Of course not! But if you want to have some fun with them, do this.
Look at a property a dozen times but never make an offer.
It’s perfectly reasonable to view a property two or three times if you are seriously interested. Requesting additional showings with your favorite aunt, contractor and drinking buddy in tow, not so much. (Reminds me of the time a client’s personal psychic needed to “see” a property “in person” to declare the home’s negative and positive energy. But that’s another story.) Do know you’ll have ample opportunities to see the property before you are fully committed. Perfectly fine to do all of the above, but make sure you’re prepared to make an offer.
Make demands on the Realtor’s time but are a long way from being serious.
You have to start somewhere and engaging your Realtor’s time—however much it takes-- in the journey of finding you a home is perfectly acceptable. But an agent can be only so effective for you if you’re not sure of your timeline. It’s best to be clear in communicating your goals and desired outcomes so everyone’s time is used smartly and effectively.
Work with your agent for months and then buy with someone else.
Urgh. It’s no secret agents work on commission. Generally, they don’t get paid unless they make a sale. And more often than not, a great deal of their time, energy, and money has been invested in finding you a home long before the close. If you have a buyer’s agent, use them! Now if your agent is not representing you to your satisfaction, it’s perfectly reasonable to find another agent. Treat your Realtor like the professional that he or she is and you should get the same respect in return.
Call listing agents on your own.
There’s a reason you hired an agent. This professional has the skills and expertise to get you what you want. So use them! Let your Realtor invest the time and energy in finding you your dream home. And if your agent is unavailable, he or she will have a trusted associate available to assist you. And while it may seem a convenience to work with more than one agent, it’s not fair to any of the parties involved. Be sure to disclose this arrangement up front and let the agents decide if they’re comfortable with these terms.
Ask your Realtor to show you properties outside your price point.
If you’ve been approved for the purchase of a $500,000 property and you’re requesting to see homes listed at $650,000, you’re most likely serving no practical purpose in your hunt for a home and risk being sorely disappointed. Once you have your pre-approval in hand, look at properties that make sense based on your budget using everyone’s time wisely and effectively.
Make an unjustified low ball offer.
When you are ready to make an offer, there will be considerable research done by your Realtor to determine what that offer should be. This process will involve looking at comparable sales and other criteria to realistically determine a sound offer. A low-ball offer is a waste of time and, more often than not, results in insulting the seller. If you really want the property, use your agent’s expertise in determining a number the seller can’t refuse.
Be unreasonable.
Real estate professionals love to help people find homes. And they love to get them a good deal. But as in anything, agents prefer to work with people that have reasonable expectations. This is a business and the best deals are made between reasonable parties.
So now that you know what drives your agent crazy, what is it that drives you crazy?
Do tell!