Are you frustrated with your real estate agent? You know, you don’t have to keep them around forever. If you are having a bad experience, it is totally acceptable to move on. Here are some reasons you might want to dump your agent.

They are never available

If you can never seem to find a time to meet with your agent, let alone go out looking for houses if you are buying, they are clearly not the right fit. Their priority is their own schedule, not their client’s.

They are rude

Sometimes you can’t avoid rude people. They are a part of life. However, when it is someone who is going to earn thousands of dollars from working with you, rude is not something you have to put up with.

They put their needs first

You are the client. They are working for you. If your agent forgets how the relationship works, they are not a good fit. Every agent should prioritize their clients’ needs first.

You don’t trust them

Trust is the core of your relationship with your real estate agent. If you can’t trust them, you should not work with them. After all, buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you will ever do in your life.

They do not respond to you

Some housing markets are very competitive, and a few hours could make the difference between landing a great deal and missing out entirely. Real estate agents keep busy schedules, but they should still always respond to client requests promptly.

They don’t work evenings or weekends

Many people have jobs that keep them in the office from 8:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays. That leaves evenings and weekends open to look at houses and meet with your agent. If they do not meet with clients on evenings and weekends, they might not be the right fit.

They don’t understand your needs

As the client, your needs come first. Whether you need a 3-bedroom house, a 2-car garage, a big fenced in backyard, or anything else, your agent needs to work to find homes that match what you are looking for. If they can’t do that, it is time to dump your agent.

They ignore your budget

When buying a home, your hard earned money is on the line. The agent only stands to make money, while you could be spending hundreds of thousands. Your budget and price range is arguably the most important factor in buying a home, and needs to be understood and respected.

They don’t know the local market

Understanding local market prices and fluctuations is one of the most important parts of a real estate agent’s job. If they cannot confidently explain to you what areas in the local market are hot, not, and everything in between, take your business to someone with better expertise.

They don’t know your target neighborhoods

You have your heart set on that one perfect neighborhood. You start to look there on Zillow, but want the help of a real expert. That person should be your real estate agent. If they clearly have expertise in another part of town, don’t just hope for the best. Dump your agent.

They pressure you or make your feel uncomfortable

At the end of the day, it is your money on the line when you buy or sell a home. Every decision is yours. While your agent can offer guidance and advice, they cannot decide for you. If an agent is pressuring you or making you fee uncomfortable, move on to someone else.

They do not have experience

Do you want an inexperienced surgeon working on you in the operating room? Of course not. The same should go with your real estate transactions. If your agent does not have experience, they may be able to help you with a partner. If not, you might consider finding a new agent.

They are not liked by other agents

Real estate agents have to work with each other on virtually every transaction. There is a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent. If your agent has built up a bad reputation and other agents do not want to work with them, there is a reason. That can cost you big.

They are constantly late

An agent should respect your time. If your real estate agent shows up late again and again, they clearly do not respect your time or they have problems keeping their schedule. Both are red flags.

They just don’t get you

Follow your gut. If your agent looks good on paper but is not comfortable to work with, that is okay. Some agents are just not for you. Asking good interview questions can help, but at the end of the day, you have to follow your instincts. If something feels off, it is time to dump your agent.

If you are buying or selling a house and are looking to hire a successful real estate agent to help you through the process, take a look at AgentHarvest's list of top-ranking local Realtors in your area. We found these agents by examining their sales track records, awards, rankings, client testimonials and by conducting personal interviews.