In every relationship in life, it really works better if you like the other person. The home seller-real estate agent relationship is no different from any other partnership. Of course, it helps if you think your real estate agent is the perfect match for you.
Yet according to a recent survey, home sellers are not feeling the love towards their agents. Home buyers seem more satisfied with their fate but home sellers are a dissatisfied lot at the moment. According to J.D. Power & Associates, a marketing-data company, the home sellers' satisfaction score is down 40 points from last year. In the meantime, buyers' satisfaction with their agents has risen 12 points.
The discontent seems to have grown because home sellers are blaming the messenger. With the end of the Federal Home Buyers' Tax Credit and the general economic climate, sellers might have to consider reducing their prices. Some home sellers are not taking kindly to that message. Real estate agents are bearing the brunt of the blame.
Industry observers say that most agents are doing an expert job for sellers. The real estate agents are negotiating and marketing to the best of their ability. Their popularity keeps slipping, however, and their image is being influenced by the state of the economy.
The reality is that home sellers have to be prepared to put forth extra effort in a buyer's market. Some sellers are not willing to do that and, after all, it is much easier to blame your real estate agent. When home buyers can have their pick, sellers want to make certain that they pick their home.
Maybe it will require a reduced price to make that sale. Maybe it will take more renovations and better landscaping. When buyers have a choice, they are going to choose the best model. Home sellers might want to pay attention and listen carefully to their real estate agent.
It may not be smart to stick to the price that houses on the street were selling for in past months. What are homes selling for today on your street? Sometimes people even make the mistake of focusing on the price of a similar house across town.
Home sellers have to be realistic because real estate is a very 'local' matter. Sellers should stay with the price trends in their neighborhood. They do not want to go above those prices and be left the loser. Home sellers should be open to their agent's suggestions. Problems with the sale of a home are not always the fault of the real estate agent.
Of course, as in every profession, there are real estate agents who do not want to put in any extra effort. Home sellers should always take some time to choose the right agent for their individual needs. Since marketing of the home will be the key to a successful sale, sellers should check out the agent's tools and approach.
Sellers need someone who will do everything possible on their behalf – online marketing, open houses, and more. Yet home sellers cannot expect the real estate agent to be able to control the economy. Sometimes the seller just has to go with the flow.
Do You Like Your Real Estate Agent?