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B - Switch Real Estate Agencies: How to fire your agent?

If your current relationship with your agency or agent isn’t working out, it’s usually because you simply didn’t get the result you wanted.

Action plan for switching real estate agencies:

To end a listing agreement when a cancellation option isn't in your agreement, call the managing broker and explain your desire to end the relationship.

The agency will try to stall off the situation. Call again. Real estate agencies do not like unhappy sellers. They don’t want any bad mouthing in the community.

If you’re in the process of canceling your listing, use this time in “limbo” to accomplish some vital tasks.

• Interview other agents. Get their recommendations on price and marketing.

• Avoid telling those you are interviewing why you are changing agents, other than it’s time for a change. If you tell them your reason(s), they could slant their listing presentation on how those issues won’t be a problem with them. 

• Start fresh with a new office. It's like being a “new listing” on the MLS. A new, lower price will add to the effectiveness of your change.

• Be honest with yourself. Is there anything that YOU can do differently that will increase your odds for selling?
  
  These include things like not allowing agents to use a lockbox for entry when you’re not home, not permitting a sign in your yard, being very restrictive with showing times, staying on the premises during the showings, allowing interior smoking by family members, failing to have your home look its best for showings, etc.

If your actions inhibit a top marketing effort, this will only cost you money by resulting in a longer selling period and a lower selling price.      

Re-listing will give you a fresh start, but you’re going to have to do your part. Review the recommendations in the PREPARE Step.

Firing your agent:

The easiest way to let your current agent go is to tell him or her that you feel that it's time for a change. You just need a new group of agents to market your home and that a different sign out front should help generate some interest (it probably will). Like an unhappy employee that’s been terminated, the separation will be a welcome relief–for both sides.

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