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A realtor is supposed to make the home-buying process easier and less stressful, but that isn’t always what happens in the real world.

What would you do if you were relocating for your job, so your employer agreed to pay for an approved realtor, but the one you got was a nightmare to work with?

That is what happened to the guy in this story, so after fighting with the realtor for months, he eventually filed a complaint with the employer and got a new one assigned.

I think he did the right thing by pushing for a new realtor. Buying a home is a major decision in life, so you want to make sure you have the right person to help you through the process. Read through the full story and see if you agree.

Made the call to my employer to fire relocation realtor

My move and home-buying process is part of a corporate relocation as part of my new job.

Wow, that is a generous perk.

I must have a realtor that is “approved” in order for my employer to pay for my relocation benefits related to homebuying in the new city: 100% coverage for closing costs, inspection, and realtor commission fees.

The realtor/broker has a buyer-agency agreement with my employer for relocating employees. This agreement applies buyer-agency to the individual realtor OR the broker firm’s designee if, for whatever reason, the realtor becomes out of the office/unavailable in the home buying process for extended periods of time (vacation, illness, medical leave, etc)

Some realtors really don’t put the client first.

This realtor seemed to only care about getting a commission quickly. Things I noticed:

• Immediately tried to steer me to new construction. The new construction homes were crappy enough build quality that I was able to find deal-breaking issues immediately walking in. We no longer considered new construction.
• Did nothing to actually identify homes that matched my criteria. The limit the person did was set up an automated email to send whatever house appeared on the market recently that was in the areas I was looking in for me to filter out.

This person is basically working as their own realtor.

• I found myself spending multiple hours after work and on lunch breaks doing her job to find houses, then I’d provide a list to be set up for tours.
• Pushed towards making an offer on a flip house. House failed inspection, backed out.

Why is it so hard to find a truly good realtor?

The realtor had a leave of absence. Brokerage firm selected someone to fill in their stead. This person:

• Rude and unprofessional behavior.
• Uses high pressure tactics (i.e., threats related to legal speak, etc)
• Condescending and “talking down” attitude

Finally, a decent house. Or so it seems.

Found a new house to place offer on at $465k (~1% over asking). Great location, great schools, 9’+ basements. Multiple offer situation. Offer was accepted.

• I read the HOA CCRs after receiving them from the seller post offer acceptance.
• I had significant concerns about the HOA CCRs as they seemed quite restrictive. Purchase agreement contract had verbiage that buyer has 3 days to review and accept/not accept the HOA terms.

Let’s see what the issues with the HOA were.

Here are just some of the red flags that I noticed with the HOA:

• There was a whole 5+ pages dedicated just to bushes
• No privacy fence permitted as lot backs up to a creek
• No playhouse for children permitted
• Children’s toys or playthings not permitted in the yard (back yard)

Wow, the list is very restrictive and ongoing.

• No bird houses or bird feeders
• No sheds
• No external AC’s or garage mini-splits (dealbreaker for garage gym /workshop plans)
• Neighbor that I ran into while touring the home mentioned he previously received HOA fines for using a wood/charcoal smoker. I am very big into BBQing. Another dealbreaker

Who can blame them for backing out?

I made decision to terminate purchase agreement, but the realtor wasn’t happy:

• Both realtor and realtor-designee pressured moving forward on the house when I expressed reservations about the HOA terms.
• Attempted to use threats that I may get sued for adhering to the purchase agreement and backing out.
• Seller signed mutual release.

It is time to find a new realtor.

Realtor/designee provided refusal, in writing via email to:

• Refusal to schedule additional house tours for properties that I identified interest in.
• Refusal to ask listing agents normal questions such as “was there recent remodel work?” “has anything been done to the house that required submitting permits?” “what is the age of the mechanicals and roof?” etc.

Good, I hope her job stops using that realtor’s office.

After the realtor and designee’s refusal to follow instruction to schedule home tours and ask the seller’s agents normal questions.

I called my employer’s relocation team to request to be placed with a realtor from a different brokerage firm due to breach of contract on the realtor’s / broker designee part. I also filed a complaint about their conduct.

I should be paired with a new realtor Monday or Tuesday

That sounds like a nightmare situation to me. Buying a new home is always a bit stressful, but your own realtor shouldn’t be making it worse than it needs to be.

Read on to see what the people in the comments have to say about this awful situation.

Yup, they did the right thing by standing up for themselves.

This is how I would understand it.

Apparently relocation agents don’t get paid as well.

Here is another commenter who points out that relocation agents make less money.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about an employee who ends up quitting over a dispute over bereavement leave.

This seems like a better way to handle it.

You should never work with a realtor who isn’t on your side. Sadly, some real estate agents are only thinking of their own commission, and not what is in the best interests of the client.

Never pay for a realtor who you aren’t happy with. It is much better to fire them and find someone new.