So, you’re thinking of hiring an agent? It’s a great idea-unless you choose a bad real estate agent. Ideally, working with an agent should be an efficient way to find a home and get quickly under contract.

Luckily, bad agent red flags are easy to spot. Be on the lookout for these seven characteristics of a bad agent, and save yourself some pain.

Signs of a Bad Real Estate Agent

Protect yourself, your time and your money. Don’t work with a bad real estate agent! Beware of these seven red flags. They’ll help you quickly identify agents to avoid.

1. Doesn’t ask about your goals or plans

Anyone can do paperwork and gather signature. A good agent ensures they’re a good fit for a potential buyer’s and knows how to help you accomplish your goals. This isn’t about poor communication—bad agents are just looking for anyone with a pulse.

If your agent isn’t asking questions about what you’re looking to accomplish, don’t bother looking any deeper.

2. Isn’t concerned with a lifelong relationship

A great real estate agent knows businesses are built on lifelong referrals. Working as a buyer’s agent leads to working as a seller’s agent. If the agent you’re speaking with doesn’t seem interested in forming any kind of lasting alliance, they’re probably seeing you as nothing more than a possible paycheck.

Your agent shouldn’t be proposing marriage, but if they aren’t trying to get a feel for your personality and character, don’t invest any more time.

3. Doesn’t do much business

Yes, this matters. The best agents get the most referrals and business.

Don’t feel sorry for an agent who isn’t producing and give them your business. It doesn’t help. It’s just stupid. Frankly, many licensed agents should not be working. Giving someone business out of pity prevents them from realizing, finally, that they’re in the wrong industry. Don’t let pity make your decision.

4. Doesn’t speak the language of real estate

If your agent doesn’t understand how loans, escrows, or offers work, they clearly don’t care much for their profession. Even the stupidest person can close a deal. Trust me. But can they close a deal and make sure it’s the best deal? Not so much. If your agent hasn’t been learning along the way, it means they are apathetic. Avoid them.

5. Offers the cheapest commission

Sorry, guys: This one is sad but true. If your agent’s biggest value is their cheap commission, that’s a problem.

Choosing a buyer’s agent because they refund their commission is like consciously choosing to shop at the flea market to save money. It’s fine to do—but know what you’re agreeing to. The things you buy might not work right. And with an agent, you’re probably not getting the best deal.

This goes for agents who want to sell your property, as well. If an agent can’t negotiate their own commission, why on earth would you trust them to negotiate your money—which they’ll care about even less?

6. Asks what you want to do—but never offers suggestions

You hire your agent because they’re more experienced than you are. If your agent is constantly asking for your advice, that’s not a good sign. Seeking your feedback for affirmation is fine, but if your agent is letting you make all the decisions, that’s a red flag.

Furthermore, you want an agent who does more than just goes through the motions. You want an agent who hustles. Do they hire a professional photographer, or shoot the listing themselves? Do they have connections with stagers?

If they have a listing and it isn’t selling, you should hear more than, “We should lower the price.” What kind of niche marketing ideas could you employ? What minor upgrades could you do to make the property more sellable? Do you need to hold another open house?

No suggestions? Run away—because they don’t know what they’re doing.

7. Bad mouths other agents

Pay attention to this flaming red flag. If the only thing of value that your agent can provide is gossip or negative information about their competition, it shows they’re insecure and unlikely to be very good. If the agent says too many negative things about other agents, avoid them.

8. Lies… or just manipulates the truth

This may go without saying, but you absolutely don’t want to deal with an unethical or dishonest real estate agent. If you catch them lying, walk away before signing a listing. (Or if you already have, get out, if possible—or never use them again.)

If the agent recommends lying about disclosures you should make, advertises false claims, or exhibits any other kind of dishonest or unethical behavior, this is not someone you want to be doing business with.

9. Acts unprofessional

An unprofessional agent can cost you deals by turning off potential sellers—or simply cost you time and energy. Unprofessional behavior could include rude emails, vulgar jokes or profanity, or showing up late.

Professional agents always give a prompt response to any emails, texts, or calls. If they don’t get back to you quickly and don’t get done what needs to be done, there’s no reason to work with them.

10. Won’t cooperate

It is important to take your agent’s counsel—but you’re a real estate professional, too. If an agent is stubborn or believes that they know best about everything, there’s no reason to bother. You will be constantly butting heads, and the trouble will be far more than it’s worth.

11. Can’t figure out what your property is worth

Determining what a property is worth is one of the most critical pieces of the real estate puzzle. The wrong real estate agent simply draws a two-mile radius around the subject property and takes the average dollar per square foot. This is a poor way to run comps and determine value—it can potentially under value the house, leaving money on the table, or overvalue it, leading to longer days on market.

A good agent should run a proper comparable market analysis, assessing precisely which homes best mimic the property you’re buying and selling. Only then can you get a reasonable list price.

A good real estate agent on your team is in your best interests. Don’t simply write off all agents because it’s “trendy.”

Have you had bad experiences working with a real estate agent? Were there warning signs?