8 Signs You Hired the Wrong Agent When Buying a Home
Hiring the wrong real estate agent when buying a home happens all the time. Sometimes buyers aren’t even aware they hired the wrong agent, mostly because they aren’t entirely sure what a real estate agent is actually supposed to do for them in the first place. It’s less about spotting a “bad Realtor” and more about knowing what good representation actually looks like. Below are eight signs that can help you figure out whether your agent is truly working for you.
1. Unresponsive
Does your agent return your calls, texts, or emails in a timely manner? If not, that’s worth paying attention to. Time matters in real estate, and if it takes your agent hours or days to get back to you, you could miss a new listing or an important deadline once you’re under contract. If you’re one of the buyers out there saying “my realtor ghosted me,” it’s probably time to find a new one.
2. Makes You Do the Home Search Alone
There’s nothing wrong with browsing homes yourself on sites like Zillow or Realtor.com, plenty of buyers do. The problem is when your agent expects that to be the primary way you find homes, rather than actively monitoring the MLS, setting up a search matched to your criteria, and flagging new listings the moment they hit the market, including ones that come back on the market later. Some listings go under contract in less than 24 hours, so an agent who isn’t watching closely on your behalf is leaving you to do their job for them.
3. Makes You Contact the Listing Agent Yourself
Did your agent tell you to contact the listing agent directly to see a property or get your questions answered? That’s not how it’s supposed to work. Your agent should be the one showing you the property and answering your questions. If they’re personally unavailable, they should be arranging for an associate or the listing agent to step in, not just pointing you elsewhere and stepping back. This is exactly the kind of situation covered in more detail in who is supposed to show you homes for sale.
4. Has No Backup When They’re Unavailable
Everyone deserves time off, agents included. The real issue isn’t that your agent went on vacation, took a weekend, or had a family emergency, it’s what happens to your transaction while they’re out.
If there’s no one covering showings, inspections, or questions in their absence, and you’re left wondering who’s actually handling things, that’s a real problem. It ties into a bigger point worth understanding about who should actually be present for a showing in the first place.
5. Doesn’t Explain What You’re Signing or Who They Represent
Buyers today often encounter a buyer representation agreement, disclosures, and other paperwork well before they’re anywhere near a contract on a house. A good agent walks you through what you’re agreeing to: how long it lasts, what you’re on the hook for, how they’re compensated, and what happens if you want to end the relationship or find a property another way.
They should also be upfront about exactly who they represent in the transaction, you, the seller, or both, since that shapes whose interests they’re actually looking out for. If an agent just puts something in front of you and says “sign here,” that’s a red flag, and it’s worth understanding the fuller picture of how buyer representation actually works before you sign anything else.
6. Puts Pressure on You Instead of Giving You Advice
There’s a real difference between an agent telling you “there are already multiple offers, so let’s talk about how to position yours” and one who just says “you need to offer more, do it.” The first is advice. The second is pressure. Your agent should support your decision even if they personally think you’re making a mistake. It’s your money on the line, not theirs, so you should never feel like your agent isn’t actually working for you.
7. Doesn’t Listen to What You Want
Did you say your budget was $500,000, and your agent keeps showing you $600,000 homes? Communication is everything in a real estate transaction, and your agent should genuinely listen to what you want and what you can actually afford.
A good agent also adjusts as they get to know you better. Maybe you started out wanting a pool and three bedrooms, but after touring a few homes you realize a bigger yard matters more to you than the pool. Your agent should pick up on that and adjust what they’re showing you, not keep sending the same type of listing regardless.
8. Isn’t Properly Equipped
Does your agent lack access to the MLS, or a lockbox key to actually get you into homes? This one still matters. A Supra lockbox key and MLS access cost money, but they’re basic tools of the trade and the cost of doing business.
There’s no good excuse for an agent who isn’t equipped to show you every listing available, supra lockbox included, when that tool costs next to nothing compared to what they stand to make on the sale.
What Should a Good Buyer’s Agent Actually Do?
A buyer’s agent should do a lot more than unlock doors and write an offer. Depending on your agreement and the services involved, you should generally expect help searching for suitable properties, arranging showings, providing market information, communicating with listing agents, evaluating properties and terms, negotiating on your behalf, and coordinating the transaction from start to finish.
If you want the fuller picture of what that looks like in practice, that’s covered in why using a real estate agent to buy a home is worth it for most buyers.
Before You Fire Your Real Estate Agent
Recognizing a problem doesn’t mean you should immediately fire your agent without a second thought. Before you do:
- Review anything you’ve signed, including whether it’s an exclusive agreement
- Check the termination provisions in that agreement
- Tell your agent specifically what isn’t working, rather than just disappearing
- Give them a real chance to fix it if the issue is fixable
- Don’t simply bring in another agent without understanding whether your existing agreement is still in effect
If you’ve already been through that and you’re still considering bringing in someone new, it’s worth understanding how access and pre-approval factor into working with a new agent before you make that move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a buyer’s agent do for their client?
A buyer’s agent should search for suitable properties, arrange and coordinate showings, communicate with listing agents, help evaluate homes and terms, negotiate on your behalf, and guide the transaction through closing.
Can I switch real estate agents if I signed a buyer representation agreement?
Possibly, depending on the agreement’s terms. Review the termination provisions and talk to the brokerage before assuming you’re free to move on to someone else.
Should my real estate agent be the one showing me homes?
Yes, or they should be arranging for a qualified associate to do it in their place. You shouldn’t be the one tracking down whoever can let you into a property.
What should I do if my buyer’s agent stops responding?
Give it a reasonable chance first, life happens, but a consistent pattern of being unreachable is a legitimate reason to reconsider the relationship rather than something to just tolerate.
Can I fire my real estate agent as a buyer?
It depends on the agreement you’ve signed. Buyers may be able to end the relationship, but they should review the agreement’s termination provisions and understand any obligations before moving on to another agent.
Final Thoughts
Interviewing real estate agents isn’t just for sellers, buyers should be doing it too. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments a person will make, and it can be a genuinely stressful one. The right agent eliminates a lot of that stress and uncertainty.
If you’ve read through these signs and recognized your own situation, it may be time to make a change. If you’re weighing whether to bring in someone new or handle things yourself instead, it’s worth understanding what buying a home without a real estate agent actually involves before deciding.
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Not sure if your real estate agent is actually looking out for you? These 8 signs will tell you whether it's time to make a change. #homebuying #realestateAbout the Author
Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: “8 Signs You Hired the Wrong Agent When Buying a Home”
Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.
Areas of service include Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Greenacres, and more.
I think your article speaks also to the issue within our industry also of Buyer Loyalty and Commitment.
Will the Buyer sign a Buyer Broker Agreement?
Will the Buyer keep you informed of change in their criteria or circumstances?
Will the Buyer agree to be Pre-qualified by a lender and only consider showings of homes they are qualified to purchase?
If more buyers and agents would work similarly to attorney / client relationships then I think you would see an increase in better agents and loyal/better clients. When either party doesn’t take the relationship professionally or with good intent it causes uncomfortable situations for all involved.
Good article. As home inspectors, we come across clients often who clearly have agents mentioned above. A little heartbreaking for us to see (especially first time homebuyer) clients whose interests are clearly not being protected by their agent.
Great advice Michelle. Let’s hope that the folks reading this will do so before making any of these mistakes.