6 Things You Should Never Say to Your Real Estate Agent
When you’re trying to buy a home, you’ll spend a lot of time with your real estate agent. From touring houses to navigating bidding wars, you’ll get to know each other pretty well.
While it’s good to be friendly and honest with your agent, there are still a few things you should keep to yourself if you want a successful home search. Even if you’re already close with your agent, show them respect by observing a few simple boundaries. Here are six things you should never say to your real estate agent.
“The highest I could possibly offer is…”
If you tell your agent, “My highest possible offer is $700,000,” they may start showing you homes at the higher end of that range even if you don’t want to spend that much. As a result, you may feel pressured to buy a house that’s out of your comfort zone price-wise. In addition, you’ll need to keep at least $5,000 on hand for emergency repairs after you move in, so avoid maxing out your budget just to get into the home.
“Can you show me how to sell my home by myself?”
Don’t expect an agent to educate you about selling if you don’t intend to hire them. On top of their licensure, agents have years or even decades of experience and insight into home selling. They can’t transfer all of that knowledge to you in an afternoon, and it’s unfair to ask that of them.
“I’m working with a couple of different agents.”
Your agent doesn’t get paid until you’ve purchased a home with them. They put time and effort into finding suitable homes, liaising with sellers, educating you, and more. This labor often comes at the expense of their personal time, including weekends and evenings. Stay loyal to one agent.
“I don’t know anything about the market in this area.”
Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make, so don’t rely solely on your agent to decide where to move, what to purchase, and how much to spend.
You could end up in a home you don’t love if you’re unprepared to advocate for yourself in your search. There are plenty of places online to research different neighborhoods and real estate markets.
“What’s the crime rate in this neighborhood?”
The Fair Housing Act prohibits agents from disclosing crime rates in your potential new neighborhood. Because discussions about crime can lead to racial discrimination, most agents won’t answer this question. However, if you’re curious about safety, crime statistics are publicly available.
“Real-a-tor”
We’ve all heard it, and most of us have said it. “Real-a-tor.” Believe it or not, there’s no “a” in the middle of the word Realtor. It’s also a registered trademark, and to become a Realtor, agents must become registered members of the National Association of Realtors.
If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.
