What Listing Agents Won't Always Tell You — But Should
This one might be slightly uncomfortable for some agents to read. That's fine. Sellers deserve the full picture and these are things that should be part of every listing conversation.
Your First Price Is Your Best Price
Most agents know this but not all of them will say it clearly enough. The temptation to test the market at a higher number is understandable but the cost of getting it wrong falls on you, not on your agent. A price reduction is visible, public, and changes how buyers perceive your home. Starting right matters more than having room to negotiate.
Days on Market Is a Number Buyers Watch
Once a listing crosses 30 days in most Valley markets, the conversation shifts. Buyers start asking what's wrong. They expect a discount. The longer it sits the harder it becomes to recover the original positioning. If your agent isn't talking about this before you list, ask the question yourself.
Not All Offers Are Equal
A higher number isn't always the better offer. Cash versus financed, contingency terms, close of escrow timeline, the strength of the buyer's financial position — all of these matter. I've seen sellers take a lower offer and come out better because the transaction was clean and certain. Your agent should be walking you through the full picture of each offer, not just the headline number.
Open Houses Mostly Benefit Your Agent
I'll say it. Open houses generate more leads for listing agents than they generate offers for sellers in most cases. That doesn't mean they're useless but it does mean you should understand what you're actually getting out of them before you spend a weekend out of your house.
The Relationship With Your Agent Matters
You will be making significant financial decisions under time pressure with a lot of emotion involved. You need an agent who will tell you things you don't want to hear when it matters, not just manage your expectations downward after the fact. Choose carefully.
Anj Catalano · The Agency · 310 404 6955 · hello@anjinla.com
