Dave Ramsey: 10 Signs You Have a Bad Real Estate Agent

Buying or selling a home is a big decision and unless you have real estate experience, you’ll need to work with a reputable agent. Unfortunately, not all of them are created equal—some are just downright bad.

Choosing a real estate agent is like choosing any other professional in your life. You may be working with them for a few weeks or months, depending on the market in your area, so finding someone you vibe with is essential.

According to Ramsey Solutions, there are some red flags you should never ignore.

1. The Wrong Attitude

We all have our own unique personalities, and sometimes, they just don’t line up. However, if your real estate agent simply has a bad attitude, or they’re rude, that’s a giant red flag.

The phrase “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar” is true almost everywhere, and let’s be honest, nobody wants to deal with someone who just can’t be bothered to even fake being nice. Instead, choose someone you can easily talk to and work with.

2. Lack of Marketing

As with everything you try to sell these days, you need to do a significant amount of marketing. If your real estate agent isn’t putting the effort into drawing potential buyers to your home, it could sit on the market a lot longer than expected.

Transparency is the name of the game, here. Your agent should be 100% upfront with you in the beginning about their action plan and how effective it is.

3. Not Prioritizing You

Here’s the thing. Real estate agents have to juggle multiple clients. That means they need to effectively multitask and have a good organization system so that any one client doesn’t slip through the cracks.

If you constantly have to remind your agent that you exist, it might just be time to find another one.

4. Lack of Backbone

A backbone is necessary in real estate because it can be cutthroat. You don’t want a doormat that someone will be able to walk all over. You need someone who is able to not only negotiate with other agents and brokers but also be straightforward with you.

If your agent is always hemming and hawing or trying to skirt answering a question, they might be lacking that backbone you’re gonna need in the negotiating room.

5. Lack of Progress

This one is a real kicker. Most times, people will see some type of movement on their homes or their offers. If things remain stagnant, there’s something wrong.

Not to say your home will sell in a day or that your offer should be accepted within a day, but you shouldn’t be waiting weeks or even months for any kind of update or movement. If you are, then your real estate agent isn’t exactly on the ball.

6. It’s Their Side Job

We all need money, and some of us work side jobs for some extra cash. But side jobs should be taken just as seriously as a main job, especially when it comes to real estate matters. Any slight hesitation could lead to losing a house or a sale.

Some real estate agents who do this on the side are very dedicated to getting their commissions, which is good news for you. You just have to make sure if you work with a part-time agent, that they don’t let things slip.

7. They Don’t Defer to You

When it comes to selling or buying a home, you’re the one in charge. You make the final decisions. If your agent is consistently trying to overshadow you or pressure you into making a decision you’re not ready or willing to make, that’s grounds for finding a new one.

Remember that you are the ultimate boss here. They need to help you find or sell a home and decide how to market or which homes to show you, but they have zero say in final decisions.

8. Poor Communication

Communication in any environment is key. But not hearing from your real estate agent when you’re in an active market is a surefire way for something to slip through your fingers.

If you’re calling, texting, and emailing, and not getting a response, it might be time to find another agent who will prioritize you as we mentioned before. On that same note, remember that sometimes agents are busy helping others and may not be able to respond right away. Give them a little leeway, but not too much.

9. Lack of Experience

This isn’t always a dealbreaker, but if you’re working with a green real estate agent, it’s a good idea to make sure they have a support system, someone who will back them up if things start getting hairy.

If they are not working with a mentor or a more experienced agent, you might want to reconsider using them because there are a lot of details in real estate.

10. Offers Don’t Convert to a Sale

If you put your house up for sale, you’re bound to receive offers on them. But if these offers never turn into a sale — and if your home is in decent shape, one should — your agent is failing to close the deal.

That can be problematic in many ways. It can cost you time and money, and if your purchasing another home is contingent on the sale of your existing one, now you’re in double trouble. Stay on top of your agent when you know offers are in and ask to be kept updated. It’s their job, after all.