Think You Have a Good Real Estate Agent? Here’s How to Really Tell—Before It’s Too Late!

When it comes to real estate, how can you tell if you have a good agent? Most people only purchase and sell a few houses in their entire lives. It’s not a very big sample size for comparisons.

Take, for instance, dining out at a restaurant. Someone could eat out hundreds of times in their life. When they get good service, it’s really obvious. Buying or selling a home is an experience many of us have little to no comparison for. This makes it incredibly difficult to know if you’ve received good service from your real estate agent.

So, when you don’t know what you don’t know—how do you know?

As a Managing Broker, this is something I think about a lot. For every deal we do, I get to see both sides. I see the level of effort and expertise (most of the time I’m the “other” agent). I know how much effort and care I put into every transaction, but I also understand that it’s hard for clients to gauge just how much work goes on behind the scenes.

It’s not as simple as whether your coffee was refilled on time or if your steak was cooked just right.

Real estate transactions are complex, emotional, and often fraught with unexpected challenges.

The Behind-the-Scenes Reality of Real Estate

There have been many times where I wanted to call the buyers or sellers on the other side of the deal and tell them, “Your agent is clueless!” They write sloppy offers, they don’t understand contingencies, or sometimes, they are on vacation. I see why the reputation of real estate agents can be in the toilet as an industry. It’s embarrassing.

Hopefully, you as the client see a seamless process, but that’s often the result of countless hours spent navigating potential pitfalls, negotiating on your behalf, and making sure every detail is handled with precision. From researching the market to coordinating with inspectors, lenders, and other agents, there’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into making sure your experience is as smooth as possible.

But when you don’t have other real estate experiences to compare it to, how can you know if what you experienced was exceptional or just average?

The Red Flags of Poor Real Estate Representation

I think it becomes more clear when something goes wrong. We recently had a transaction where the buyers backed out at the last minute. Since their agent had not explained how the contingencies worked, these people had no protection, and their earnest money was at risk. They had put down $25,000, and my client was entitled to that money.

When I called the other agent to negotiate the earnest money release from the Escrow Officer, inexplicably, their agent said she didn’t represent them anymore. I explained that her name and license number are on the contract and she is a party to the transaction. She didn’t care and said she was done.

I asked for the name of her Designated Broker, and when I finally got ahold of him, he said the same thing. Even though they are legally a part of the deal, the agent and the office just bailed. It is not a small firm either. It’s a big-name brand you would recognize—it rhymes with FredRin. I was dumbfounded. They simply vanished with their clients having no one to advocate for them.

What Happens Next?

Believe it or not, part of the ethics oath for brokers is that you’ll be honest and work in good faith to both sides of the transaction. So I emailed FredRin’s clients and was able to negotiate a resolution for everyone. The entire process is highly unusual.

For the FredRin clients, that was not a great experience. They lost the house and lost a lot of money. They were abandoned by their agent and by the brokerage. What a mess.

On our side of the deal, we had to quickly get the house back on the market, explain to people why it was pending for almost a month, and get it sold. We did get it sold and our client is on to their next adventure.

Why Reputation Matters

For Don & me, our reputation in the Pacific NW is all we have. When we do a Sit Down to see if we’ll make a good team, we are in it with you. Even when things go sideways. We’re your partner in this journey.

So while you might not have dozens of real estate transactions under your belt, I want you to know that when you work with us, you’re not just getting an agent—you’re getting an advocate who’s dedicated to making your real estate experience not just good, but great. And that’s something you can trust, even without a yardstick to measure it against.

Key Takeaways:

• Real estate transactions are complex, and it’s hard for clients to know if they received good service.
• The signs of a good agent are often behind the scenes, including attention to detail and diligent advocacy.
• Reputation matters more than ever in real estate, and an agent should act as your partner throughout the process, not just during the smooth parts.

When buying or selling a home, it’s essential to have someone who truly knows the ins and outs of the process. You may not have multiple experiences to compare it to, but with the right agent, you’ll know you’re in good hands—even when things get tricky.

Ready to work with an agent who has your back? Contact us today for a free consultation!