5 Reasons to Fire a Real Estate Agent

Sometimes relationships just don't work out, and it's no one's fault. Other times, you're trying to buy a home and the real estate agent you've hired is falling down on the job. Buying a home is hard enough as it is these days -- as of this writing, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan is 6.81%, per Freddie Mac. Couple that with lower housing inventory and you've got a recipe for a more-stressful-than-usual home-buying experience. Here are a few reasons you should absolutely fire your real estate agent if they're not up to the task of helping you find and purchase your dream home.

1. A lack of communication

It is absolutely crucial that a real estate agent communicates with you -- how else are you going to know about new homes on the market you might be interested in, or whether a seller has accepted your offer? When you're initially looking for an agent, be sure to ask about communication styles to stave off the possibility of a mismatch. If you're more of a texter and emailer and a prospective agent is old school and only does phone calls, that's a sign they're not the right fit for you.

Be sure to ask about check-in frequency too, as timing is even more important in this market with more wannabe buyers than homes to satisfy all of them. You don't want to miss out on a great listing because your agent was out of pocket.

2. No experience with your preferred property or mortgage type

If you're hoping to buy a condo but the agent you're working with only has experience with single-family homes, they are likely to be of little help. Some agents specialize in commercial properties, rather than residential, so that would be another mismatch. If your agent has limited (or no) experience with the type of mortgage loan you're hoping to use, that's another reason to let them down easy. For example, some agents are unfamiliar with VA home loans and how buying with one works. If you're hoping to use a less common mortgage type, it's crucial you find the right agent.

3. Personality conflict

No, your real estate agent doesn't have to be your new bestie. But you do at least need to have some personal compatibility, because you'll be working together closely for weeks -- or even potentially months in this market. Ideally, you'll pick up on a mismatch like this when you're first interviewing agents to find one to hire, but if it takes a while to determine you don't get along with your agent, it's okay to fire them for this. They might even be relieved to see you go.

4. Bad advice -- or no ability to give advice

If your agent is woefully inexperienced, they might not be able to give you solid advice at all. But bad advice is also a sign you need a new agent. Ideally, you've run your budgetary figures through a mortgage calculator and have an idea of how much house you can afford.

If your agent is trying to get you to make offers that are above your price range, that's a problem. If they can't support any of what they tell you with price data for the neighborhood, you should consider finding someone more experienced and who has your best interests (especially financial ones) at heart.

5. Unethical behavior

If your agent is acting unethically, you should absolutely fire them. Some examples of unethical real estate agent behavior include:

• Acting as a dual agent (working for both you as the buyer as well as the home seller) without telling you (and actually, dual agency isn't allowed at all in some states).
• Revealing confidential client information (or using it to gain an upper hand in making a deal).
• Misrepresenting or concealing important information related to a property or a real estate transaction.

If anything feels fishy or seems off, trust your gut and fire that agent.

Communicate clearly before firing

You have nothing to gain by being rude or unprofessional in your dealings with a real estate agent (and if they've acted that way toward you, be the bigger person). So it's worth talking to them calmly and explaining what the problem is before cutting them loose. Be specific -- if the problem was a lack of communication, tell them. Your honesty in a potentially awkward situation (be brave!) could mean that future home buyers don't have the same experience with this particular agent.

Your real estate agent is one of the most important people on your home-buying dream team. If they're falling short, don't be afraid to fire them and find a new agent who can truly be in your corner.