With more than 1.6 million real estate agents in the United States alone, people looking to buy or rent are bound to come across a few bad apples that provide poor service and sour the whole experience. Whether it’s a lack of expertise, inadequate communication, or pressuring sales tactics, admittedly, not everyone has what it takes to be a realtor.
To further prove this, Bored Panda has curated a list of some of the most bizarre behaviors people have encountered from these ‘professionals.’ Keep scrolling to find them, and don’t forget to share your own realtor horror stories below.
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with a realtor and the founder of Sunshine Real Estate, Tanya Lechner, who kindly agreed to explain a bit more about how real estate agents have developed such a negative image.
#1 Real Estate Agent Facepalm
Image credits: Bigringcycling
#2 Sorry You Died, Do You Still Want To Sell?
I get this text every 6 months. Got tired, said I was dead. Did not discourage the effort.
Image credits: Amazing-Accident3535
#3 This Photo Was On A Real Estate Listing
Image credits: poopsandlaughs
To learn more about why real estate agents have such a bleak reputation amongst home renters and buyers, we reached out to an experienced realtor and the founder of Sunshine Real Estate, Tanya Lechner.
With over 97 transactions in her pocket, she guides sellers in the burdensome process of house buying and selling and makes sure they get the most money for their investment.
#4 Terrible Real Estate Photographs
Image credits: Yesod
#5 I'd Like To See A Seller Try To Cut Her Commission In Half During The Closing
Image credits: DavidReedImages
#6 Vancouver Realtor Steals Owner's Fruit During A Showing
Image credits: drizzzybeats
Lechner tells us that the main reason why so many clients have a negative experience with realtors is the low barrier to entry, which allows almost any person to get a license.
“That means there are a ton of realtors with little experience, which leaves buyers and sellers with a bad experience when they work with the wrong real estate agent. There will always be money-hungry people, and that doesn’t help at all,” she explains.
#7 The Realtor Left My Front Door Like This After A Showing
Image credits: DilleyOnMyWilly
#8 Realtor Photoshopped Out The Power Lines
Image credits: azlfcfan
#9 Estate Agents Have Been Learning About Photoshop, It Seems
Image credits: sugarringdoughnut
According to Investopedia, becoming a real estate agent can take less than six months (with dedication and depending on where a person lives). The first step toward a license is to research the requirements needed to be eligible for this profession.
Next, the person must go through a pre-licensing course from an accredited real estate licensing school. In Florida, for example, it could take as little as 63 hours. After they complete it, they have to take a computerized, multi-choice licensing exam. If they fail, they have the opportunity to retake it.
#10 A Realtor In Philadelphia Has Listed My Phone Number On His Resume Or Website, And I Have Been Receiving Texts And Calls Intended For Him For Over A Decade
I’ve tried reaching out to him countless times to change it, and after years of no response, I have chosen spite.
Image credits: scrotumnose
#11 Real Estate Broker Posts Glowing Review Using His Own Name
Image credits: Foxens
#12 Use A Cup, Man
Image credits: washingtonpost
Once the exam is passed, it’s time to apply for the license. When it’s approved, the person can join a real estate brokerage where they’ll be supervised by a team leader. They may also consider becoming realtors by joining the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and subscribing to its strict Code of Ethics, which in turn provides them with extra benefits. Indeed, it sounds simple enough.
#13 Real Estate Agents Need To Work On Their Photography Skills
Image credits: Lstew85
#14 Is It Legal For Real Estate Agents To Put Up Photos Of A Property That Do Not Show The Actual Property?
Image credits: litchi_juice
#15 The Way Realtors Take Photos
Image credits: Infernos_Peak
Since the barrier of entry is so low, many people come across inexperienced and incompetent real estate agents. The most common complaint they have, according to Lechner, is not putting enough effort into their job. “When I meet with sellers who haven’t been able to sell their home, they tell me the realtor didn’t do anything to get it sold. Some buyers feel like they did all the work looking for the right home, and the realtor just opened doors and got paid for that,” she says.
#16 The Local Real Estate "Investor" Is Mad That I Told Him I Didn’t Have Time To Speak When He Showed Up Unannounced
Image credits: dreaminphp
#17 Real Estate Agent Accidentally Sent This Letter To A Tenant Instead Of Landlord
Image credits: catalingpc
#18 My Realtor Sent Out An Email Yesterday Claiming He’s Retiring, Then Says It Was An April Fools' Joke
I was actually excited to hear he was retiring, because he screwed me over. I hate him even more now.
Image credits: 53ND-NUD35
However, not all things people believe about realtors are true. “There is a perception that realtors get paid too much, but the truth is, we are working for free most of the time. If a seller's home doesn’t sell or a buyer changes their mind about buying a home, realtors don’t get paid. The only time we are paid is at the closing table after all the work has already been done,” Lechner explains.
#19 This Is From An Actual Real Estate Company
Image credits: _Kryptix
#20 Is It Normal For NYC Listings To Include A Realtor Photoshoot?
Image credits: tacoboutcats1
#21 Landlord Buys A Home Away From An 83-Year-Old Man While He’s In The Hospital Unknowingly Behind On Payments And Foreclosed. Realtor Spins It As A "Heartfelt" Story
Image credits: Free_Expression_2552
She believes that the real estate industry can improve its reputation by “educating their clients on what all goes into the home buying and selling process. When expectations are set up front, then there won’t be animosity towards realtors and how much they get paid.”
#22 A Brutally Honest Real Estate Agent
Image credits: beholdtheflesh
#23 When The Realtor Somehow Posts Teeny-Tiny Photos On The Listing Page
Image credits: cpcwrites
#24 Ah Yes, I See The RSVP Now
Image credits: -smartypints
She further explained, “I think the new rules going into effect on August 17th (no one will be able to tour homes without a representation agreement) will help eliminate the agents who cannot negotiate or explain to buyers why they are getting paid. That will help a lot of consumers if the industry gets thinned out. I would love to revolutionize the industry by teaching other agents how to effectively work with clients and educating them on what they are paying for.”
#25 I Received A Text Message From A Real Estate Agency A Few Months Ago
I was more offended that they never told me where my house was.
Image credits: Dan123124107
#26 When You Use ChatGPT To Describe Your Listings
Image credits: jlm8981victorian
#27 It's Always The Real Estate Agents
Image credits: aboynamedrat
#28 My Friend Went To An Estate Agent. At The Meeting, The Agent Got My Friend's Name Wrong. When He Got Up To Print Something, My Friend Noticed This On The Guy's Desk
Image credits: bentonboomslang
#29 How Drunk Was The Real Estate Agent When He Posted This On Zillow? Extra Zeros Much
Image credits: WonderfulPollution64
#30 The "Haha" Is Making Me Furious
Image credits: AvaSantina
#31 I’m Currently Apartment-Hunting, And This Real Estate Agent Doesn’t Understand That People Have Jobs, And That Text/Email Is A Good Option For Small Non-Urgent Questions
Image credits: Fargraven
#32 Real Estate Agents Are Mildly Infuriating
Image credits: Routine_Simple4795
#33 Bought A House Today, And This Happened
Image credits: melon_with_a_y
#34 Misleading Realtor Listing Got Our Hopes Up
Image credits: time2getout
#35 Real Estate Agent Lies About The Year The House Was Built In To Deceive Buyers
Image credits: swaldrin
#36 This Letter From A Prospective Realtor Does Not Instill Confidence
Image credits: Whitehummingbird21
#37 When You Put A No Junk Mail Sign But The Real Estate Agents Don't Recognize Their Junk As Junk
Image credits: rafaturtle
#38 This Real Estate Agent Edited Out The Power Lines In The Background
Image credits: Why_Shouldnt_I
#39 15 Calls From Unknown Numbers In An Hour After Contacting A Realtor Through A Website
Image credits: shotokhan1992-
#40 How In The World Are These Listing Photos Helpful?
I do not care about the staging furniture. I want to see closets and amenities. Real estate photos are not the place to be artsy.
Image credits: ehmsoleil
#41 Tell Her That's Discrimination And You Won't Stand For It
Image credits: DonnieDoesWorld
#42 Such A Weird Reaction To Me Declining To Do Business With This Real Estate Agent
Image credits: cherry_armoir
#43 Realtors Now Using ChatGPT For Property Descriptions
Image credits: raps12233333
#44 Real Estate False Advertising. I Got This In The Mail, I Searched It Up And The Sold Price Didn't Match The Brochure
Image credits: thorzayy
#45 Some Homeowner Is Leaving His Dog Chained Up Outside Until His House Sells. Real Estate Agent Has No Problem With This And Is Defending Him In The Comments
Image credits: Tylo_Ren_69
#46 Our Estate Agent Wants Me To Do Their Job. For Context, We're Moving Out After Buying Our First Home
Image credits: MikeHuntHole
#47 Real Estate Fixes Mold With Photoshop, Badly
Image credits: Michael_Snowy
#48 Realtor Can’t Take No For An Answer. Reaches Out Once A Month Religiously
Image credits: carlosnobigdeal
#49 What Were These Real Estate Agents Even Thinking? Woman's Husband Passes Away And They Send Her A Condolence Letter And Asks Her To Sell Her Home
Image credits: Krstnzz
#50 Just What I Need From My Real Estate Agent - Sexiness
Image credits: Aishas_Star
#51 Very Unprofessional
Image credits: ChaseMit
#52 Decided To Buy And Sell Homes With My Girlfriend's Realtor To Get A Better Rate. Received This From My Old Realtor This Morning
Image credits: thebriss22
#53 Sonya Has Great Taste
Image credits: tahrajirari
#54 The Lack Of Punctuation At The End
Image credits: Boopy_puttholes
#55 A Real Estate Agent From Haart Is Saying It Like It Is
Image credits: Amazing-Medium8960
#56 Misleading Photos On Realtor Websites
Image credits: mannyrav
#57 This Realtor Needs A V8
Image credits: Dependent_Top_4425
#58 When Your Whole Building Is Working Class Tenants And Some Real Estate Agent Thinks This Is A Good Idea
Image credits: Archz714
#59 My Realtor Used Her Pen As A Pointer While Explaining My Welcome Packet
Image credits: jbo_2886
#60 Everything About The Design Of This Sign
Image credits: CadPatMatt
