Not Using a Reputable Agent

Absolutely—there are agents in every market that other agents simply don’t want to work with, and this can seriously hurt your sale behind the scenes. Maybe they’ve lied, flaked on deals, been rude, or burned too many bridges. They might seem nice in your living room, but if other agents are avoiding them, you’ll never even know why buyers aren’t showing up. Real estate has its own “whisper network” where some brokerages maintain unofficial blacklists of problematic agents, some buyer agents won’t show homes listed by certain agents, and some offices warn clients to stay away from offers involving specific agents. It’s not fair, but it’s reality, and if your listing agent has a bad reputation, you may never know why your home isn’t getting traction. A great agent isn’t just good with you—they’re good with everyone. They communicate clearly, follow through consistently, and are known, trusted, and respected by their peers, leading to repeat successful deals because others enjoy working with them. One way to check is asking about their track record—agents with consistent closings likely play well with others, and that professional respect matters tremendously for your success.