Are your expectations too high for your listing agent? « How to Not Get Screwed in Real Estate

Are your expectations too high for your listing agent?

By Larry Schottenstein on August 11, 2009

When you are listing your home you start with high expectations for your listing agent. After all you are letting them manage an extremly important aspect of our personal life and financial life. Here is the mistake made by sellers and for that matter by listing agents. Unreasonable expectations are created by both the agent and the seller. You expect magic and they promise it.

Here is the dirtly little secret you need to know. When selling a home the listing agent has limited tactics they can use to actually get your home sold. They will tell you about their marketing and sales awards but much of their marketing is designed to seek new business for them and to make the seller feel like the agent is doing something productive.

If you are selling a home and meeting with an agent ask them to be upfront and tell you about the real impact of their marketing. Is it truly designed to sell the home or is that the primary benefit to get more business for the agent?

Larry Schottenstein

I am the broker and President of Revealty. I have over 25 years experience in real estate with a diverse background from developing residential properties, home building, property management, real estate agent, broker, public speaker, TV host and edu... Read more about this Author