Every real estate agent says they advocate for their clients. It's on websites, business cards, and listing presentations. But if everyone is an advocate, what does that word actually mean? And more importantly, how do you know when someone is doing it right?
After 14 years in real estate and thousands of transactions, I've seen advocacy from multiple vantage points. As an agent representing clients. As a Designated Broker responsible for protecting consumers and the brokerage. As an educator training agents on what professionalism actually requires.
Those perspectives have taught me that real advocacy is rare, and it looks nothing like a slogan.
Advocacy Is Not Agreement
There's a misunderstanding in real estate that advocating for your client means supporting whatever they want to do. It doesn't. Sometimes the most valuable thing an advisor can do is tell you something you don't want to hear.
Let me give you an example. A buyer falls in love with a home and wants to make an aggressive offer in a competitive market. They're emotionally invested and ready to stretch their budget. An agent who agrees with everything validates the emotion. An advocate who earns the title asks: "What's the risk if we're wrong? Have we considered what happens if the appraisal comes in low?"
Those questions aren't comfortable. But they're the kind of questions that protect you from the kind of regret that follows a decision made without enough thought.
The Designated Broker Perspective
When I became Designated Broker in November 2020, my responsibility shifted from individual clients to the broader protection of every consumer who does business with our brokerage. That's a different kind of advocacy.
As a DB, I review transactions, handle complaints, and set the standards for how agents conduct business. I've seen what happens when agents prioritize their commission over their client's interests. It never ends well, not for the consumer, not for the agent, and not for the brokerage.
That experience reinforced something I already believed: advocacy means putting your client's interests ahead of your own, even when it costs you. Especially when it costs you.
What Good Advocacy Looks Like in Practice
True consumer advocacy in real estate comes down to three commitments:
1. Preparation.
Before you make any decision, I make sure you understand the landscape. Market data, comparable sales, risk factors, potential issues. Informed decisions are better decisions. That's not negotiable.
2. Communication.
No surprises, no jargon, no avoidance. If something is going sideways, you know about it immediately. If I disagree with your strategy, I'll tell you, and I'll explain why. Transparency isn't a courtesy; it's a requirement.
3. Honest guidance.
There are a few things I'd want you to consider before making any real estate decision. That's not a phrase I use to sound careful. It's the actual starting point for how I help people. I want you to see what I see, understand what I understand, and then make your own informed choice.
The Bottom Line
Consumer advocacy in real estate isn't about being the loudest voice in the negotiation or the most aggressive marketer. It's about building a relationship where your advisor tells you the truth, prepares you for every scenario, and puts your interests first.
People deserve a real estate experience built on trust, preparation, and honest guidance. That's what real advocacy looks like.
Respectfully,
Andrew Glenn
Designated Broker, My Home Group