Unprofessional broker. How to avoid being deceived

If you don't already have a real estate agent, you'll likely face the question: how do you choose a professional? How can I be sure I can trust this person? One of the most reliable ways to choose a specialist in any field is through recommendations from friends and acquaintances. If, however, you can't find a recommended person, choose an agent by asking them these questions:

Is brokerage his main activity?

To be professionals in our field, we must dedicate most of our time to work. The more time we spend working, the better specialists we become. If a broker does not dedicate enough time to their work, if it is not their primary activity, they will not sense market changes, and thus their professionalism will decrease. Therefore, inquire whether the broker considers this work their primary activity.

Is the broker really telling you the truth, or just what you want to hear?

One of the hardest things about being a realtor is tell clients the TRUTH about their property's market value and condition. In 95 out of 100 cases, clients tend to overestimate the value of their property, focusing only on its advantages and disregarding its disadvantages. Therefore, upon hearing a broker's opinion that the property is worth less, it's natural for a person to feel sad or even angry. In this case A professional broker will not be afraid of your negative emotions and will argue and explain why, in his opinion, the market price is what it is. Meanwhile, a bad broker will submissively agree to the price you want to get, just so you agree to work with him. However, the consequence of such submissiveness is that the property will be sold for a very long time or not sold at all.

What advertising methods does a broker use?

When communicating with a broker, inquire about the buyer search methods they utilize. The real estate market, like any other market, is constantly changing and becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, if the broker uses only one advertising method (e.g., online ad), It will not be able to reach all potential buyers, which means missed opportunities to sell faster and for a higher price.

A professional broker will not try to trick you.

Perhaps many of you have received a promotional flyer with a test – „We will buy your apartment.“ Don't be fooled. Usually, this is not an advertisement from buyers, but from unprofessional brokers. They try to lure clients in this deceitful way.

A professional broker will never pretend to be a buyer or anything else to get into your home. Professionals confidently introduce themselves as who they really are and clearly explain how they can help you. A professional broker will never use psychological pressure to force you to work with them, but will leave you the opportunity to decide for yourself.

A professional broker is active

Success in the broker profession is not determined by chance. To be a successful broker, you simply have to be active. You must communicate a lot with clients and other brokers, be interested in the market and its innovations, and, of course, sell a lot. Find out if your broker is active by searching for information about them online or by asking them a few questions.

A professional broker works legally

Check if your broker operates legally. Most brokers work for agencies or independently with a business certificate. However, there are some „black market“ brokers who operate illegally. Remember that a professional will never risk their reputation by trying to avoid taxes, so their activities will be legal.

By working with an illegally operating broker, you risk being deceived yourself. Therefore, when choosing a broker, be sure to find out their full name and whether they operate legally.

A professional broker works with a contract

Although signing a contract is not mandatory when selling real estate, it is beneficial for both parties. By offering to sign a contract, the broker confirms the legality of their work and commits to performing the work under the conditions stipulated in the contract. A written contract more strongly obligates both parties to adhere to the agreements. Furthermore, after signing a contract, you can always refer to its validity terms, sales conditions, agreed-upon broker commissions, etc.

Professional broker services are not the cheapest.

Although each of us wants to spend less, experience shows that the cheapest is not always the best. Therefore, it is very likely that the broker who works for the cheapest rate will work unprofessionally. In order to sell property for the highest price, we must invest effectively in advertising, spend enough time communicating with buyers and analyzing the market, go to viewings, etc. All of this comes at a cost.

Choosing the cheapest broker risks them dedicating too little time to selling your property, attempting to save on advertising costs wherever possible, which will significantly prolong the sale and result in the property being sold too cheaply. Furthermore, if a broker readily agrees to lower their service fee, they will not be able to maintain the value of your property against the buyer. When choosing a broker, remember that you are choosing your best employee, and the best employee knows the value of their work.

Trust your gut

The most valuable advice when choosing a broker is to trust your intuition. Mutual trust is paramount in this business. Intuition rarely deceives us. Therefore, ask yourself if you can trust this person, if this person can truly help you. Trust in each other will lead to a more successful sale.