“I Didn’t Want to Bother My Agent…” — Why That Comment Stopped Me in My Tracks

I hosted an open house this past weekend at one of my new listings, and it was busy. Really busy.

As a listing agent, that’s exactly what you hope for. Lots of interest, lots of conversations and lots of potential buyers coming through the door.

But there was one comment I heard more than once that genuinely surprised me.

“We have an agent. We just didn’t want to bother them.”

After hearing some version of it several times throughout the open house, it really got me thinking.

Bother them?

If you have a real estate agent representing you as a buyer, looking at homes is quite literally part of what they are there to help you do.

Maybe Buyers Don't Always See the Value They're Paying For

I think part of the disconnect comes from the way real estate compensation has traditionally been perceived.

Many buyers believe their real estate agent is essentially “free” because they don't necessarily receive a separate bill for their agent's services. Depending on the transaction and the representation agreement, compensation may be structured in different ways, but there is still real professional service—and real value—being provided.

Because buyers don't always see that cost in the same way they see a lawyer's bill, inspection invoice or mortgage fee, I wonder if it's easier to think of their REALTOR® as someone they should only call when they really need them.

I would argue the opposite.

If you've chosen someone to professionally represent you, use them.

Ask questions. Send them listings. Ask them to book the showing. Ask them what they think of the price. Ask them to look at the sales history. Ask them if there is anything about the property that deserves a closer look. And, if you are really serious about this particular listing, ask them to do a Comparative Market Analysis to see if the list price is aligned with market value.

That's not bothering your agent.

That's the service.

Should Your Agent Come to Every Open House?

Not necessarily.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending a Sunday afternoon touring open houses on your own. In fact, it can be a great way to get a feel for different neighbourhoods, styles of homes and price points.

Your agent may even encourage you to do exactly that.

But there is a difference between saying:

“My agent knows I'm looking today and suggested I pop through the open house and call her if I'm interested.”

and:

“I didn't want to bother my agent.”

That second statement concerns me a little.

Because you should never feel as though asking your buyer's agent to help you look at a house is an inconvenience.

For a serious buyer, there may even be occasions when your agent previews a property for you, particularly when timing or distance makes that helpful. And when a property becomes a serious contender, having your own representative take a closer look can provide another set of experienced eyes.

Remember Who the Listing Agent Represents

There's another reason this matters.

When you walk into an open house, the agent hosting it may be the listing agent—or may be representing the listing brokerage.

Their job is to represent the seller's interests.

They can certainly answer questions about the property and provide information. But if you already have your own buyer's agent, that is the professional whose job is to look at the transaction through your eyes and advocate for your interests.

A good buyer's agent isn't simply there to unlock a door and write an offer after you've found the house yourself.

Buyer representation can include researching properties, reviewing comparable sales, understanding market value, investigating relevant property information, identifying potential concerns, communicating with the listing side, helping develop an offer strategy, negotiating and guiding you through conditions and closing.

There's a lot happening behind the scenes.

So Please, “Bother” Us

If you're working with a buyer's agent and a house comes on the market that you're excited about, call them.

If you drive past an open house and want to go inside, go ahead—but don't feel as though you're saving your agent the trouble.

And if you're consistently hesitant to call your agent because you feel you're taking up too much of their time, that may be a conversation worth having.

Buying a home is a significant financial decision. You chose professional representation for a reason.

Your real estate agent shouldn't be someone you're afraid to bother.

You should feel comfortable saying:

“This one looks interesting. Can we take a look?”

Trust me.

A good buyer's agent wants that call.