Real Estate Agents: Sales Pitch vs. Honest Advice

If you’re looking for a home to purchase and flip you’re going to have to deal with agents in one form or another. Being a real estate agent at it’s core is a sales service.  And like all sales people there is usually some degree of soft or hard sell involved. You may find yourself getting a sales pitch or what you think is a sales pitch but in the end it may actually be important advice that is useful for the buyer.

Take for example a new buyer who is new to the market and is interested in buying a home to flip. They may have only just started looking for a home and therefore don’t have much experience or any point of reference for comparing homes and prices. An agent takes you to see a property and upon arriving the agent tells you “this is a really hot property, you’re in the lucky position of being only the second person to see it, I can almost guarantee you that buy the end of this week it will be sold and there’s already a pretty serious offer on this place that the seller is considering.”

This may be a pitch to put pressure on you the seller to buy fast so they can make their commission and move on, or it may be the honest truth and that you really do have a rare and unique opportunity to make an offer on a hot property that is under-priced.  Without experience there is no way to know for sure. The only way to distinguish between a sales pitch and honest advice is to have knowledge of the market. This can only be done with research. Check listings to see what comparable property and real estate is selling for.

Getting a reference from a friend or family member can also help you feel more secure when dealing with the agent. If they come highly recommended by someone you trust then chances are they are going to advise you properly.