Nearly Half of Homeowners Won’t Fire Real Estate Agents Who Steal or Lie About License

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Rudeness, consistent tardiness, inappropriate comments — these are just a few of the bad behaviors homeowners will tolerate from their real estate agent for the sake of a sale. In fact, a new Clever Real Estate study found that almost half of sellers wouldn’t fire their agents for stealing from them or lying about having a license.

Has selling a home become so stressful that owners will put up with nearly anything to find a buyer? Apparently, yes. About 71% of homeowners surveyed said they wouldn’t fire an agent who hits on them. More than 60% would even keep working with an agent who wanted to cover up problems with the home — a move that could potentially land sellers in legal hot water.

“Anecdotally, we know that most home sellers select agents based on referrals, past relationships, and reviews,” said Dr. Lee Davenport, a Strategic Coaching Advisor at Real Estate Bees. “If the home seller has good reason to believe that this agent will get the job done well due to a proven track record, then that home seller may be willing to overlook annoyances along the way.”

However, even the best reputation shouldn’t outweigh the red flags. A home sale is the largest financial transaction most people will ever conduct, and sellers who lower their agent standards can put much at risk.

Many sellers often don’t know where to find a real estate agent or what behaviors are considered unprofessional or unethical. Replacing an agent can drag out the sales process, which many homeowners are reluctant to do. In January, homes spent an average of 73 days on the market.

“Nobody wants it to take a long time for their house to sell,” said Adam Hamilton, CEO of REI Hub. “Sellers don’t want their progress pushed back weeks or even months due to firing their agent and having to find a brand new one.”

Sellers may also feel legally obligated to continue working with an agent due to the listing agreement. By signing an exclusive contract, sellers often believe they’re locked in and have limited options for changing agents. While most contracts include a termination clause, sellers may not understand it or want to avoid paying cancellation fees.

In some cases, homeowners might view poor agent conduct simply as standard practice. First-time sellers, for instance, don’t necessarily know what issues an agent must disclose to potential buyers. They may also defer to the agent’s expertise over their doubts about specific behaviors.

Real estate agents are held to numerous legal and ethical standards. Each state has a real estate commission that licenses agents, monitors transactions, and investigates complaints. In addition to state laws, agents must comply with federal laws, such as the Fair Housing Act.

Agents may also join the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), which has a strict code of ethics establishing a public and private standard of behavior. Generally, agents must be honest, transparent, and professional.

Before signing a contract, sellers should check the agent’s licensing background and disciplinary records on their state’s real estate commission website. Review the listing contract carefully, as this outlines your rights should you want to change agents. Also, request reviews from previous clients.

“Agents who demonstrate success in past deals within the area should willingly offer references together with their history of positive transactions,” said Gordon Hirsch, founder of Hirsch Law Group. “Sellers should avoid working with agents who force quick commitments or fail to deliver appropriate explanations.”

Real estate agents are required to promote their clients’ interests above all else. Look for an agent who clearly outlines their duties, which include accurately pricing the property, listing, marketing, and showing the home, communicating regularly, and negotiating with buyers. They should also be transparent about their commission rate.

In addition, skilled and well-respected agents will have a network of inspectors, appraisers, and other professionals to complete the transaction smoothly. They should have good working relationships with other agents to get interested buyers in your door. 

“Above all, a good agent minimizes the stress of selling a home,” said Alexei Morgado, CEO and Founder of Lexawise.

Morgado suggests building a rapport with your agent to avoid unprofessional or uncomfortable behavior. Set expectations for your goals, timeline, and communication, and put everything in writing to prevent misunderstandings. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions, like whether you can negotiate the agent’s commission rate.

Take time to educate yourself on the selling process to help make decisions. For instance, more than a third of sellers would fire an agent for revealing too much information to buyers, but they may be unaware that agents are obligated to disclose certain facts, such as unsafe materials or conditions.

The NAR has many free resources for sellers, including questions to ask when choosing an agent. This will help you identify and stop unethical conduct before it gets out of hand. You have a right to report anything your agent says or does that makes you uncomfortable.

“When an agent conducts unprofessional behavior, you must immediately document the incidents and initiate direct confrontation about the situation,” Hirsch said.

Rather than waiting to see if things improve, be proactive by speaking to the agent directly and offering feedback on their conduct. Persistent unacceptable behavior may warrant notification of the agent’s firm or the state real estate commission.

Real estate agents are responsible for putting the sellers’ interests first, even if that means taking a home off the market and seeking an alternative like a cash buyer. Be honest about your situation, such as whether you need to sell quickly or can’t afford to make improvements. A professional should be able to meet your needs effectively and ethically.

Davenport encourages agents and sellers to set clear expectations from day one, especially regarding communication cadence, pricing strategy, marketing approach, and procedural guidance.

“In short, it’s important to create a shared understanding of what is and is not legal and ethical from the start,” she said. “Less of ‘Do you like this décor?’ and more of ‘Do you know these legal deal breakers?’”

Finding the right real estate agent may take time, but doing your homework can help you get the best expertise to guide your home-selling journey. Educate yourself on the selling process and read the listing contract thoroughly. Above all, know you can seek a new agent should red flags arise.