Couldn’t agree more—if your agent can’t explain comps in plain English, run for the hills. I once had a guy try to convince me my fixer-upper was “priced for the market” because it had “good bones.” Turns out, his idea of comps was just... whatever sold in the last year, regardless of condition. Pushed back on the price and he got all defensive, which told me everything I needed to know. Trust your gut when they start dodging questions.
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes “good bones” actually does mean something—like, if the place isn’t about to collapse and you’re not gonna find a family of raccoons in the attic, that’s a win in my book. Not every agent is out to lunch with comps, though. I had one who was super nerdy about spreadsheets and could break down every sale within a mile radius... almost too much info, honestly. Sometimes it’s less about trusting your gut and more about finding someone who matches your style—even if they’re a little quirky.
Honestly, I’d take a spreadsheet nerd over someone who just waves their hands and says “great neighborhood” any day. My last agent had color-coded tabs for everything—made me feel like I was prepping for a pop quiz, but at least I knew what I was getting into. If you find someone who gets your vibe (and doesn’t mind your 47 questions about credit scores), that’s half the battle. Quirky beats clueless, in my book.
I get the appeal of a spreadsheet nerd, but honestly, I kind of need someone who can read people and situations more than they can color-code tabs. Like, yeah, I want to know what I’m signing, but half the time it’s the “great neighborhood” types who actually know the neighbors, have the inside scoop on why that one house has been sitting for six months, or which inspector is going to nitpick every little thing.
“If you find someone who gets your vibe (and doesn’t mind your 47 questions about credit scores), that’s half the battle.”
Totally agree on finding someone who gets your vibe. But for me, “vibe” isn’t just about being quirky or organized—it’s about whether they’re actually listening and not just running through their checklist. My first agent was super detail-oriented but felt like she was selling me a car, not a home. She’d answer my questions with data dumps and charts but never really explained what any of it meant in plain English.
Second time around, I went with a guy who didn’t have fancy folders or spreadsheets—he just knew his stuff and could break things down without making me feel dumb. He remembered my dog’s name and pointed out which yards were fenced before I even asked. That mattered way more to me than whether he had color-coded tabs.
I guess what I’m saying is: some folks need spreadsheets to feel secure, others want someone who can talk them through the nerves and weirdness of buying a house for the first time. For me, trust comes from feeling like they’re in my corner, not just ticking boxes. If they can do both? That’s gold... but I’ll take real-world smarts over Excel skills if I have to pick.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen plenty of agents who could run circles around Excel but couldn’t spot a weird neighbor if they tried. The ones who remember your dog’s name and actually listen? That’s rare air. Data’s great, but if you’re drowning in charts and still confused, what’s the point? I always tell folks: if you feel like you’re being herded, not helped, trust your gut. You’re not buying a spreadsheet—you’re buying a home.