Are you on the hunt to find the right real estate agent? If you are, you’ll understand the importance of using a quality agent to sell your home.

Unfortunately not all real estate agents are created equal, and for many people they’re the near the bottom of the list for least trusted professionals.

We know it’s not easy trying to find a real estate agent that ticks all the boxes: reliable, has good local knowledge, trustworthy, imparts a friendly empathetic manner, has strong negotiation skills and more!

But don’t be discouraged - enlisting the experience, skills and support of a good real estate agent to help in what could be a stressful sales process is still the right thing to do.

Follow these telltale signs so you can spot (and avoid) a substandard real estate agent right from the start:

1. They give you the runaround 

Good communication skills are essential for an agent/vendor relationship. If you’re getting frustrated with your calls going to voice message and messages not being returned then move on. If you sign up this agent to sell your home it’s pretty likely you won’t get the progress updates and feedback you need. Find someone who cares.

2. They lack appropriate training 

An agent’s lack of experience isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as they have the appropriate real estate courses and training under their belt. New agents can make up for a lack of experience by showing qualities such as: enthusiasm, dedication, trustworthiness and empathy.

Always ask to see a portfolio of recent sales and/or a list of vendors you can contact for feedback. Whether they’re new or established agents, if they’re good at what they do they’ll have results and the comments from happy vendors to prove it.

3. They aren't technology savvy

In today’s technological age you need a real estate agent with a strong internet presence and mobile responsive website. If an agent is weak in this area then it follows that you won’t get a  strong online marketing campaign - all important for getting your home in front of potential buyers!

Check the agent’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, do they regularly post listings and have a large amount of followers?

4. They're too pushy

Many real estate agents are more interested in making a quick sale than getting you the best price for your property. If you’re concerned about their negotiation tactics to get you to sign with them, then how will they negotiate on your behalf with a buyer?

A good agent won’t pressure you into signing up with them, they’ll tell you all the facts and let you make an informed decision.

4. They're unfriendly

Even if an agent ticks some of the above boxes, if they’re just plain unfriendly, a bully or make you uncomfortable, don’t sign with them.

Selling your home is a stressful experience at the best of times and the situation could likely turn into a pressure cooker if the agent doesn’t have the emotional capacity to smooth things over. A good agent knows how to negotiate a rocky road of selling and come out the other end with their vendors’ nerves intact.

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