What to Do When Your Real Estate Agent Lies to You
This could have been the shortest story ever written. If you
truly have evidence that your real estate agent has deceived
you, you should immediately contact his broker, and if
necessary, your state's licensing agency. And if it is early
enough in the process, you should fire him immediately.
Now, sometimes it is not possible to fire your agent, but you
would be surprised how many people continue working with that
agent when it is. All you can do is scratch your head, and ask
"Why?"
Some people feel it's a hassle to look for another agent. They
figure they might as well continue with this guy. Their logic
being a known hell is preferable an unknown situation. And what
makes this logic worse is when it is coupled with the belief
that all real estate agents are the same. "They all lie, don't
they?" they would reply. Well, nothing could be further from the
truth. And it is that belief that gets them in trouble.
Now I am not excusing such behavior, but the public does deserve
some of the blame. When you accept these lies without any proof
being presented, you are not acting on logic, you are acting on
emotion. The lying agent knows this and uses this against you.
He knows you only believe what fits what you want to hear, not
on reality, as it should be. Let's face it, we often know when
we're being lied to. There is something in our gut that lets us
know that something just doesn't ring true.
But another important reason why the public must take a portion
of the blame is because when an agent does tell the truth,
backed up with facts, they get their heads taken off and
prospective client goes in search of the "truthful" answer--one
that fits into their "reality." This puts an agent in a very
difficult position: Tell the truth and lose out on a transaction
or lie and possibly gain a transaction. What would you do?
Well, I know what I would do and some might consider it stupid.
You see, for the honest agent, there really is nowhere else to
go. Honesty is a way of life. If it can be easily changed over
money issues, then it's not a way of life. It's just lip
service. I don't like being in that position, but I will make
the "stupid" decision. It's difficult, but right. I sleep well
at night and that's fine with me. But keep this in mind, the
less-than-honest agent also sleeps well at night. And that fine
with him, too.