We have trained many real estate agents and have also had to fire a few agents for poor conduct. Honesty and loyalty are the qualities you want most. The type of honesty that is motivated by the concept that God is watching works well. The second type is based on whether the offense hurts another or gets caught.
One of our responsibilities as a Broker has been to look over all the financials of each transaction. For example, one of my agents generated a commission check. Upon review, we realized we had received more than what was due. The agent told us that everyone was happy and not to worry about it. We called the title company and, to my surprise, they gave us the same response. Next, we called the party that was short-changed, and they were happy to hear the news. After correcting the error, we fired the agent. This is one reason why every state ensures that all agents are overseen by a brokerage.
To save you time, here are some positive qualities to look for in an agent…
The best agents are humble and service-minded. They have the heart of a teacher and are patient with you. They look you in the eye and make you feel like all your questions and concerns are important and relevant. Their speech will be positive, and negative comments about others are always a bad sign. The agent’s car and apparel should not be too flashy. The initial meeting should be free of all paperwork and screens and more about building a relationship. They should be prepared to get their hands dirty if required and carry tools in the trunk of their car. Married men (10 years or more) often make good agents as their wives usually ensure they are working diligently. Female agents are great too, but ensure they allow you to be the boss. A non-smoker, non-drinker is ideal as you never know when the right buyer will call or make an offer. Always make sure you have the unconditional right to cancel the listing contract and fire your agent. The good news is that the right agent will ensure the job is done correctly and problems will be avoided as much as possible. Statistics show that agents can secure higher prices for homes than owners can, and some agents can get more than others.
Avoid the part-time agent…
Real estate representation is a full-time job. We never know when the right circumstances will occur, so timing and availability are essential. Ask them, “Is there any other way you earn income besides real estate?” Part-time is unacceptable, and all calls should be returned within 2 hours, Monday to Friday, 9-5.
The know-it-all agent…
They might appear friendly at first, but you soon realize that they are full of themselves and think they know better than you do. This agent fails to allow you to be in control. They may even make important decisions without your knowledge or approval. They are on a power trip and unwilling to incorporate the opinions of others to find the best solutions. Often, they will advertise with vague and impressive statistics such as “million-dollar agent” or some other large, impressive number. Watch out for the know-it-all agent.
The friend or family member…
When you do business with a friend or family member, both parties’ thoughts and actions are modified based on the past conditioning of the relationship. Usually, the agent you know will treat you differently than an agent you do not know. You may expect more from them, or they may expect less from you. Great relationships are often either strengthened or destroyed by business dealings. Quite often, it is safest to avoid them altogether.
The agent who lists it and brings the buyer…
This type of agent will list your home and then bring you an offer from their own buyer. They will then claim the full 6% commission for themselves. This can be a good thing, but only if your agent has given a minimum of 7 days of full marketing exposure. You can verify the marketing exposure by checking if your home is advertised on major websites such as Remax, Coldwell, Keller Williams, etc. Ask your agent to email you the links if you can’t find them. Be wary of selling your home too quickly. The best solution to this problem is to have your agent agree that they will only charge you a maximum of 3% if there is no other agent involved.
The agent who sells it in one day…
Chances are high that if you find the highest paying buyer in one day, there are a lot more interested buyers who do not know that it is for sale yet. It’s a lot of work for your agent to schedule more showings and juggle multiple offers. I bought my home the first day it was on the market. As a buyer, I was happy to hear that they had backup offers for $25,000 more.
The overly detailed agent…
This type of agent would be a great accountant. They scrutinize every detail and make sure every buyer knows all the details. Inevitably, the buyer is turned off when they hear about a feature that they did not ask about.
The agent who has personal issues…
We all have times in our lives when we are overwhelmed. Maybe it’s a breakup, a death in the family, or an IRS audit. Don’t do business with an agent who has a plethora of problems. Normally, the agent won’t tell you about their issues and will try to appear available. If you can’t talk to them on short notice or they run late to appointments, this might be a sign.
The mechanically challenged agent…
If you had a water leak, this person can’t find the shut-off valve.
Novak Real Estate, Luzerne, Hadley, Corinth, Saratoga New York 