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What to do-- agent's poor hygiene is turning me off?

I didn't meet my real estate agent in person initially, we only talked on the phone. I liked his responses and approach, so I chose to work with him to buy a home. It's been a few weeks of touring homes together, and his poor hygiene is really getting to me and grossing me out. It's to a point where I don't even want to view homes with him. At first I thought it was a blip, but it's pretty much constant. The worst part is his terrible breath, and he loves to talk about all the details of the house. Meanwhile, I'm trying not to puke. He has a lot of experience and I like his thoughtfulness and work ethic. But I just don't know if I can handle the smells and habits. What do I do???
Asked By Beth | Knoxville, TN | 138 views | Buying | Created 1 month ago
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Pro
172 Answers
Amanda Courtney

REP Realty Group

(10)

That’s a sensitive but valid issue. If it’s affecting your experience, you can politely address it or request a replacement through their brokerage. You deserve to feel comfortable and confident with your representative—it’s a professional relationship.
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Pro
128 Answers
Jason Craig

Coldwell Banker

Buying a home is a personal and sometimes lengthy process, so you need to feel comfortable with the professional you hire. If the only issue you have with this agent is his hygiene, consider having an honest but tactful conversation with him. Bad breath and body odor can sometimes be caused by medical issues or medications, and he may be completely unaware of how it’s affecting you. A quick phone call or email saying that you value his expertise but have noticed something that makes touring homes unpleasant could give him a chance to address it. If you don’t feel comfortable bringing it up directly, you can also speak to his broker or office manager about being reassigned to another agent within the company. Ultimately, you should never feel stuck working with someone who makes you uncomfortable; there are plenty of qualified agents out there, and it’s okay to make a change if this continues to be a distraction.

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Rising Star
10 Answers
Rebecca Diamond

Berkshire Hathaway Fox Roach

(31)

If I were in your agent's shoes, I would want to know why it's not working out. If his breath is the only obstacle, while it's a tough topic, if you handle it with compassion, a professional will make an effort to do better. If it's more than just his breath, as in, bodily odor, that's harder. Maybe something like "Hey, I hope you don’t mind me saying this — I’ve noticed a bit of an odor lately and thought you’d want to know. I figured I’d rather mention it quietly than have someone less kind bring it up.”
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Novice
8 Answers
Gale Culver

Real

(6)

Buying a home is a personal and sometimes very long process. You need to not only feel confident in the person you are working with but also comfortable.

If you are comfortable having a professional conversation either by phone or email about how this is affecting the experience for you then I would recommend starting there. If you do not, that's ok too. You could ask him to refer you to another agent in his office or simply tell him you don't think that you're a good fit for working together. Just make sure that you keep it polite and do not shame him for it.

The experience should be a fun and exciting one for you and this doesn't sound like it is, so you should make the necessary adjustment.
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Novice
2 Answers
Geena Becker

William Raveis

(10)

You shouldn’t feel trapped between keeping the peace and keeping your stomach intact. A great agent isn’t just knowledgeable — they should also make you feel comfortable during one of the biggest decisions of your life.

Handle it kindly, but protect your own sanity. You deserve to enjoy the process.
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Rising Star
17 Answers
Chris Cervantes

RE/MAX GOLD

(7)

Hi Beth,

Home buying is stressful enough without fighting the battle of “who forgot deodorant?” If your agent’s hygiene is making you gag, it’s okay to either gently ask him to freshen up or politely switch agents. Your comfort matters — no house is worth holding your breath for!

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