Signs of an Unprofessional Realtor

Choosing a good real estate agent when buying or selling your home can be a challenging process. You'll never know for sure that a Realtor will be a good fit for you until you actually meet with him or her and start the work relationship. But there are a few signs to watch out for before you sign the contract that can indicate the agent is unprofessional and not the right fit for you.

The "Second-Job" Realtor

The best real estate agents are those who make their living selling homes. They're motivated to do the best job they can because this is their sole means of support and they won't be able to eat or pay their bills if they don't do their job well.

Avoid working with an agent who sells homes part-time on the side around another job. Not only is there a higher risk of lack of motivation, but the agent won't be able to commit the necessary time to sell your home or give you the attention you deserve when looking for a new home.

Lack of Professional Organization Membership

An unprofessional real estate agent will try to buy or sell homes without joining a national realty organization or two. These organizations have a strict code of ethics and it's suspicious if an agent doesn't join such an organization.

Unwillingness to Communicate

Selling or buying a home requires a lot of communication. Buying a home is most often the biggest purchase anyone ever makes and a lot of money changes hands. The same is true for selling a home. You want a Realtor who values you enough as a client to promptly return your calls. Some Realtors hire an assistant or two to make sure all calls are handled efficiently and that every client is well taken care of.

Too Much Focus on Their Potential Profit

Realtors make more money the more money you spend when buying a home. The focus of unprofessional Realtors is to get you to buy the most expensive home possible so they can make more money. They don't listen to your needs and budget and constantly steer you towards properties that would stretch your budget or require you to get a different type of mortgage approval.

No or Little Success History

If you are selling your home, you want an agent with proven experience in selling homes in your area. Of course, the state of the real estate market will affect the agent's ability to sell, but there needs to be some rate of success. The best way to find out this is to ask to see the agent's MLS reports to see what she or he has sold. A professional Realtor will be willing to provide you with this information.