Avi Rome

Linda, on average, well over 50% of properties listed exclusively with one agent are sold on a co-broke basis, so when for example I'm a buyer's agent what I'm concerned with is the right property for my clients, not who has it listed. That said, if your agent is the one who encouraged you to go with a higher price (not you!) and you're now suffering for it, it's time to move on. On the other hand if you resisted a lower price, it's really not your agent's fault. (I imagine if youre writing of a loss you mean net of commissions and more specifically that you purchased sometime between 2004 and now). If the agent was attempting to be sensitive to your feelings and completely misread your needs you simply need to have a conversation with them letting them know you're a big girl and can handle the truth and they're not helping you by not being direct. On the other hand, you may just have an agent who didn't price well and is invested in a price that is his/her idea of good rather than realistic. The market is full of agents who have only known good times and as a result, often quite innocently, have difficulty giving advice in a more challenging market. My advice is to have that honest conversation with them, realize your own role in the process so far and if you can't move forward in a healthy partnership find someone you can do that with. My relationships with my clients are partnerships and that's how it should be. - Thu May 8 2008, 02:46