ABA Family Legal Guide

Buying and Selling a Home

Meeting the Players

Selecting a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

What can I do if my real estate firm doesn't seem to be working very hard to sell my home?

The housing market, price, and condition of the home are usually the chief problems when a home is not selling. But sometimes a firm or a particular agent is at fault for one reason or another. The best way to prevent this problem is to limit the term of the listing agreement to ninety days or less. If the home does not sell in that period of time, then you are legally in a position to try another firm or agent.

You may also want to change firms if your agent does not return telephone calls, does not communicate with you about the progress of the sale, fails to schedule open houses, or generally appears uninterested in the sale. On the other hand, it is a mistake to be upset if the agent presents an offer that seems unreasonably low. The firm and its agents have an obligation to present all offers to the seller, even those that may seem insulting. Of course, you are not required to accept any offer presented. But if the agent applies undue pressure, it may be time for a change or another reason to limit the length of a listing agreement.