Yes, Your Real Estate Agent Hates You – Here's Why

Buying and selling a home can be one of the most stressful experiences in life (it involves copious amounts of money, will likely throw off your daily routine for several months and did we mention the copious amounts of money?). Navigating the industry will rest largely on your relationship with your real estate agent. It’s a relationship that needs to be built on honesty, trust and likeability (you’re going to be spending a lot of time together after all). So what happens if it turns out your real estate agent hates you? Read on for 10 things you could be doing that really annoy real estate agents – and what it could mean for your investment.

Published October 3, 2019, Updated October 24, 2021

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1 / 10

You Treat Your Real Estate Agent Like a Couple’s Therapist

Shopping for a home can test even the strongest relationship; and while your agent is there to help you navigate your feelings about a potential house, they’re not there to act as a mediator while you and your partner come to blows over the importance of a powder room. Sure, disagreements will arise as you walk through and analyze a listing, but try to save your spats for the drive home.

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2 / 10

You Have Unrealistic Expectations About Response Times

News flash: your real estate agent is a human with personal obligations (like eating, sleeping and spending time with loved ones) outside of their professional obligation to you. When it comes to crunch time, believe us, they’ll drop everything to help you buy your dream home or make the sale, but you can’t expect them to respond immediately to the emails you send at 1AM asking about walkability scores. Be respectful when it comes to contacting your agent and realistic in your expectations of a response time.

Woman looking at open house with real estate agent

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3 / 10

You Flip Flop on Your Search Criteria

Your agent will work to find you a home within the criteria you provide, but if you keep flip flopping (on neighbourhood, price, bedrooms and other “must-haves”) you’ll make their job impossible (and likely be disappointed by what they’re showing you). Set your agent up for success by providing fully thought out search criteria or preface your search by explaining you’re open to exploring different neighbourhoods, a wide price range, etc.

Couple walking through open house with real estate agent

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4 / 10

You’re Disrespectful During Viewings

While it might be tempting to walk through a listing and poke fun at the design or point out flaws, don’t ever do this when the home’s listing agent is present. It’s flat out rude, agents find it embarrassing and it could negatively impact their reputation in the industry.

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5 / 10

You’re Late for Appointments With Your Real Estate Agent

Arriving on time should apply to every single human that you make plans with. If you’re consistently late, it demonstrates a lack of respect for the person you’re meeting. Scheduling viewings requires coordination and it takes time away from your agent’s day-to-day work and other clients. When you’re late, it wastes your agent’s time and cuts into the time you’ll have to view the home.

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6 / 10

You Ignore Your Agent’s Advice

Your agent’s real estate license and professional experience should count for something, right? So why are you arguing with them over listing prices, offers and negotiations? They know the industry better than you do and coming in at the right price has major implications on how an offer or bidding war will play out, so heed their advice and leave the negotiations to the professionals.

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7 / 10

You Insist on Hanging Around Your Own Open House

Keep this in mind once open houses are allowed to happen again: there’s nothing the can kill an open house vibe more than a seller lurking behind corners, talking up the house and potentially turning off buyers. There isn’t a single agent on the planet who will tell you it’s a good idea to pop up at your own open house and they’ll be fuming if they spot you.

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8 / 10

Failing to Complete Home Updates

Your agent will likely discuss updates you can do to your home before listing it that’ll help it show better and attract buyers. It’s entirely up to you to do the projects, but don’t agree to them and then fail to complete them. Your agent is creating a strategy to sell your home that relies on knowing the product. If your agent’s under the assumption you’ve cleaned up the garden, customized the walk-in closet and added a fresh coat of paint to tired walls, they’ll market it with those features – and they’ll be incredibly frustrated when they show up on open house day to scuffed walls and a garden full of weeds.

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9 / 10

Going Around Your Buying Agent

If you’ve signed a contract with your agent, you need to honour it. Going behind your agent’s back and booking tours with other listing agents is a betrayal and creates tension and a lack of trust.

Family with child, shaking hands with real estate agent

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10 / 10

You Don’t Show Gratitude

Yes, your agent is making a commission, but that shouldn’t override common decency. Agent’s work all hours, under incredible stress to find you your dream home or to ensure you get top dollar for your home. Be kind, show gratitude and give them a great review if it’s deserved.