What a Seller Agent Does (and Doesn't Do) When You Sell Your Home

When it comes time to sell their homes, there are a handful of common misconceptions people have about what an agent will actually do for them. Sellers often have misaligned expectations of what the agent will do for them that aren’t the reality which can lead to frustrating situations.

To help you avoid that, we’ve broken down in simple terms exactly what a seller agent will do and not do when it comes to helping you sell your home.

What a Good Agent Seller Does

Agents can be tremendous resources in helping you understand what’s going on in the market. This means identifying big picture trends as well as what’s happening in the market in your neighborhood. This knowledge allows them to really understand what your home is worth and price it accordingly. People often try to price their home for more than what the market will bear, which leads to the home being listed for far too long.

A really good agent will also walk the seller through the sales process from start to finish, beginning with setting expectations for each step of the way. They’ll answer your questions about preparing your home for the sale, what happens once you go live on the market, what to expect when you have buyers in the house, how to negotiate on price, and more.

Once you get an offer you like and you accept, they’ll also walk you through the closing process. The closing process involves a lot of legal and financial steps, so having a knowledgeable guide is super helpful. Most people aren’t confident in their ability to handle things like:

• Inspections
• Financing
• Closing transactions
• Title
• Escrow
• Transfer of utilities

However, a good agent will lay out all of that and walk you through each of them step-by-step. By providing a game plan upfront and referring back to it throughout the entire process, you’ll feel comfortable knowing exactly where you are in the process and what comes next.  

What a Good Sell Agent Doesn’t Do

The key to all of the above points is that these are all things that a good seller agent will do for you. The problem is, many people go with an inexpensive or inexperienced agent and then assume that all of these things will be taken care of, which usually leaves them disappointed when they fall short of these expectations. 

One of the biggest things that people are disappointed with is when their agent doesn't communicate with them. This can be an overwhelming and deeply personal process, and when you’re not sure what comes next you might feel like you're all alone in the transaction and wondering what exactly you’re paying them for.

Another key example that inadequate seller agents do is not be attentive to the client's needs or demands. For example, if you have three kids and two dogs and you need two days' notice before showings, sometimes agents are a little insensitive because that slows them down. They want to move the sale along as quickly as possible and may give you a couple of hours’ notice instead.

The final thing that people often struggle with is once they accept an offer, their agent disappears to go work on their next sale. Now, the homeowner is left in the dark and unsure of next steps because the agent is prioritizing their next paycheck over helping you through the final leg of the process. Don’t let it happen to you!