Lack of construction and design knowledge and experience is one of them.
I had an argument with an agent at an open house who was boasting the condo has “solid hardwood” floors (if it hardwood, it’s most likely engineered), which was clearly laminate. I showed him the planks have the same knots and grain pattern which is not natural (not to mention it had a very tinny hollow sound and feel to it). This is clearly misrepresentation and who knows what other lies or ignorant remarks he was making.
Also some agents don’t know what is structural and claim that walls can be removed when they couldn’t, or that bathrooms can be moved, added or reconfigured.
I’m still surprised that some agents include balcony space as floor area (combined with interior), and calling dens bedrooms when in the builder‘s plans have it as dens (even when there is no closet, daylighting, or sized smaller than what is considered a legal bedroom by code). Again, this is misrepresentation, and I have seen a lot of this in the industry.
There was a sale in my condo (relatively new) that was cancelled because the agent overstated the floor area by 20%. I don’t know if there were any legal consequences with this misrepresentation. These days it is so easy to look up a building and their marketing plans with their floor area on Google.
Also in my condo I have seen listings from time to time where it said the amenities include a gym or even a pool when there isn’t. Have they even been in the building?!!! These agents should know the product they are selling or at least do some research or talk to their clients! It’s so funny that my concierge have these agents asking where the gym is and she would reply saying the Good Life is just down the street, lol!
Multiple representation is a bad thing and should be avoided, even when there are two agents from the same brokerage, as both parties can never be fairly represented and it’s too easy to do some funny business in the transaction.
I am also puzzled by listings represented by out of town agents. They can’t properly sell the property as they don‘t know the area very well or attend to anything in a timely manner. One time I was supposed to see a property but the lockbox was broken and the listing agent, who lives and work in Hamilton, couldn’t get there until the next day which didn’t help me which potentially killed a potential sale.
Agents doing their job on the side or part time is also a very bad trait. Ontario has over 60,000 agents and many of them are not doing it full time or have their license in their back pocket in the event that a friend or family member needs an agent. This is bad as they can’t properly attend to or represent their clients when they are working at another job, not to mention they lack the practical experience to know the ins and outs of the industry which leads to negligence or bad mistakes. They also lack the connections and network of professionals which makes for a good agent.
I think there is a province that prohibits agents from working part time or on the side which I think is good to protect the consumer.
