Real estate agents, politicians, and used car salesmen – they’re often lumped together as some of the least trusted professions around. But is it fair to put all real estate agents in the same boat?

Let’s start by setting the record straight – not all real estate agents are out to pull a fast one on you. In fact, most of them are pretty decent people. Having spent over a decade in the real estate biz, majority of agents I have dealt with genuinely aim to help you, not mislead you.

But here’s the twist: real estate is a commission-based game, and sometimes agents will do whatever it takes to seal the deal. It’s not always about them being malicious; sometimes they simply lack the knowledge or are handed the wrong info by the seller. So at the end of the day, you need to protect yourself.

The Agent’s Loyalty – Remember this golden rule: the agent works for the seller, not you. Unless you have a buyer’s agent on your side, you’re the captain of your own ship. So, do your research and due diligence instead of blindly trusting everything the agent says. It’s called ‘buyer beware,’ after all.

The Knowledge Gap – There’s an information imbalance in this game. Agents are pros, dealing with properties day in and day out, while you have never done this before. Do note, sometimes, mistrust bubbles up when things don’t go as planned. But it might be because you didn’t ask the right questions from the get-go, and you didn’t actually clarify the process at the very beginning which is really important.

Regulations and Recourse – Sure, there are regulations in the real estate world, but they’re not always strictly enforced, and your recourse might be limited. If an agent does something wrong, you can’t just hit the rewind button and re-buy the property. So, educate yourself early on and ask those important questions.

Trust But Verify – Can you trust real estate agents? Well, here’s the deal: it’s not about assuming they’re always lying, but it’s also not about taking everything they say at face value. Trust them on matters of the selling process, timelines, vendor expectations, and what’s included in the property – but also make sure it’s in the contract!

For everything else, and I mean everything, do your own due diligence. Get that contract reviewed independently, research property values, check planning restrictions, and speak to your broker to confirm financial info.

In the world of real estate, trust is a two-way street. So, take everything with a grain of salt, stay informed, and remember, you’re the one making the big purchase and taking on the risk.