7 Things Home Buyers Do That Unintentionally Drive Their Agent Crazy

The process of buying a home can be stressful for hopeful homeowners on the hunt for some new digs. That’s because for most of us, buying a house is the biggest financial decision we’ll ever make. Not only that, but the average person only goes through this process three times throughout their lives.

Which means that even though we may be the experts in what we want, we’re hardly pros when it comes to the world of buying and selling properties. That’s where real estate agents come in. 

These relationships aren't without their challenges, though. That’s because there are some things that many buyers do that drive their real estate agent crazy, sometimes without even meaning to.

Looking to make some homeowner moves and purchase a new home? Take a look at this list of seven things that make real estate agents crazy… and when you’re well within your rights to be annoying to get what you want.

Everyone wants to pay the lowest price possible for their dream house, so it makes sense that many people will want to try to negotiate their way into a price that’s lower than what was listed.

But, those who constantly make lowball offers on every property, including ones that are far lower than a seller would reasonably accept, may just be creating headaches for their agent.

Want to know when you’re within your rights to make a lower offer versus when you’re coming up with figures that make your agent’s blood pressure spike? The accepted rule of thumb is that if a property has sat on the market for months or needs work, you’re generally okay going lower with your offer price.

However, if the property just hit the market in a new or hot neighborhood, don’t waste your (or your agent’s) time with a lowball offer.

An open house is not a party, and a private showing should be just that, private.

Your real estate agent is going to get rightfully annoyed if you show up with a full entourage to every single listing, particularly if the people who are tagging along are not involved in the actual process of buying your home.

For example, your best friend who wants a post-brunch tour of the new listings in the neighborhood should probably stay home while your dad, the contractor, absolutely deserves to get a pass.

Want to avoid being a pain? Think strategically about who you invite, and clear it with your real estate agent first.

Your real estate agent gets paid when you buy a house, and that means they put in a lot of unpaid labor before getting their payday.

While they know that’s the name of the game, and real estate agents are typically used to it, that doesn’t mean you should take advantage of their time by stringing them along as you go to listings just for fun with absolutely no plans to buy.

You can avoid driving your agent crazy by simply being upfront about your timeline from the beginning, sharing your budget and your goals. If they think that attending open houses on your own is a better option right now, let them tell you that. The ball should be in their court if you know you’re not ready to buy.

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, and you shouldn’t feel cornered into buying a house you don’t love, so it’s okay to wait to make an offer until you find a space that feels right to you.

Of course, if you spend months (or even years) waiting for the perfect house that checks every single box, you’re going to drive your real estate agent a little nuts.

To avoid being a problem client with standards that are just too high, consider some things that you may want to compromise on so that both you and your agent will be happy at the end of the day. Otherwise, you may run the risk of never finding a new home.

Speaking of compromise, it’s important to consider the market you’re shopping in when you’re house hunting.

And while you may expect to get what you’re asking for when you make an offer, there are times that you may have to be a bit flexible and negotiate, like when you’re trying to find a new home in a seller’s market. Refusing to do so won’t just make it harder to get to the closing table, it may also drive your agent a little insane.

To avoid being seen as a problem client who refuses to be flexible, consider taking your agent’s advice when it’s offered. If they tell you a seller is firm, it’s better to believe them. Conversely, if they tell you that the seller is open to a counteroffer, it may be okay to treat this as the start of a conversation instead of the be-all end-all.

While it may not be against the rules to interact with the seller’s agent in certain circumstances, you shouldn’t really do it without your own real estate agent present, or you could run the risk of undermining your own place in the negotiations.

If you go around your real estate agent, you could end up saying something to the seller’s agent that will hurt your standing as you make an offer. Not only will you annoy your own agent with that move, but you’ll potentially ruin the sale.

If you’re at an open house, you may want to keep your thoughts to yourself until you’re outside (and clear of their doorbell camera).

It doesn’t matter whether you’re bad mouthing the house while walking through, or gushing over the fact that you think you’ve found your dream home, sometimes the things you say can hurt your negotiations with the seller.

Afterall, who wants to negotiate with someone who hates their paint color choices? Or make concessions about small things when they know that you’re going to purchase the house no matter what the contract says?

This is one situation where your real estate agent can’t save you if you’ve already opened your mouth.

As you navigate the home-buying process, the best thing you can do is keep an open mind. That means widening your search for potential homes, as well as considering financing that could open up more opportunities.

For example, if you’re willing to buy a property that needs some updating, knowing that you’ll be able to tap into the home equity to turn the house into a home, you may be able to broaden your search area to include even more properties that are within your price range. Not only will that make you an easier client to work with, it may also make the process easier for you as a buyer.