It’s no secret – navigating a challenging real estate market as a home seller can be stressful. When viewings slow down, offers aren’t meeting expectations, or days on market start creeping up, anxiety naturally sets in. A common reaction? To start questioning your agent’s every move, second-guessing their advice, or even feeling the urge to tell them exactly how to do their job.
While understandable, this approach is often counterproductive. Constantly looking over your agent’s shoulder or trying to dictate tactics can undermine the very expertise you hired them for and strain the crucial partnership needed for success.
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Trust the Hire, Question the Strategy (Productively!)
Remember the process you went through to select your agent. You likely interviewed multiple candidates, reviewed their track records, discussed their proposed strategies, and ultimately chose the professional you felt most confident in. Trusting that initial judgment is important.
Instead of defaulting to second-guessing specific actions, shift your focus to engaging in productive, high-level conversations centered on strategy execution. This maintains trust while ensuring alignment and allowing for necessary adjustments based on real-time market feedback.
Consider framing your questions constructively:
- “How is the agreed-upon marketing strategy performing based on the feedback and data we’re seeing?” (Focuses on results of the plan)
- “Based on buyer reactions and current market conditions, are there any strategic adjustments we should consider?” (Opens the door for collaborative pivots)
- “How are we positioning ourselves to leverage negotiation opportunities effectively when offers do come in?” (Looks ahead to maximizing the outcome)
These types of questions foster a collaborative environment focused on achieving the shared goal, rather than creating friction through micromanagement.
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The Root Cause: Alignment Starts at the Interview
If you consistently find yourself feeling the urge to direct your agent’s every move, it might indicate a deeper issue – perhaps a misalignment discovered after the hire. This often stems from the initial interview process.
Did you ask questions that truly revealed their strategic thinking? Did you probe their marketing investment plan, not just their standard listing activities? Did you understand their negotiation philosophy and how they benchmark success?
Ensuring you ask the right, insightful questions before making a hiring decision is paramount. It builds the essential foundation of trust and strategic alignment needed to navigate any market condition, especially challenging ones. When you’re confident in your agent’s strategic capabilities from the outset, you’re less likely to feel the need to second-guess them later.
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Hire the Right Strategic Partner from the Start
Choosing the right agent isn’t just about finding someone likable or someone who sells a lot of homes nearby. It’s about finding a true strategic partner whose expertise, approach, and commitment to your financial outcome align with your goals.
To help you build that crucial foundation of trust and ensure you partner with an agent focused on strategy and benchmarked results, I’ve compiled a guide to asking better, more insightful questions during the selection process.
Avoid hiring pitfalls. Learn what to ask here: ➡️ The Best Questions to Ask When Hiring A Real Estate Agent
By hiring strategically, you empower yourself and your agent to navigate market challenges effectively, focusing on execution rather than doubt.
