The most common real estate complaints that can be filed against real estate agents can vary depending on the individual situation and circumstances, but here are some of the most frequent complaints:
Lack of focus on customer satisfaction:
By not offering a personalized service adapted to the needs and preferences of each client. Not empathizing with the client’s needs and not focusing on their goals.
Capacity building and education:
Inexperienced and untrained real estate agents. Lack of knowledge of the complexity of the procedures, lack of legal advice and financial advice.
Lack of transparency:
Another common complaint is the lack of transparency in the information provided by real estate agencies to both the seller and the buyer. Not adequately informed about the conditions of contracts, fees, arrangements, and/or details of the properties. In other cases, not having the documentation for the sale of the property and not providing information on the possible charges or legal status of the property.
Poor Property Management:
The property is not properly managed, the documentation and legal part are not reviewed, the appearance of the properties is not taken care of, inaccurate publications, lack of address in the advertisements, duplicate ads on the same portal, inaccurate or erroneous m2, poor quality photographs, calls are not returned, customers are not qualified, Proper information is not given, customer questions and queries are not responded to quickly… etc.
Misleading Advertising:
It happens when the same property is published by several real estate agencies, it is normal for a description of the property to be provided with vague and ambiguous information, which favors deception.
Conflicts of interest:
When it comes to putting a property up for sale, many people think that by giving their home to different real estate agencies they expand the opportunities to achieve an advantage both in value and in the time of sale.
The hypothesis is usually that, the greater the visibility, the faster the commercialization, but reality shows that there is another premise.
For this, reality proves to be the opposite of the common hypothesis: a shared exclusive sales commitment expands the possibilities of completing an operation. Because a personal and direct link has greater value than a range of several intermediaries linked to the same operation. A shared exclusive sale is a unique advisory service that generates a direct link with the seller, their agent, and the buyer, thus achieving a relationship of trust.
An agent who represents a single client, and who defends the interests of the owner. In this way, the image of the property and the negotiation are taken care of, placing a single intermediary between the selling real estate, potential buyers, or other agencies and professionals in the sector that have a buyer client, favoring the prestige of the property, exposure in the market and negotiation. By resorting to several real estate agencies, you run the risk of losing the full attention of buyers, creating mistrust and a sense of urgency.
Commitment & Effectiveness 0: If you give your house to several real estate agencies, none of them will fully commit to carrying out necessary sales actions and investing in advertising and marketing to sell your house at the best price and at the right time, since another may end up selling it.
First of all, by doing this, you will give the feeling that you are desperate and need to sell no matter what, and although this need may be so, what is not good is to be open to downward negotiations that harm your situation.
On the other hand, clients will see the same property on different real estate portals, making it easier for the buyer to negotiate since, if they can contact different real estate agencies at the same time, they can negotiate the price several times until they get the best offer for them and the lowest for you.
Logically, the first thing the buyer will do is call all the agencies and negotiate on their behalf.
In conclusion, one more property in a list of many, where we work for quantity and not for quality.
Communication:
They don’t communicate with their customers, effectively, and regularly.
Use innovative technology:
They do not use innovative technology to improve the quality of their services. Online visualization tools to show properties to customers remotely, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
There is no culture of transparency and ethics:
Not everything that is called real estate is and everyday agencies are flourishing that come out of nowhere, with minimal knowledge of the sector and the procedures to be carried out or unethical practices. What for some is ethical in this sector; for others it is not. When choosing who you work with, inform yourself beforehand, choose an experienced real estate agency, that is governed by a culture of transparency and ethics in all its operations, principles, values, and commitments.
High Commissions/Fees:
A common complaint against real estate agencies is the cost of their services as they do not justify the work done. At this point, the fundamental difference between commission and fees is the fundamental difference between commission and fees.
The commission is charged for services that do not offer any added value and consists of a percentage that an agent receives on the product of a sale or business. Meanwhile, the fees are merited for the work done, generally, by liberal professionals such as lawyers, architects, real estate agents, etc. for their experience, knowledge, and skills in a specific area.
The justification of the fees from one real estate agency to another is based on the professional services offered and provided, the time and resources invested, the experience and skills of the real estate agents, knowledge of the market, analysis, and evaluation of the property, quality of the multimedia material, marketing, advertising, and promotion plan, legal and tax advice, Management of visits, collaborations with other real estate agencies or professionals in the sector, negotiation, and closing of the operation, their ability to manage different aspects of the process, and the speed and value of the sale of the property, management of procedures such as capital gains and supplies, guarantees offered and added value to the client, is what justifies the payment of their fees. Real estate agents offer services, they do not sell real estate, since they do not own it.
They receive fees for their services, only when the objective of the owner client is achieved, which is the sale or rental.
This “successful” service charge is scarcely valued by consumers.
Obviously, in the market, there are real estate agencies that charge from 2% to 7%, but the service provided is not the same. It’s just like if you buy a car. It is not the same to buy a Seat as it is to buy a Porsche the quality of driving a Porsche is not comparable to a Seat.
Lack of professionalism and knowledge regarding the drafting of documents:
A poorly drafted earnest money contract creates ambiguity, confusion, and misunderstandings that can derail the transaction and end the sale. Documents that are drafted in the way of walking around the house without the supervision of a lawyer or legal advisor later lead to surprises.
