When selling your home, you put your trust in your own real estate agent to price it right, market it well, and guide you through negotiations. But what many sellers don’t realize is that the buyer’s agent, someone you didn’t hire, can also impact your success. And unfortunately, if that agent is inexperienced, unresponsive, or unprofessional, it could hurt your sale more than you think.
Let’s break down how a bad buyer’s agent can complicate your sale, and how to protect your deal from falling apart.
Poor Communication Can Derail the Timeline
A great transaction depends on clear, timely communication between both agents. If the buyer’s agent takes days to respond to questions, delays submitting offers or paperwork, or generally seems hard to reach, it slows everything down. That can make buyers miss deadlines, inspections, or even lose financing opportunities. In a hot market, speed matters, so poor responsiveness could cause your deal to fall apart.
Incomplete or Sloppy Paperwork
Submitting an offer missing key information like pre-approval letters, escrow deposit details, or required disclosures? That’s a big red flag. A disorganized or inexperienced buyer’s agent can delay escrow and create mistrust. It also forces your agent to do double the work trying to chase missing pieces and keep things on track.
Bad Advice to the Buyer
If the buyer’s agent is giving unrealistic advice like offering way under asking in a seller’s market or pushing for unreasonable contingencies, it can lead to unnecessary conflict or rejected offers. Some agents push hard for repairs or credits, even when your home is priced accordingly. This puts strain on negotiations and could turn a solid deal into a disaster.
Constant Last-Minute Changes
Need to reschedule the inspection for the third time? Appraisal delayed again? Buyer not showing up to walk-through? These last-minute issues often stem from a disorganized buyer’s agent. These repeated delays can frustrate everyone and increase the chances that your deal will fall through.
How Sellers Can Protect Themselves
You cannot control who the buyer hires but here is what you can do:
- Hire a strong listing agent who is experienced in managing both sides of the deal when needed.
- Require pre-approval letters with any offer, not just pre-qualification.
- Set clear timelines in your purchase contract for inspections, financing, and contingencies.
- Don’t be afraid to reject poorly written offers. You have every right to expect professionalism and clarity.
- Lean on your agent to keep the deal moving and document all communication.
A weak buyer’s agent doesn’t have to ruin your deal, as long as your listing agent is ready to guide the process with skill and confidence.
Thinking about listing your home? Let’s talk about how to avoid these hidden pitfalls and protect your sale from day one.