At Hills Estate we pride ourselves on offering exemplary service to our clients. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of all estate agents out there.
Choosing a bad estate agent brings with it an array of problems. You may find you can’t get a house sold because of poor pricing and advertising. As a buyer, you may find a lack of information scuppers your chances at getting your hands on a property that is right for you.
So how do you know if you have a bad estate agent? Here are some of the warning signs that you should always look out for.
No Communication
Communication is massively important in the property sector. If your estate agent doesn’t take the time to talk to you and let you know what’s happening with a transaction, you can never feel fully certain that things are progressing as you would like them to.
Ideally, you should be in touch with your estate agent on a regular basis. They will answer your questions and take the time to call you to provide updates. Any that don’t may have too many things to focus on or may simply not care enough about your transaction. Either way, that doesn’t serve you as a client.
Poor Listening Skills
A good estate agent doesn’t just talk the talk. They also listen to what you have to say as a client. Do not underestimate the importance of listening. The best agents will take your concerns on board and adapt to your needs. The worst will just plough ahead, meaning you end up with a result that you didn’t want in the first place.
This goes for jargon too. The property industry is full of terms that you may not have heard of. If your agent uses a lot of these terms and doesn’t pay heed when you ask what they mean, it’s time to move onto somebody else.
Poor Leadership
You work with an estate agent so that you have guidance through the many complex issues that surround property transactions. Your agent should be able to lead you through everything from valuing a property through to considering offers and working with the many professionals that you will need to call in during the course of the transaction.
Poor leaders do not make great estate agents. You need somebody who will take things by the scruff of the neck and fight your corner, should it be required.
Under Pressure
The second you start feeling uncomfortable around your estate agent you also start to lose trust in that person’s abilities. This typically happens when the agent tries to place you under pressure to make a choice that you know isn’t right for you.
Bad estate agents don’t work towards their client’s ends. Instead, they find solutions that suit them and try to push their clients towards them. Take advice, by all means. Just don’t allow an agent to pressure you into making poor choices. Any that try mark themselves out as bad estate agents.
