If they were slow to respond or seemed dismissive about my concerns, I moved on.
That’s key. I’d add—watch how they handle your credit questions too. When I was house hunting, one agent tried to brush off my concerns about how multiple credit pulls might affect my score. That was a dealbreaker for me. If they can’t give you a straight answer or seem annoyed by your financial questions, it’s probably not a good fit. You want someone who respects your situation, not just the sale.
- Quick gut check: If they dodge your questions or get defensive, that’s a red flag.
- I always ask about their experience with investors and tough negotiations—if they stumble, I move on.
- Had one agent try to gloss over inspection issues once... never again.
- You need someone who’ll be straight with you, even if it’s not what you want to hear.
I agree that transparency is non-negotiable. I’ve actually had agents who were great at answering questions, but when it came to negotiation, they just didn’t have the backbone. That’s where experience really shows.
Couldn’t agree more—honesty over sugarcoating every time. Has anyone here ever checked references from past clients, or do you rely more on your own gut during interviews?“You need someone who’ll be straight with you, even if it’s not what you want to hear.”
Honestly, I’ve never put much stock in references from past clients—let’s be real, no one’s handing out the names of folks who hated them. I go with gut and a bit of “let’s see how they handle curveballs.” Had an agent once who talked a big game but folded faster than a cheap tent when things got tough. Experience is great, but I want someone who can think on their feet, not just recite their sales stats.
I go with gut and a bit of “let’s see how they handle curveballs.” Had an agent once who talked a big game but folded faster than a cheap tent when things got tough.
I get where you’re coming from about references—nobody’s gonna hand out the number for their worst nightmare client. But honestly, I’ve seen past clients spill the tea in ways a quick gut check just can’t catch. Had a realtor once who looked great on paper, but a quick call to an old client uncovered a few “surprises” about how they handled pressure. Sometimes those off-the-record chats say more than any sales stat. Just my two cents.
