Studies show that only 20% of people surveyed had high trust in real estate agents

Considering a real estate agent is the person you’re hiring to help you with what’s probably the largest purchase you’ll make or asset you’ll sell, you should be concerned about whether or not you trust your agent. However, you’re not alone if you don’t trust real estate agents. Studies show that only 20% of people surveyed had high trust in real estate agents.

Indeed, dishonest agents out there have contributed to the distrust, but professionals in every industry can’t be trusted. However, many more agents in the field are highly reliable. Unfortunately, whether it’s deserved or not, distrust can hinder you and your agent from having the best possible relationship. So, let’s look at a few things people believe agents lie about the most.

5 Reasons why people don’t trust real estate agents:

So, what exactly is it that makes people not trust agents? Is it just a general overall distrust? Or are there specific things that agents do to cause it? According to an article on The Balance, there are five things real estate agents commonly lie about, which likely contribute to this distrust:

1) Their level of experience. 

Obviously, most consumers want to hire a real estate agent with years of experience. While experience is certainly relevant for you to consider when hiring an agent, don’t confuse experience with trustworthiness.

2) The listings they have on the market.

The article also says that agents use the sales of other agents to make it look like they sold them. While some real estate agents send monthly mailers noting all of the sales in the neighborhood, the fine print reveals that these were not all of their listings.

3) Claiming they specialize.

Often agents will act as if they are probate and trust sale specialists when in fact they are not. It takes years of experience selling probate and trust properties to gain this expertise.

4) Saying their commission isn’t negotiable.

All real estate commissions are negotiable by law. But that doesn’t necessarily mean an agent is willing or able to accept a lower commission just because you want them to. You can always decline to work with an agent who won’t budge on their commission and work with one who does.

5) Promising they have buyers who are interested in your house.

Sellers often receive letters stating an agent has a buyer for their home. It’s certainly possible that an agent could promise you they have buyers who’d be interested in your house as a ploy to get you to list your home with them.

How to Find an Agent You Can Trust

If you want to improve the odds of finding an agent you can trust, one of the best ways is to work with an agent you have had previous experience with, assuming you were happy with the process. If you have not yet worked with a real estate agent you trust, ask family, neighbors, and friends for their recommendations. Keep in mind that you should always check their online reviews. And finally, if you know an agent you trust, tell your friends and family about them so they can enjoy the benefits of working with an agent they can trust.