Ranking of Responses Deemed Unscrupulous by Real Estate Agents | Countermeasures to Avoid Being Deceived?

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto Ward, Tokyo; President: Kenji Kawata) conducted an "Awareness Survey on Responses Deemed Unscrupulous by Real Estate Agents" targeting 208 individuals who had used real estate agents, and compiled the data into a ranking.

Details are available on Fudosan Touhi no Mori. (https://2do-3.com/21200/)

Real estate transactions, whether for purchase or rental, involve significant sums of money. Furthermore, buying or renting a home greatly impacts daily comfort.

Therefore, it is natural to want to be brokered by a trustworthy agent. However, in reality, it is not uncommon to feel that "this might be an untrustworthy real estate agent."

Fudosan Touhi no Mori (https://2do-3.com/), operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (https://albalink.co.jp/), conducted a survey targeting 208 individuals who had used real estate agents regarding "responses deemed unscrupulous by real estate agents."

<<Conditions for Use of Survey Results>>

1. Please cite "Fudosan Touhi no Mori for vacant house investment" as the source of information.

2. When using on a website, please include the following links as the source of information.

URL:

https://2do-3.com/21200/

https://2do-3.com/

【Survey Overview】

Target Audience: Individuals who have used real estate agents

Survey Period: June 2nd - 5th, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Survey Method: Voluntary response via internet

Valid Responses: 208 people (129 female / 79 male)

Respondent Age Groups: 20s 16.8% / 30s 26.0% / 40s 28.9% / 50s 21.6% / 60s and over 6.7%

【Survey Results Summary】

- The top unscrupulous response from real estate agents was "Rushing the contract."

- When feeling an agent is unscrupulous, the most common action is "Switching to another company."

- The top countermeasure to avoid being deceived by unscrupulous real estate agents is "Comparing multiple agents."

The top unscrupulous response from real estate agents was "Rushing the contract."

When asked about "responses deemed unscrupulous by real estate agents," the overwhelming first place among 208 individuals who had used real estate agents was "Rushing the contract (37.5%)." This was followed by "Inaccurate advertising content (15.4%)" in second place and "Insufficient explanation (13.5%)" in third.

Responses such as "high-pressure attitude like rushing," "insufficient or inaccurate information provision," and "not considering the customer's wishes or interests" lead many people to suspect unscrupulous real estate agents.

Since real estate contracts involve large sums of money, it is natural to want to compare and consider carefully. Conversely, it can be interpreted that "an attitude of carefully sharing information and supporting cautious decision-making from the customer's perspective is highly valued over prioritizing contract completion."

<1st Place: Rushing the contract>

- "It's a popular property, so sign quickly" (30s Male)

- "Someone else has made an inquiry for a viewing." "This is a great property, you must decide quickly" (40s Female)

- "There's only one unit left," they said, rushing me to sign, but in reality, there were nearly 10 units available (50s Female)

Whether buying or renting, real estate transactions are important decisions, and many people want to consider them carefully. However, being rushed makes one feel that they are not given enough time to consider.

Specific phrases mentioned include "Others are considering it," "It's a popular property," and "There's only one unit left." In some cases, it was later discovered that the phrases used to rush were lies.

When the explanation differs from the facts, it naturally leads to distrust, feeling that one was told convenient stories just to secure the contract.

<2nd Place: Inaccurate advertising content>

- "There are discrepancies between the information listed on the website/advertisement and what was explained during the consultation" (20s Female)

- "They post attractive properties or conditions in advertisements, but when you consult them, they say, 'That advertised property has already been contracted,' or 'The conditions are slightly different, but how about this other property?' and in the end, the advertised property isn't available" (30s Female)

- "The advertisement says it's a 5-minute walk, but it's actually a 10-minute walk" (60s and over Male)

When the content of advertisements differs from the actual situation or explanation, it is easy to feel that there was no intention to convey accurate information from the beginning. Even if it was a misprint, it still leads to distrust due to a lack of thorough verification before publication.

Some cases reported in the survey were malicious, such as "the listed property was already contracted, making it a decoy property." When you contact an agent about a property you liked after seeing an advertisement, only to find it's not available, it leads to feelings of wasted time and effort.

<3rd Place: Insufficient explanation>

- "When they seemed to brush off my words and questions, and had a dismissive attitude. When I pointed something out, they just replied, 'That's normal,' making me think they were careless" (40s Female)

- "The explanation of important matters was sloppy" (50s Male)

- "They moved on to financial matters without providing a detailed explanation" (60s and over Female)

For real estate sales and rental contracts, people want to have their doubts cleared up and proceed only when they are satisfied. This is because large sums of money are involved, and once you buy or rent a home, it's not easy to change your living situation.

If your questions and concerns are not properly addressed, distrust towards the agent increases. Ambiguous or insufficient explanations are likely to be perceived as a lack of sincerity, leading to distrust.

<4th Place: Not providing negative information>

- "They only emphasized the merits and hid the disadvantages and risks of the property" (20s Female)

- "They didn't tell me it was a property with issues until just before the contract" (30s Female)

- "An agent who only emphasizes the good points" (60s and over Male)

Many people feel distrust towards agents who only talk about the good aspects of a property, suspecting that they might be intentionally hiding inconvenient information.

In reality, some people were "not informed about the fact that it was a property with issues until just before signing" or "were not told about the risks." An attitude that prioritizes contract completion by hiding negative information leads to distrust.

<5th Place: Introducing properties that do not meet the conditions>

- "They push the property so hard, you can tell they want you to sign for it. I asked a friend who works in real estate, and it turns out the company makes money if I sign for that specific property" (20s Female)

- "They ignore my desired budget and conditions and aggressively push only certain properties that seem to have a good profit margin for them" (30s Male)

- "I wanted a room with good sunlight, but they told me, 'You're living alone and hardly home, so it doesn't matter,' and introduced a room I didn't prefer. Later, I heard from someone else that they were also recommended the same room first, which made me not trust them" (40s Female)

Being shown properties that don't meet your conditions can lead to the disadvantage of being forced to sign for a property that isn't suitable or missing out on properties that are closer to your preferences.

When properties that don't match your desired conditions are introduced, it leads to distrust, with the feeling that "they are prioritizing the agent's profit over my requests."

It was also found that an attitude of prioritizing the agent's convenience leads to distrust.

When feeling an agent is unscrupulous, the most common action is "Switching to another company."

Regarding "what to do when you feel an agent is unscrupulous," the most common response was "Switching to another company (39.4%)." "Checking reviews" (21.6%) also received over 20% of responses.

- "I'll postpone the contract and consult with other companies. I'll check reviews and reputations and verify if the explanations are sound" (20s Female)

- "Change the agent. Or go to a different real estate agency" (40s Female)

- "If I feel they are unscrupulous or untrustworthy, I will stop contact early before signing and ask another company to help me find a property" (40s Female)

- "Of course, I won't consider any further dealings, so I'll politely decline" (50s Male)

- "First, I won't give an immediate answer. I'll say, 'Let me think about it for a while' and take it home. After returning home, I'll search the company name online to check reviews and reputations. If the reputation is too bad, I'll decline and go to another agent" (50s Male)

- "I'll talk to a few other real estate agents to confirm if the information is correct" (60s and over Male)

Real estate transactions involve large sums of money, and once a contract is signed, it cannot be easily undone. If one feels distrust towards an agent, they cannot sign with peace of mind, so many people end up stopping transactions with agents they suspect are unscrupulous.

Preliminary steps include "putting it on hold," "comparing with other companies," and "checking reviews to see if they are trustworthy."

The top countermeasure to avoid being deceived by unscrupulous real estate agents is "Comparing multiple agents."

For "countermeasures to avoid being deceived by unscrupulous real estate agents," "Comparing multiple agents (49.5%)" received nearly half of the votes. This was followed by "Acquiring knowledge about real estate (24.0%)" in second place and "Researching the company (12.0%)" in third.

Responses such as "comparing multiple agents," "acquiring knowledge about real estate," and "researching the company" indicate that many people value gathering information and comparing options from various perspectives. They are trying to increase the materials they can use for their own judgment, as a lack of knowledge or information can lead to disadvantages.

Additionally, tips for when actually speaking with agents include "maintaining a firm attitude" and "avoiding immediate decisions." It is also important not to be swayed by sales pitches or pressure to "sign now."

<1st Place: Comparing multiple agents>

- "Instead of blindly trusting one agent, always consult multiple companies to get comparative quotes and a second opinion" (30s Male)

- "It's essential to get quotes and view properties from multiple companies. It's important to do this regardless of whether they are large or locally based companies" (30s Female)

- "Don't decide based on just one piece of information. Comparing explanations from multiple agents will reveal suspicious points" (50s Female)

When searching for properties or listening to explanations from only one agent, it can be difficult to determine if there are truly no properties that meet your desired conditions or if the information provided by the real estate agent, such as market prices, is accurate. Therefore, many people prioritize speaking with multiple real estate agents and comparing their responses.

By hearing from multiple real estate agents, it becomes easier to grasp market trends and the reasonableness of contract terms. You can also compare the agent's response capabilities and sincerity.

<2nd Place: Acquiring knowledge about real estate>

- "I research the local sales market and basic legal knowledge online beforehand, and develop the ability to discern logical inconsistencies in the agent's explanations" (30s Female)

- "It's necessary to study on your own to avoid unfavorable contracts" (50s Female)

- "First, I think it's important to research basic real estate knowledge in advance. Knowing at least basic terms and mechanisms like 'explanation of important matters' and 'duty to disclose' makes it easier to notice strange explanations" (50s Male)

Real estate transactions involve specialized terminology and unique rules, and without any knowledge, it becomes difficult to judge whether the real estate agent's explanations are correct or reasonable.

While some agents provide kind, thorough, and sincere service to beginners, unscrupulous agents may see beginners as easy targets. Therefore, it is considered important to learn basic real estate transaction knowledge and local market prices in advance.

Having knowledge is expected to make it easier to notice inconsistencies in explanations or unnatural conditions.

<3rd Place: Researching the company>

- "Thoroughly research real reviews" (30s Female)

- "Search for reviews online and check for any past troubles. Or, if it's a local area, ask locals for their opinions" (40s Female)

- "Conduct preliminary research through the official website and reviews" (50s Male)

Specifically, this includes "reviews" and "information on past troubles." By researching the real estate agent you are considering doing business with in advance, you can avoid agents with many negative reviews. This allows you to proceed with the transaction with peace of mind.

A major benefit of gathering information beforehand is that it reduces risks before you even contact the agent.

<4th Place: Speaking with a firm attitude>

- "To avoid being looked down upon, I firmly state what I won't compromise on" (20s Female)

- "Don't act timidly" (30s Female)

- "I think it's necessary to speak with an attitude that doesn't allow them to underestimate you" (30s Male)

It is evident that many people believe that acting timidly might lead to being treated carelessly or being pressured into accepting properties that don't meet their conditions.

Conversely, an attitude of "not compromising on the highest priority conditions" is expected to help prevent aggressive sales tactics. This is because it gives the agent the impression of a customer who "won't be easily swayed" and "has clear intentions."

Additionally, the survey included a personal account stating, "I was treated carelessly as a woman alone, so I bring a male acquaintance with me." If you lack confidence alone, seeking help from family or friends is also an option.

<5th Place: Not making immediate decisions>

- "Don't be swayed, take your time to decide" (30s Female)

- "Even if rushed, don't decide immediately" (40s Male)

- "Don't sign right away, pause and calmly scrutinize" (50s Male)

As seen in the "Ranking of Responses Deemed Unscrupulous by Real Estate Agents," during property searches, you may be rushed to sign with phrases like "If you don't decide now, it will be gone" or "It's a popular property, so you should hurry."

However, if you make decisions swayed by the atmosphere or pressure, you may overlook disadvantages and risks. Therefore, many people choose to take the information home and consider it.

By considering the situation away from the agent's pressure, you can calmly assess "the pros and cons of the property" and "the agent's response."

Conclusion

It was found that many people feel distrust towards real estate agents who hinder calm judgment or fail to provide sufficient and accurate information. Specifically, this includes "pressuring customers to rush contracts" and "discrepancies between advertisements and explanations, or failure to answer questions properly."

Real estate contracts require transparent information provision and an environment that allows for calm decision-making. When encountering what seems like an unscrupulous agent, many people choose to put the transaction on hold and switch to another company.

Furthermore, many people employ strategies to avoid being deceived, such as "consulting multiple agents from the start" and "checking reviews." It is understood that to avoid regret from encountering unscrupulous agents in real estate transactions, careful decision-making while utilizing multiple information sources is key.

*All aggregated survey data can be viewed here: URL: https://2do-3.com/21200/

【About Fudosan Touhi no Mori】

A media outlet operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. It provides content to resolve the anxieties of investors who want to challenge investments in vacant houses and non-rebuildable properties.

Site URL: https://2do-3.com/

【About AlbaLink Co., Ltd.】

AlbaLink is a real estate company that engages in the purchase and resale of "problem properties" with the concept of "connecting the future through business." They primarily handle properties with complex ownership structures, such as accident-affected properties, fractional ownership, vacant houses, and leasehold land, offering assistance to all those troubled by real estate issues.

【Company Profile】

Company Name: AlbaLink Co., Ltd.

Representative: Kenji Kawata, President

Location: 3rd Floor, BESIDE KIBA, 2-17-16 Kiba, Koto Ward, Tokyo, 135-0042

Established: January, Heisei 23 (2011)

Capital: 48,490,000 yen

URL: https://albalink.co.jp/company/