06/05/2026
I recently saw a piece of advice from an internet "expert," headlined: "5 Things You Should Never Tell Your Realtor."
The five things were:
1. "My absolute maximum budget is..."
2. "We have to be moved out by..."
3. "We have unlimited cash" or "We are broke"
4. "I will pay whatever it takes to get this house"
5. "I absolutely love this house, it's perfect."
Now, this would all be brilliant advice, IF the the headline was:
"HOW TO DOOM YOURSELF TO FAILURE WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOUSE."
If the goal of that post was actually to help you achieve your real estate goals, then it was the WORST advice I can imagine.
The underlying premise of that "expert" advice is that the relationship between client and agent is ADVERSARIAL; but the truth is that as a Real Estate Agent my job is not to sell you a house, my job is to represent you as a FIDUCIARY. Among other things, that means I am duty-bound to put my CLIENT'S BEST INTERESTS ahead of every other interest, including my own interest.
You may be thinking, "yeah, but most agents put their own interests first," and I understand why you might think so; after all, that accusation is especially true of real estate agents in fictional movies and TV shows! I would argue, however, that in the real-world, the majority of agents are scrupulously faithful to their fiduciary duty, and prove it over and over by their actions.
Still, what about the agents who don't put their client's best interests first? You could follow the advice of an internet "expert," and treat your agent like an enemy; but my recommendation is: DON'T HIRE THOSE AGENTS. Hire a person you know and trust, who is also a skilled real estate professional, so that you can confidently be transparent with them.
Here's the reality, unless your agent knows truly what you want and need, when you need it and why, and what you are and are not willing and able to do to get it, there is no possible way that agent can represent your best interests, no matter how sincerely he tries. Why? Because he doesn't know what your best interests are.
If you are someone who never trusts anyone, and you're thinking of buying or selling a home, lose my phone number, and that will be a win-win; on the other hand, if have real estate goals, and you want a trustworthy professional to represent your best interests, and help you achieve your goals, we should have a conversation 815.909.6687.
Call now to connect with business.