Sellers – Is YOUR Listing Agent a Liability?

☂ Jeff, as I was reading along I thought 'this is terrific'!  And was going for that suggest button.  Drats.  I'm a day late! 

In any event this is such timely and good info.  I was just with a couple moving here the other day.  They have their home on the market and aren't happy at all with the listing agent.  And for many of the exact reason's you mentioned.  When I asked how they chose that agent, they said HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT RESPONDED!  How sad ...  I agree with Richie, those 'fraught makers' do make the good ones look even better and shine <brighter>!

Pamela

Jeff not being able to get a hold of your Realtor should be a major red flag for a Seller, and maybe time to make a call to their Broker.

Jeff,

Great post with many great point. Agents have to be accessible. That means making every effort to answer every call, or at least, return every call within a reasonable amount of time.

Here's one (and I am not going to say anymore--but you may be able to tell that I'm a bit unnerved): your agent is an old friend who has not worked actively in real estate or closed a deal since 2008 ;-) (Yes, it's true.)

I agree with you!  I send an mls copy to the seller before I go live with it.  I want to make sure I havent made a big error or a little error with regards to the listing.  I also love to type in the address of the listings and see where all the agent is marketing the property.  Also, if your agent wont return your call or email that is a big red flag!!!

Jeff - This is great advice for sellers to make sure their homes are actually being marketed.  How can homes get sold if they aren't well marketed, don't have pictures, etc.?

Jeff - I run into listing agents almost daily who are not serving their clients as well as they could! From listing spelling errors, to lack of photos (or clear ones) to not being reachable on their phones! Its a shame there are so many of them still out there !

 

Jeff there are a lot of people calling themselves agents that think it's enough to pay the MLS dues and throw it on the market. It only becomes for the second agent with the listing as the home has already become stale, and ultimately it's the seller that loses.

Jeff:  I just saw a home overpriced by at least $100,000, I consider that listing agent to be a liability to the seller for giving them false hopes that it will sell.

So what is the answer with these agents. Everyone seems to know one of them in their area. Since they give everyone a bad name, what can we do?

I agree, strict, timely and routine communication is key between seller and listing agent. I once had my house on the market, the listing agent held open houses on it, but never provided feedback, so I had to personally call the broker ans ask him why his agent did not provide feedback; needless to say it got fixed really fast!

Someone suggested pointing out to the seller how some agents are not pulling their weight. I think the owners get enough of all the horror stories thanks to the media, other bloggers. Take the high road and show them on line a typical listing like theres and walk them through what you do and why. Leave out the little Jack Horner you vs other wearing the "R" and just show them the extra work, sharper and more plentiful photos, real video, helpful copy and the way real estate marketing works today. How it did a few years back and why you get results. The SOLD's in the neighborhood cut to the case when they are your color, font size, brand.

Of all these clues the one that can be remedied so easily - the MLS listing errors.  How many agents do not share MLS listings and ask teh client for feedback?

Where do I begin? The list is a start for sellers to review. The sellers want it sold and to be informed during the process.

I pray my sellers google their property and I pray that all my clients google me.  

Nice post Dude.

The points included in your post should be part of the regular activities expected from a listing agent. Sadly though, it seems too often to come as "extras"!!! Photos can be terrible (and I am talking about homes listed at $1 million and above); communications between sellers and listing agents are seriously lacking with agents often not reporting in a timely manner to sellers regarding showings; it boggles my mind.

Jeff - Excellent Post!  A few weeks ago I went on a listing appointment and the agent prior to me brought NOTHING, he just walked in, looked at the home and gave them a price.

Dear Jeff - 

GREAT ADVICE !!  You said, "... MLS listing is fraught with errors,... and limited or lousy photos."

I couldn't believe the picture I saw today on a listing! The picture was of the traffic line down the middle of the street!  Just decided to use it in a blog instead of placing it here.

Have a happy day -
Lynn