Look, I’m Gonna Be Honest Here
I’ve been in this real estate game for, what, 22 years now? And let me tell you, I’ve seen it all. The highs, the lows, the deals that should’ve been home runs but ended up as foul balls. But nothing, nothing, has been more eye-opening than the moment I decided to stop trusting real estate agents cold turkey.
It was 2017, I think. No, wait, it was 2018. Yeah, 2018. I was in Istanbul, at this little café near Taksim Square, meeting with a guy named—let’s call him Marcus. Marcus was a real estate agent, had been for 15 years, thought he knew his stuff. But here’s the thing: he didn’t.
I was looking for a villa, something nice for a client. Marcus kept pushing these properties that were, frankly, garbage. Overpriced, run-down, in neighborhoods that were gonna be gentrified in, like, 2030. I asked him, “Marcus, what’s the deal here?” And he said, “Trust me, Sarah. These are solid investments.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But I didn’t.
Doing It Myself
So, I did what any sensible person would do. I fired Marcus. And I started looking for properties myself. Now, I’m not saying I’m some kind of real estate genius. But I know what I like, and I know what’s a good deal. And, honestly, it’s not that hard to find properties online these days. You just gotta know where to look.
I spent about three months, 36 hours a week, scouring the internet. And let me tell you, it was exhausting. But it was also liberating. I found this gorgeous villa in Bodrum. It was listed on this online marketplace comparison review site, which honestly nobody asked for but here we are, it had everything my client wanted. And the best part? It was $87,000 under budget.
But Here’s the Catch
Now, I’m not saying you should never trust a real estate agent. There are good ones out there. But you gotta be smart about it. You gotta do your homework. You gotta know what you’re looking for. And you gotta be willing to walk away if something doesn’t feel right.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. We were at this conference in Austin, Texas, and he was telling me about this time he bought a property without an agent. He said, “Sarah, it was the best decision I ever made.” And I believed him. Because I’d been there. I’d done that. And it was awesome.
But then there was this other time, about three months ago, when I was looking at a property in Antalya. It was late, like 11:30pm, and I was on my laptop, scrolling through listings. And I found this place. It was perfect. But then I started thinking, “What am I doing? I should be sleeping.” And I closed my laptop. The next morning, the property was gone. Poof. Vanished. And I was like, “Nooo!” But that’s the game, right? You win some, you lose some.
And Now, a Tangent
Speaking of games, have you ever noticed how real estate is a lot like poker? You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, know when to run. And you gotta be able to read the other players. Because, let’s face it, real estate is a people business. It’s about relationships. It’s about trust. Or, in my case, the lack thereof.
But back to the point. The point is, you gotta be smart. You gotta be savvy. You gotta be willing to take risks. And you gotta be willing to trust your gut. Because, at the end of the day, it’s your money. It’s your future. And it’s your committment to finding the right property.
So, do I trust real estate agents now? Sometimes. But I always, always, do my own research first. Because, frankly, I’m not gonna rely on someone else to make the biggest financial decision of my life. That’s just crazy talk.
Anyway, that’s my story. That’s why I stopped trusting real estate agents cold turkey. And, honestly, I’m never going back.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson is a senior real estate editor with over two decades of experience. She’s written for major publications, bought and sold properties on three continents, and has a cat named Mr. Whiskers who judges her life choices daily.
