I posted on here some time back about an issue we had with our listing agent & was concerned whether she was doing here job. We have had several other issues come up & now I am wondering If I am being harsh or if she really is dropping the ball- so here are the basics:

They told interested buyers, during the first 2 weeks of our listing, that there was a $50,000 per Unit assessment (which was based on a rumor heard from somebody heard from somebody etc act) & didn’t ask us or the HOA if it were true. When I found out I had the HOA verify it was NOT true. Our Agent said she sent a mass email to all brokers advising that the rumor wasn’t true but made no attempt to contact individuals whom they told this misinformation to

She has been at only 3 of the 8 open houses- leaving other agents to cover them while we are out of town so they can have free access to the home. We were never told she would not be at all the open houses.

Our agent & I had a lengthy conversation about how I felt our best interests were not being met by having four brokers SHARING the responsibility for showing the house. Each of those brokers has their own unit that they are contracted to sell. I believe that leaves them prejudiced in showing THEIR contracted unit rather than ours.

She agreed 100% and agreed to have a separate individual without an interest in any other unit listed in the building show our house at each open house..--

Two open houses ago my husband hung around to see how well she “sold” and was horrified that she seemed to show each room “this is the kitchen… this is the living room….in here is a bathroom…etc” Rather than SELLING it – i.e.: This is the enormous master bedroom with walk-in closet, great sunlight and private bath or The school systems are great- our town has more college bound students than Town X, Town Y & Town Z

At the LAST open house no one from the Agents office bothered to show up. 40 minutes after the open house was suppose to start I am told the broker showing the unit upstairs (our biggest competitor/comparable unit) was also showing our unit- there was a sign out front advertising the other which but NOTHING advertising ours . The pother broker didn’t even have a key -- how was she supposed to show it? OUR broker had NO clue what was going on. Having another agent show our unit while showing her own listing was clearly against the agreement we had made verbally days before.

The last open house was supposed to advertised it was not- the explanation was: our agent didn’t know changes needed to be added before 5:30 on a Friday: THAT IS HER JOB TO KNOW. ANOTHER wasted open house .

We were never told the advertising was rotated between 3 different papers- we were told they advertised in THREE different papers- slightly deceptive.


So I ask – am I wrong for being upset that we are not being given the service we should expect? Am I waaaaaaay off base asking to be released from the contract? She is aware of each & every one of these issues but has not done anything to better the situation.

I’m asking for you as professionals to look at the WHOLE picture & let me know what you think in general.

If you're still dissatisfied after talking to her, ask her to let you out of the listing. It doesn't mean she will, but it's worth a shot. I bet some agents here would love the chance to actually SELL your house and not just show it.

I personally think your Still... Way... Way Way off base.... I strongly get the feeling from your previous post that this is a problem you often have in other areas.


Let the listing expire and do a FSBO....

Since your the Only one that can do it right...Then... you can do all the "stuff" you think needs to be done to sell your property.

Realty check- your snarkyness is uneccessary.

I CERTAINLY do NOT think I can do better, but I certainly DO think SHE or another broker can.

I asked for responses as professionals- your response is far from professonal.

open houses aren't necessary for Realtors to hold. It is an option that they give to you. It is not required to be done. She does advertise in three different papers, i don't know what she told you that was deceptive, seems fine to me.

i also think you are expecting wayyyy too much from your Realtor, but depending what shse told you, it really depends. the only agreement that you signed with her was for her to list it. she is doing much more than the basics for you it sounds. she isn't required to hold the open houses, many other agents hold my open houses as well. it's quite common.

Kassie: Thank you for a profesional & informational answer.

I don't think he was being unprofessional, just kind of blunt. The two options are to 1)stick with her or 2)just ask for her to let you out of the agreement.

It almost doesn't matter what we say. Get a new agent.

If I were the listing agent and I heard a "rumor" like the one you mentioned, I would verify it before repeating it. It is very common for an agent to hold other agent's listings open. Most listing agents have more than 1 listing so if they couldn't get other agents to help, only one of their listings could be held open each weekend. Of course I think she should have mentioned that to you. When I schedule an open house with my sellers, I let them know if I will be the one holding it open or not. Since it sounds like you aren't happy, I agree with Dee. You should talk to your agent and see if you can terminate your listing agreement.

Most sellers do not realize that open houses are not held to actually sell that home. They are held so that the agent can acquire new buyers. The chances that a buyer is going to walk in your open house, love your home and write an offer are very slim. It is very possible, however, that the open house agent may connect with the propspects and be able to find them a home that does fit their needs. Seeing a small ad in the paper with a price and a few basic bits of info does not lead to the perfect buyer walking in. Many will find it does not meet their needs at all.

Therefore, leaving your home repeatedly for open houses only does one thing for sure - makes your home "stale". If you have few or no open houses, it forces SERIOUS buyers to contact their agent to get a personal showing.

You want prequalified, represented buyers viewing your home, not strangers, possibly even just neighbors, cruising through your home.

As for the rumor, that is strange and I would definitely have a problem with that.

Newspaper advertising - again, statisitics show that buyers do not find homes and decide to buy based on the newspaper. In my area, it is one of the lowest success rates. Do you know what newspaper advertising is for? Making sellers happy.

It is the listing agent's job to MARKET your home, not sell your home personally. There is a huge difference. If you do not believe she is doing the best job of marketing your home, maybe it is time to make another choice. But don't use open houses and newspaper advertising as your criteria.

That should have been verified. A simple call to the HOA president. If true then it needs to be disclosed. If not then be prepared to handle it if it comes up from prospective buyers. There is nothing wrong with your agent not doing an open home personally. I personally do not do all of my open homes. In fact I personally do very little. However I call my sellers and inform them of exactly witch agent is going to do it. I personally use many of the newer agents in the office. It gives the new agents something to do and helps to sell my listings. But you are right it’s a simple matter of communication. I am not really sure what you are talking about here. If it’s another agent with the same office it should not really be an issue. If it’s another broker totally then why is a different brokerage holding this listing open at all? If you are talking about just showings then yes that happens. That’s one of the major advantages of MLS we all share other listings and try to sell each others. But yes they will try to sell their listing first. But ultimate it’s the buyer that will choose. Sorry but their really is a difference in agents. What does one thing have to do with the other? I do not cancel an open house just because another broker want show it. I just say be my guest and I will be having the unit open from X-Z and I will place a copy of all the paperwork in my briefcase and have it with me just in case your buyers likes the unit. In addition please give your buyer your business card and present it to me and I would be happy to show this unit for you.
Your correct here. The newspapper has the same deadlines each and every week. Can't answer that only you can. Plus how are things done in your market. I can only tell you how I do things.

Just a quick thank you for everyones opinions & an update- our broker DID cancel our contract & was in agrreance that there were many things that she would have done differently.

She is a great person & we would likely be friends if I weren't moving but we decided someone with more experience would be a beter match.

We hired a fantastic broker this morning that we got a recommendation for and not only has 30 years experience but is also the highest performing realtor in her compnay 5 years in a row.

Again- thanks for the honest advice & opinions - as always they are appreciated & valued & why people like me come to this website AND hire professionals to sell out homes

Great! Could you maybe keep us updated on what this new agent does to help sell your listing? I'd like to see the differences.