers agent, potentially compromising your position. Just plain WRONG!


About the author:

     Jason Feinman is a Sales Associate, ABR, CNE, e-PRO with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Hillsdale, NJ, proudly serving home buyers and sellers throughout the Pascack Valley and Bergen County, NJ. Jason can be reached direct on his cell phone at 201-937-9497, at the office located at 50 Broadway in Hillsdale at 201-930-8820 or on the web at: www.PascackValleyHomesForSale.com