We recently did some research and discovered the top 10 reasons sellers become frustrated with their listing agent and thought we’d share them with you. We’ll group them into areas.
Performance
- Overpricing or Underpricing the home. Agents who overpromise a high selling price to secure a listing, then fail to deliver, or agents that underprice the home, causing the seller to lose money, create major frustrations. Both cost the seller money.
- Inadequate Marketing. Sellers expect more than simply placing it in MLS and letting it automatically go out to the portals. When marketing efforts are weak, sellers feel their agent isn’t doing enough.
- Lack of Experience. Inexperienced agents may make mistakes or lack the knowledge to handle complex situations, causing stress for sellers.
- Scheduling Issues. Issues with scheduling showings, open houses, or other important appointments can create significant inconveniences for sellers.
- Poor Negotiation Skills. Sellers rely on their agent to negotiate the best possible deal. If an agent fails to effectively advocate for their client’s interests, it can lead to disappointment.
Communication
6. Poor Communication. This is a frequent complaint. Sellers want to be kept informed throughout the process, and a lack of responsiveness or updates can lead to significant frustration.
7. Inadequate Feedback. Sellers want to know what potential buyers think of their home. A lack of feedback after showings can leave sellers feeling uninformed and anxious.
8. Not Addressing Concerns. Agents that do not listen to the sellers concerns and address them in a timely manner cause frustration.
9. Honesty. Sellers need honest feedback about their home’s condition and marketability. Agents who avoid difficult conversations so as to not upset the seller can hinder the selling process.
10. Disappearing Agent. Once the listing agreement is signed, some agents become less responsive, leaving sellers feeling abandoned. The list it and forget it agent is a big turn off for sellers.
Decades of Experience
In all our years of experience we can say little has changed over the years. The reasons sellers become frustrated with their listing agent hasn’t changed either. Our team has been through up, down, and sideways markets and sellers have the same frustrations today as they had back in the 1980’s. Sellers want an experienced agent with marketing muscle to make their home stand out, and an agent that listens and communicates. Is that too much to ask for?
We don’t think so. It takes a caring person with systems to pull this off. An agent has to be willing to spend their own money to market a client’s home because the broker advertising won’t make a home stand out.
Culture
The agent must have people to help, as it is too big for one person to do it all. The people on the team must share the leader’s vision of communication, marketing, feedback, and honesty. When you find a team like that with experience, hire them.
There are good agents out there struggling to provide everything a seller needs. Failure to provide any of these needs leads to frustration. The real estate industry is consolidating now, and it is pressuring agents to do more. It takes money to advertise, and time and money to train people.
Teams
Not all teams are created equal. Some teams are two or more agents that simply partner together and do the same thing. A true team divides up tasks and has experts specializing in what they do best. In this way, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and true synergy is achieved.
If you’re thinking of selling, always call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-310-6500 We’d love to sit down with you and see how our team can help you achieve your goals.
Good luck, and Happy Selling!
See last week’s article “March Housing Supply Increases in Lee County”
