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We’re looking to buy a home in eastern Ontario and I’ve never done this before, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it without an agent.
First one I contacted immediately wanted me to sign an exclusive contract and when I pushed back a little, she basically implied I was an idiot and I decided I can’t with her personality and dropped her.
The second one seemed promising at first. Was very responsive, took us to see about 8 homes in a weekend and we found one we liked. I told her I wanted the home but felt like it was a little overpriced and asked her how much she thought it was worth. She would absolutely refuse to state a figure, kept talking her way out of it, sounding more and more annoyed, and now she just stopped responding altogether.
I’m wondering wtf is going on. Don’t they want the commission? Why is this such a frustrating process?
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Nick's Response
My suggestion here would be to be very clear and upfront with your prospective Realtor about what you a) want in a home and b) want in a Realtor. If you’re crystal clear on these from the beginning you’ll be more likely to have success in finding the right fit. Many of us have very different styles from each other and not every Realtor is a good fit for every client. If you’re crystal clear on these from the beginning you’ll be more likely to have success in finding the right fit.
Home Needs, Wants and Dealbreakers List
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Make these three lists. Your home should have everything on the needs list, nothing that’s on the dealbreakers list and as many things as possible on the wants list while keeping within budget.
Type of Realtor
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How direct do you want someone to be with you? It sounds like you want someone who’s confident but not overly blunt.
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How quickly should your Realtor be available to you to visit a home? Newer or less-busy Realtors may have more availability to show you a home on a moment’s notice, but might not be the most skilled Realtors available when it comes to negotiations.
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Should your Realtor be direct with you about what they feel the home is worth, or should you arrive at that amount together by looking at comparable homes together. It’s a fine line that we have to walk between education, keeping a client focused on their goals and being too pushy or “steering.” This is where you really need to find the right fit for what you want/need.
As for finding good Realtors, there are some good suggestions in the other comments. I’d start with referrals from friends and family who have recently been in your situation, and then vet those referrals with reviews and testimonials. There was a good thread on it a while back here. Keep in mind that you can “date” a couple of Realtors to see a few homes before you decide to go steady with one. We’re sometimes doing the same thing with prospective clients; we want to make sure that we’re a good fit before we commit to spending hours in homes and in the car with them.
Good luck on the search! My team doesn’t generally go all the way out to Cornwall, but if you’re skewing closer to Ottawa Karim and Chelsea on my team are excellent Buyers’ Specialists. If you’re skewing more to the East I can send you a few good names.
3 Reasons Buyers Drop Their Realtors
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They’re not available – The Ottawa market can move quickly, and your Realtor needs to do this too. Don’t waste your time with someone who’s not ready to work on your pace.
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Wishy-washiness – As a Realtor, it’s my job to give you the tools so that you can make the right moving decision for your needs. Most of the time, that means I keep my opinion out of things. However, I always have an opinion, and if you want it I will give it to you. If I don’t lead with it, the reason is purely to avoid colouring your decision. Avoid the Realtor who will never commit to an opinion.
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Going by their gut feeling (and nothing else) – Buying a home successfully is a little bit science and a little bit art. Negotiations in particular are a skill that’s honed over time. That said, beware the Realtor who instantly “knows” the right price for a home because they “know the neighbourhood.” Chances are, they’re resting on their laurels and not keeping up with the market. Insist on using a Realtor who helps you make data-driven, sound decisions. There’s a ton of information out there to help you buy a home. Work with someone who can harness and make sense of it.
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