House Hunting Hacks: How to catch a lying agent

Suppose you’ve looked for an residence in Lagos, Abuja, or Nigeria. In that case, you already know the ache: home brokers who promise you heaven, solely to ship a flooded toilet in hell.

This may be very irritating, particularly in case you’re a beginner within the househunting recreation. However there is a approach to undergo it unscathed, and it begins with figuring out find out how to spot a pretend home agent who will waste your time.

At present, let’s dive proper into seen pink flags to look out for in a home agent when discovering the proper individual to seek out you a home. Let’s go!

The inspection charge mongers 

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These ones don’t care about anything aside from the inspection charge. They do not need to disclose any particulars about the home till they’ve gotten a token from you. Effectively, that is a pink flag as a result of reliable brokers will present all the data you want about the home (location, value, and outline) earlier than asking you to pay. We’re not saying you should not pay the required inspection charge. Simply guarantee they’re legit and able to work for it earlier than sending.

The very keen ones 

Maintain on, if an agent is dashing you to pay as quickly as doable. Particularly in the event that they threaten you may lose the home in case you do not pay. Firstly, that is a lie. If the home was that a lot of a sizzling cake, they’d have rented it out before you arrived.

So do not allow them to rush you. Take your time to examine the home correctly. Ask questions the place doable, and solely make fee if you’re glad with the look and outline of the home.

Pretend photos

It isn’t unusual to see lovely photos of an obtainable property on-line, solely to reach and see a completely completely different factor. Brokers do that on a regular basis, and it is a rip-off. If pictures don’t match actuality, the agent’s in all probability mendacity… or utilizing photos from one other itemizing. Do not allow them to coerce you into taking the home like that. Stand your floor and demand to see a greater house, otherwise you again off.

Too many candy phrases

Brokers are businessmen, and making an attempt to persuade potential shoppers is a part of their responsibility. Nonetheless, be careful for after they start to overdo it. If it’s “fixed gentle, candy water, serene surroundings, very safe, and simply two minutes from the specific” – however they will’t present you the pay as you go meter, borehole, and even the gate – it’s seemingly a rip-off bundle wrapped in fancy grammar.

They refuse you entry to the owner

Some shady brokers block communication between you and the precise property proprietor. Why? As a result of they’re including hidden fees or don’t even have the correct to hire out the property within the first place. All the time ask to talk to or meet the owner earlier than making full fee. This fashion, you’ll be able to get rid of the opportunity of “intermediary magic.”

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