We frequently work with buyers who have had a bad experience with another agent before finding us. Carlie and Nick are no exception. After months of searching for a home in which to raise their son, multiple offers, and one failed contract later, they were (understandably) fed up with the whole process. Fortunately, a friend suggested they meet with The Stokes Group to see if we could help find them the right home and put them in the strongest possible position to purchase it.
Within three days of our initial meeting, Carlie and Nick were under contract on a charming home in Kensington, MD in the exact neighborhood they wanted that was the perfect sized house for them. With a quick and clean close, they are now proud homeowners, living down the street from Nick’s parents, in the same school district where he grew up.
What made the difference between their prior agent (who we shall not name) and us? We listened to what Carlie and Nick actually wanted in their new home and went out and found it instead of just trying to sell them any house to be done with the process as quickly as possible. Based on their feedback and our years of experience, here are 5 ways to spot an agent that might not have your back:
- Not listening to what YOU want.
It’s amazing how many agents don’t listen to their buyer clients. If you tell an agent that location is more important to you than size, and they show you huge homes outside of your desired neighborhood, you will never find the right house and the process will drive you crazy. Agents should be detail oriented and always focused on your specific needs and wants.
- The agent is not actively engaged in your search.
Your agent should be engaged daily in your search, constantly making sure that the right places are coming up. Searches are easy to update, and it is important that your agent is asking the right questions about the results you are seeing.
- You’re not getting prompt responses.
An agent should respond promptly to your requests and questions, especially when issues are time sensitive, or when you are in the contract process. Real estate moves at lightening speed in the DC area – you don’t want an agent that can’t keep up. Because many agents set their own work schedules – a common complaint is that an agent seems to frequently be on vacation. It’s best to work with a real estate team that always has coverage, even during busy travel seasons.
- The agent doesn’t dive deeply enough into important questions.
A direct example from Carlie and Nick – They were under contract on a house (with their previous agent) that appeared to have major structural issues. When they mentioned their suspicions to their agent, they were told, “That’s not a big deal,” and the agent just tried to sweep it under the rug and move on. This is obviously the wrong response. Agents can give their opinions of what they think is happening based on their experience, but we are not home inspectors or structural engineers. A good agent will not stop exploring potential issues until the problem is identified and a solution is found.
- An agent more interested in “selling” a house.
You should never feel like your agent is pushing you on a particular property. They should talk about the pros and cons of each home, especially concerning resale value. An agent is supposed to be objective and let the clients make their own decisions on a home. Agents should advise, but clients make the decisions.
We love making our clients happy, and showing them that great agents make all the difference in purchasing a home. We take our jobs seriously and always keep the needs of our clients in mind.
If you’re considering buying a home, contact us with your questions about the process, or let us know how we can help.
The Stokes Group is a team of dedicated professionals who have passion for the real estate business and will advocate for our clients with the utmost honesty, integrity, and confidentiality. We believe in building solid relationships with our clients and that starts by getting to know who we are. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
The Stokes Group is a team of dedicated professionals who have passion for the real estate business and will advocate for our clients with the utmost honesty, integrity, and confidentiality.
