Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions. Email us here
Is it time to fire your Realtor?
Dear Phyllis,
In March, I signed a contract with a local real estate agent. Other than a few ads, he has done nothing special to sell my La Crescenta home. I really need to get my home sold and am very frustrated. How do I go about firing my Realtor because I don’t think he’s doing a good job? Ready to move on
Dear Ready,
I am curious why you believe your agent is “not doing a good job.” Has your Realtor hired a professional photographer? Has your agent advised you on repairs, staging, and pricing? Have you followed your agent’s recommendations regarding suggested repairs and pricing? Until you open escrow, your Realtor controls only the marketing. You control key factors such as price, condition, and ease of showing.
Although the market has become more challenging during COVID, many homes still sell quickly and close near the asking price. In some cases, well-priced homes receive multiple offers above the asking price. If your online presence is strong and your home is not getting showings, that typically indicates it is overpriced. Likewise, if you receive showings but no offers, that also signals pricing concerns.
Your agent should request feedback from showing agents and then review that feedback with you to determine whether any adjustments will improve results.
You and your real estate agent are a team and should be working in partnership. If you are unhappy with your current Realtor, most likely the office manager will allow you to select a different agent within the same company for the remaining term of your contract. Depending on how much prep work your Realtor has done, the issue may not be your choice of agent. Before firing your agent, I encourage you to take a look at what you could be doing that would help your agent do his job; perhaps a meeting with him and or his office manager might help.
Related Posts: Should my Realtor be more aggressive?
How to Determine if Your Realtor is Doing a Good Job
When is it Okay to Switch Realtors?
