Will The Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up?
As the song continues: “we’re going to have a problem here.” And that’s precisely what happens when you deal with dodgy brokers. In the beginning, they act as if butter wouldn’t melt when they’re after your riches. Some of them are that good they’ll do it without breaking character.
The obvious solution is to look out for the cowboys, yet that’s trickier than it seems. After all, the real estate market isn’t black and white and shady things happen to the most legit agents.
So, how do you get the real Slim Shady to stand up? What are you looking for?
Subject Changing
Buyers aren’t idiots and can spot problems even without the help of a broker. When you pose a question to them, they’ll fob you off with some jargonistic nonsense and claim it’s all part of the game. Overusing technical language is a bad sign because it means they’re covering up. The best agents are open with their clients. Also, take heed of their body language. While trying to change the subject, shady realtors will up the pace of their speech to move on to a new topic. A person with nothing to hide doesn’t look like he/she fears repercussions when answering basic questions.
Rogue Inspection
You’re interested in the property and want to find out more about it before making a bid. To nudge things along, the realtor organizes a pre-purchase inspection. When it comes back, everything seems above board and you’re ready to move forward. But, a second real estate inspection from an unbiased source pulls up a couple of flaws. You confront the broker and they make excuses. The bottom line is they want the commission and will sell you down the river to hit their targets. A company with no skin in the game has no reason to lie, which makes them trustworthy.
Pressure Tactics
They see their dream sale going down the toilet so they move into action. Like all sales reps, agents have tactics which “encourage” their clients to make a bid. Whenever you feel the pressure, it’s important to take a step back and think. Why are they hands-on? Could it be they are invested in your future, or is it likely they want their cut? Typically, it’s the commission. Greedy professionals always put their needs over that of their clients. Pressure plays, no matter how subtle, are signs that they want their money and fast.
The Runaround
A real estate sale never goes through without some hiccups. Any broker who manages to get the deal over the line smoothly is suspicious. What are also curious are the constant delays. Sure, it happens but you seem to be in a weird situation where nothing is going forward or backwards. The deal is stagnating, and the broker is the reason why. Mostly, this happens when the realtor wants something from the seller and they aren’t budging so you suffer.
When you spot these signs, it’s time to find a new representative. Marshall Mathers himself would be a better option than the above.
