Recently, I received a call on a new listing I had and was shocked to find that the lovely clients on the other end had been blatantly lied to by their agent about the listing. It was apparent that agent simply did not want to show these clients this home.
Some background on the property, It is a fantastic deal that might require some over bidding in order to get the contract accepted, This means additional work for the agent representing the buyer. The commission on it was a slightly lower amount than standard, which might make an unethical agent try to steer clients away in lieu of another property that may provide the agent with a potentially higher commission.
Now luckily, this couple had the foresight to give me a call and I was able to provide them with the truth, but it got me thinking, if this is actively going on in our community, how many other unsuspecting buyers and sellers may not even know they are being duped by some of the unscrupulous agents out there.
I've put together a few points to help Home Buyers and Sellers to determine if their agents are truthful and ethical agents who they can trust.
1) If there is a property you are interested in, and your agent tells you something negative about the property, give the listing agent a call to verify the information was truthfully conveyed to you. Don't lie to the listing agent, a good agent will certainly respect your honesty about having another agent and will be willing to answer questions for you, solely for the basis of passing along information that may aid in the sale of their listing.
This small step can provide you with invaluable insight on whether your agent is being truthful with you. Keeping in mind, sometimes small discrepancies may simply be an honest miscommunication, yet if this happens on a regular basis, it may suggest that your agent is not working in your best interest. If something doesn't sound right, trust your gut and get a second opinion. Call the listing agent, or call another agent.
2) Be careful of the "used car salesperson" slick talking agent. When entering into a real estate contract, the written word is what counts. In my experience, I have found those who are slick talkers usually have their own hidden agenda. If an agent starts to hard sell you on why you should use their services, or worse yet, "sell" you on a home, that could be a warning sign. Instead of the slick talking agent, look for an agent who is concerned about YOUR needs, and is willing to put in the work to help you achieve your goals.3) When searching for an ethical and honest agent who will work in your best interests, not theirs, look for recommendations for that agent. Google their name, try to locate information from clients who have worked with them.
4) Avoid picking up the phone and calling the 1st major brokerage out there to locate your agent. Typically if you are dialing a brokerage number, the receptionist will forward you to a floor agent who may not have the experience to handle your needs.
5) If you have an agent you trust but are not purchasing in their area, Talk to them. If they can't handle your area, they will certainly be able to locate an experienced and ethical local agent who will be happy to help. They will get a small referral fee which helps them, and most importantly, since they referred you, a good agent will also be there for you in the background to help you with any questions you might have during the transaction.
6) If all else fails, and you do not know an agent local to you, I have a fantastic network of honest and ethical agents who are ready to help you no matter where you live. When I refer a client, I not only pre screen the agent I recommend, but will also be there to answer your questions along the way.
Check out my website at :
www.SellingSacHomes.com for more real estate information or to contact me
