Had a similar run-in when I bought my last place—asked the agent about a weird credit on the closing statement and she just shrugged it off. Turns out it was a legit mistake, caught it in time, but if I hadn’t pushed, who knows? Sometimes you gotta be that squeaky wheel, even if you feel like a pain.
Honestly, I get the urge to double-check everything, but I’d argue you shouldn’t have to be the “squeaky wheel” just to catch basic errors. If an agent shrugs off a question about your money, that’s a red flag for me. I’d rather see someone who’s proactive and detail-oriented from the start—if they’re not, maybe it’s time to look elsewhere. Mistakes happen, but how they handle them says a lot.
Couldn’t agree more about not wanting to be the “squeaky wheel” just to get basic info. Here’s what I tell folks: ask for a breakdown of every cost, and see how they react. If they get defensive or vague, that’s a bad sign. Also, check how quickly they respond to emails or calls—if they’re slow now, it won’t get better later. I’ve seen buyers get burned by agents who gloss over details, especially with things like closing costs. It’s your money, so don’t feel weird about pressing for clarity.
ask for a breakdown of every cost, and see how they react. If they get defensive or vague, that’s a bad sign.
Totally agree with this. I once had an agent who acted like I was asking for state secrets just by wanting to see the fee breakdown. That was a red flag for me. Also, if they dodge questions about your credit or financing options, that’s another thing to watch out for. You want someone who’s cool with you double-checking everything, not someone who gets weird about it.
One thing I always tell people is to treat the first meeting with a realtor like an interview. Ask for a detailed breakdown of every cost, sure, but also ask them to walk you through a sample transaction—step by step. If they can’t explain things in plain English, or they get cagey about how they get paid, that’s a red flag. I once had a guy who kept glossing over the inspection fees, which made me dig deeper... turned out he was pushing a “preferred” inspector who wasn’t exactly independent. Trust your gut, but also trust the numbers.
