Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant purchases you’ll make in your life. It’s a process that can be both exciting and stressful, and it can create anticipation and, at times, even anxiety. To help you navigate this rollercoaster of emotions and the entire process itself, you need a great real estate agent on your side.

The right agent is key to your experience. They are there to guide you through the complexities of the market, negotiate on your behalf, and help you achieve the best possible outcome. But what happens when you choose the wrong agent? The cost can be significantly greater than you may expect. Matt Little, an agent with The Jim Allen Group, believes an experienced agent can make a huge financial difference for both buying and selling.

Here where the wrong agent can potentially cause issues with your transaction.

You need an agent who is driven, experienced, has a great team, and who is responsive and has a plan for your needs. If you’re selling, a poor agent may lack experience to price your property correctly, which means it may be listed too high or too low. If it’s overpriced, your home could stay on the market and grow stale, eventually selling for less than its true value. And if it’s underpriced, you may miss out on thousands of dollars that should have come back to you.

“If you pick the right Realtor, you get the right advice, and you have somebody that’s willing to actually hit the ground running, you can sell it if it’s got four walls. As long as you’re getting the right advice, you can sell your home,” Little said. “Who you work with matters.”

On the buying side, a poorly chosen agent may not have the negotiation skills it takes to get the best deal for you. Regardless of whether you’re buying or selling, a great real estate agent will listen to you. They will negotiate on your behalf. And they will do everything they can to prevent leaving any money on the table. The wrong agent can cost you in the long run. Get the best sale or price and the most favorable contract terms by finding the agent that’s right for you.

“Finding the right vehicle to get to your destination is vital. It doesn’t matter if it’s buying, selling, investing, you have to have a Realtor who sees the path to your destination as clearly or more clearly than you do,” he said. “There are obstacles in the way on the road to getting to your goal. Picking somebody who has the experience to get you there is important.”

“Time equates to money, And having a Realtor who’s responsive to your needs and also the change in the market is super important,” Little said. “At the end of the day, the longer your home sits on the market, the less desirable it is to the masses and the people looking at it.”

The wrong agent might not be proactive in marketing your property or searching for the right home for you. This can lead to unnecessary delays. They might also lack the network or local market knowledge needed to find buyers or sellers efficiently.

If a home sits on the market too long, buyers perceive it as problematic. This leads to reduced interest and fewer offers. It can especially cost a significant amount of money if your home is sitting empty and you’re having to make payments on two mortgages. 

“Our job is to really create as much buzz in the market and a sense of urgency,” he added. “And if you hire the wrong agent and you sit on the market for six months, they’re going to think, ‘Hey, what’s wrong with this house?’”

For buyers, delays can mean missing out on the perfect home or settling for less because the market has shifted. You need the right agent to ensure things move smoothly and with ease.

Selling or buying a home is an emotional journey. It’s where you’ve built memories or where you dream of starting new ones. Unfortunately, the wrong real estate agent can add unnecessary stress to an already emotional process. Poor communication, lack of responsiveness, or a perceived lack of care can lead to frustration, anxiety, and even regret.

The emotional toll can also stem from lost prospects that you may have missed along the way. If you work with an agent who isn’t truly invested in your goals or doesn’t understand your needs, you may feel unsupported or even sabotaged. This can take the joy out of what should be an exciting time in your life. Don’t let the wrong agent deplete your happiness or force you into the wrong decision.

“It’s very difficult to win in this market,” Little said. “You have to have an agent who’s willing to go to bat for you because it is so tough trying to win in such a saturated market with other buyers.”

One of the most significant — yet hardest-to-measure — costs of working with the wrong real estate agent is the opportunity cost. Every day your home doesn’t sell, or every day you don’t find the right home to buy, is a lost opportunity. The right agent would be actively working to capitalize on market trends, leveraging their network, and using their expertise to ensure that you don’t miss out on a compelling deal.

If you feel the process is unclear or that things aren’t moving in the right direction, it’s time to speak up. A great real estate agent won’t force you to follow their recommendations. They won’t make you feel that you’ve looked at too many houses or that you’re the reason your home isn’t selling. The wrong agent will be working with your best interest in mind, and that means giving you the opportunities you want.

Little said the right agent should be helping buyers and sellers find the opportunities that are right for them. “It’s all about working on pain points.,” he said. “Buyers and sellers — they’re all trying to avoid pain. And that’s what we do. We alleviate it. So find an agent who already has all the ducks in a row.”

To protect yourself from potential pitfalls, you need to choose your agent carefully and wisely. Put yourself in a good situation by taking the time to search for a great real estate agent. Start by researching their history and track record. Make sure to read reviews and ask for references. A great agent should have proven results.

Focus on their communication. They should be clear and timely. Next, they should listen to your needs and keep you informed. They should also have a solid plan in place to market your home if you’re selling, or suggestions for how to start looking to buy. And if something seems off, trust your gut. You may not see red flags immediately. Trust your instincts and walk away if something feels off.

Little offers advice to help you think about finding the right person. “I would focus on dating them first. Don’t get married. Make sure they have shared thought processes. Make sure you connect well with them, but really just double checking them,” he advised. 

The cost of working with the wrong real estate agent extends far beyond the financial implications. It can impact your time, emotional well-being, and even your future opportunities in the market. By taking the time to choose the right agent — someone who is experienced, knowledgeable, communicative, and trustworthy — you can avoid these pitfalls and ensure a smoother, more successful real estate transaction.

Remember, the right agent isn’t just a facilitator; they are your advocate in one of the most important decisions of your life. Choose wisely.