Why You Should Fire Your Real Estate Agent

Buying a home should be exciting, not stressful because the person representing you isn't the right fit. Yet many home buyers stay in uncomfortable agent relationships simply because they signed an agreement and don’t want to “rock the boat.” The truth is, if you don’t like or trust your real estate agent, you should fire them sooner rather than later. Because waiting too long can cost you the perfect home, your peace of mind, or even thousands of dollars.

A Bad Fit Doesn’t Get Better Over Time

Working with a real estate agent is a partnership built on communication, trust, and mutual respect. If you feel ignored, pressured, or second-guessed now, that dynamic usually won’t improve later. The home-buying process often becomes more stressful as you move from browsing to negotiating, so personality conflicts or poor communication will only magnify.

Many buyers rationalize staying with a bad agent because “they’ve already done some work” or “it would be awkward to switch.” But this isn’t a marriage. It’s a business relationship. If you wouldn’t hire the same agent again knowing what you know now, that’s your sign to move on.

You Don’t Want to Be Stuck When the Right House Appears

One of the biggest dangers of staying with the wrong agent is timing. Imagine scrolling through new listings and spotting the house that you know is going to be your dream home. You can’t wait to see it, but your agent is unresponsive, unavailable, or worse, you simply don’t trust their advice. By the time they schedule a showing or prepare an offer, someone else may already have it under contract.

Because buying a home often involves split-second decisions, you need an agent you genuinely like and rely on. When you’re ready to act, your agent should be right there with you being proactive, communicative, and aligned with your goals. Being tied to an agent who isn’t the right fit can literally cost you your chance at owning the home you want.

Additionally, if you have a signed agreement with an agent and they are the one to show you the home, you might be legally required to have them represent you, or else risking paying a hefty fee. If you don't feel confident in them before you even go under contract, it will be that much more stressful trusting them with your entire home purchasing process.

The Ethical Limits: Why Other Agents Can’t Step In

Here’s something many buyers don’t realize: if you’ve signed a buyer-broker agreement with a real estate agent, other agents are ethically prohibited from helping you. The National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics makes this clear: agents cannot solicit or negotiate with a buyer who has an active agreement with another REALTOR®.

That means if you call another agent to ask for help while still under contract with your current one, the new agent legally can’t talk to you about specific properties or represent you unless you formally terminate your existing agreement first. Ethically, their hands are tied until your relationship with the previous agent is officially over.

In short, if you already know your current agent isn’t a fit, don’t wait until the last minute. Handle the termination professionally so you’re free to work with someone who will prioritize your needs before the right house hits the market. You want your agreement terminated and signed in writing to be able to move forward with a new agent representative.

How to End the Relationship Gracefully

Firing your agent doesn’t have to be dramatic or unpleasant. Follow these steps:

1. Review your buyer agreement. Look for clauses about cancellation. Some contracts require written notice or specify how long the agreement lasts. Others may require you to pay a fee to cancel, though not every agent enforces that. Even if you do have to pay a cancellation fee, it could save you thousands in the long run by not working with an agent who's the wrong fit.

2. Be direct and courteous. Send an email or have a short conversation explaining that you’ve decided to go in a different direction. You don’t owe them an overly detailed or long explanation, just honesty and professionalism.

3. Confirm in writing. Always document the termination so both parties are clear the agreement has ended. Ask for a signed termination agreement from your agent, and make sure you sign it as well and return it to them promptly.

4. Move forward quickly. Once released, start interviewing other agents right away so you don’t lose momentum.

   
   

Don't Settle. Find The Agent You Deserve

You deserve to feel confident and supported throughout your home search. The right agent should listen, advocate, and communicate clearly, not leave you second-guessing your choices or stressing about every step. If you already know your current agent isn’t the right fit, take action now. You’ll save yourself frustration and open the door to finding someone who can actually help you find and secure the home you love.