Avoid Realtor Nightmares - Here's How!

It's a sad fact of life that the handshake deal is often no longer to be trusted, and it's not just used car salesmen, spin-doctors, and politicians you have to watch out for. Suppose, for example, you're looking for a new home - it's always best to work with a realtor you feel comfortable with. You may not have luxury home plans; indeed, you may not have any specific house designs in mind. You just want a little something to call your own. Before you venture into the real-estate jungle, it's best that you have a local guide, someone who can point the way around the metaphorical quicksand, piranhas, and hungry crocs to the best deal available. What you need is a realtor, a licensed real estate agent to help you find the right home. The agent generally takes his or her commission from sale of the house, so if you're a buyer, you'll never pay them a cent. A good realtor is worth every cent they get paid (especially if it's not your money). A bad one, on the other hand, can leave you with problems that may take years to resolve. How do you avoid the nightmare realtor?

Start at the Beginning

Your first task is to check out your potential realtor with the Better Business Bureau. If complaints have been lodged against an agent, then the BBB will let you know -- whereupon you should take the advice of Monty Python and "Run away!" If you're a buyer, keep in mind that the agent is working for the seller, so they may be willing to help you only up to a point. Even if you're dealing with a known reputable realtor, don't take their word for every little thing. Inspect things closely. Don’t be afraid to take a ladder along on your tours when you find a home you're serious about. The Little Giant ladder company makes a great portable system. A nice Little Jumbo ladder or one of the other Little Giant ladder systems is ideal for keeping your realtor honest about things like roofing and gutters. Also, be cautious about using inspectors or contractors they suggest; that inexpensive housing inspector may miss (or gloss over) something that might cost you thousands of dollars to fix. While this may not represent a deliberate attempt to cheat you, it may be best to pay a little extra for an inspector, contractor, or engineer that you know isn't connected to your realtor.

Smelling a rat

Con artists tend to be good actors, so it can be hard to spot a nightmare realtor; however, there are telltale signs that should get your hackles up. Suppose the realtor tries to push a limited number of houses or house plans on you, or won't give you a list of people they've sold to before; those are red flags. Be suspicious of excessive promises about how a contractor or builder is trustworthy or licensed; if necessary, ask to see the builder's license. If the agent won't let you take your ladder with you on home tours, get concerned. If he or she tries to push a particular house or location on you, consider the possibility that they're more interested in their commission than in helping you, and reconsider your decision to work with them. If they leave in the middle of the deal to go on vacation (this really happens!), you may want to go elsewhere.

Some of these occurrences alone may not make for a nightmare agent; you need to look for a pattern of negative behavior. If your agent doesn't want you to bring along your ladder on a house tour, they may just be embarrassed that you would do such a thing (but hey, this is a very big investment here!). They may genuinely be trying to steer you toward the best deal when they push a certain home or area. Sometimes the agent just lacks a clear concept of customer service; and honestly, some agents just aren't nice people. Your best bet is to work with someone with some designations after their name, because that means they've taken classes in how to be a good realtor. GRI (Graduate of the Real Estate Institute) and CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) are good designations to look for. These certifications by themselves don't mean that you that won't run into a nightmare agent, but they'll put you on the right path to satisfaction.

Published with permission (FCDMInc)