Atlanta Real Estate remains one of the most Aggressive-Buyer's-Market in the United States. A continuation of ever decreasing sale prices and expectations that every home needs to look like an HGTV Dream Home make for an interesting day with clients!

I am one of those rare breeds of Real Estate Agents. I still believe that most home sellers would like to receive completely honest feedback on their home as opposed to a sugar-coated Realtor response. Today your home needs to win the area Price War and the Beauty Pageant in order to get a contract! That stated, a home seller should be overjoyed to receive feedback of any kind from a potential Buyer's Agent. Right?

I was recently asked for feedback on a home that has been on the market for over two years now. The Agent has convinced the Homeowner to reduce the price nearly 25 times during that two year period in increments of $2,000 on a home initially priced over $500,000.. I responded with comments such as: "too many personal items remaining throughout the home", "flocked red wallpaper in Dining Room should be removed", "too many plastic plants", "too many nick-knacks", AND "remove very dated, heavy, window treatments throughout the home".......

I received a response from that Agent that I can not print!

I was told that the family in that home couldn't afford to do any of those things I suggested and how dare I question their taste level. First of all, there wasn't a thing on that list of feedback items that required a huge expenditure. In fact, most of the suggestions would cost the Homeowner NOTHING!!!! Ok, maybe removing the flocked wallpaper and repainting the Dining Room would run about $650.. The Agent stated that I should be more careful in the future when providing feedback such as this. WHAT?

I should have suggested that the Agent get off her duff and do most of this herself if the family truly couldn't afford to have someone pick up and put away personal items, nick-knacks, and plastic plants. In the end, this Homeowner probably did not receive one bit of that feedback which could have saved them time and money. It might actually have helped to get the house sold as well.

If you are a homeowner and have your house listed with a Real Estate Agent; please ask them to NOT sugar-coat feedback that could help save you time, money and in the end; get your house SOLD!