What can I do if I have concerns with my agent?

Michelle, here is the fact that changes your options: your listing contract is almost certainly with the brokerage, not with your agent personally. She signed it on the firm's behalf. That means the person with the authority to move your listing to a different agent, or to let you out entirely, is her managing broker, and you do not need her permission to make that call. Amanda already pointed you toward the managing broker and toward getting things in writing, and Qubie and Jeanne were right that documentation is what protects you. I will not repeat their good advice. Here is what the thread has not covered. In Illinois the vocabulary works against you. Since the Real Estate License Act of 2000 took effect, Illinois calls its entry level license "Broker." Your agent is a licensed Broker. The supervisory license, held by the person who runs the office and answers for everyone in it, is called Managing Broker. So when advice from another state says "go over your agent's head to the broker," in Illinois that means Managing Broker specifically. Ask the office or the firm's website for the Managing Broker of record. That is the person who can act. Before you call, put it in an email to your agent and copy the Managing Broker. Keep it factual and short. Eight offers, the date each one came in, the date each one died, and the stated reason each buyer gave. Then ask for one specific thing rather than venting. That email is the whole file if this escalates. You have two very different asks available, and they are not the same request. The first is reassignment. You stay with the firm and the firm assigns a different agent to your listing. Firms grant this more often than people expect, because it keeps the listing in house. The second is a written release, sometimes called a mutual cancellation, where the firm signs off on ending the agreement early. Ask for reassignment first. It is the easier yes. There is also a distinction worth understanding. You can revoke an agent's authority to act on your behalf at any time, because agency is a relationship of trust. That does not automatically erase the contract. The agency can end while the compensation obligation survives. That gap is exactly why you want a signed written release rather than just telling her you are done. Read your agreement for the protection period, sometimes called a safety or tail clause. It says that if a buyer the firm introduced to the house buys it after the listing ends, commission is still owed. Two Illinois specifics matter here. The firm should deliver a written list of the named protected buyers within the timeframe your agreement sets. And under Illinois administrative rule, a residential brokerage agreement of four units or less that has a protection period must also provide that no commission is owed if, during that protection period, you sign a valid written brokerage agreement with another sponsoring broker. Read that clause in your own contract before you sign anything with a new firm. On filing with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, be clear about what that is for. The Division of Real Estate investigates unlawful or unprofessional conduct by a licensee. It is not a lever to get out of your contract. IDFPR will not order a refund, award you damages, cancel or enforce a contract, or mediate a commission dispute. If your complaint is "she is rude and I want out," a licensing complaint will not deliver that. If your complaint is that she misrepresented something material or failed a duty she owed you, that is the right forum. Honest caveat, because you deserve it. Eight offers collapsing is unusual, and personality alone rarely does that. Ask for the actual cause of death on each one. If most of them died at inspection, that is the house. If they died at appraisal, that is price. If they died at loan denial, that is buyer screening, which is partly the agent's job. Sort those before you conclude it is her. One last thing. My name is Zoltan Peresztegi and I sell in Los Angeles, the South Bay and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, so I am not your local agent in Mount Prospect and I will not pretend to be. If you want a straight talking listing agent in the northwest suburbs, message me and I will refer you to someone I would trust with my own family's house. No obligation either way. Zoltan

Michelle, complete transparency is key for a real estate agent and client relationship. Express your concerns and if you cannot come to an agreement, then you should explore other representation options. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Start with a "Formal Performance Review." Clearly document missed deadlines or communication gaps and present them to the agent in writing. If the issues persist, contact their Managing Broker; the broker owns your listing agreement and can often assign you a new agent within the same firm without legal penalty. Always check your contract's "Termination Clause" for any notice period requirements (usually 30 days).

That is a tough situation to be in for a seller. As a seasoned agent, I share all feedback with my clients, the good, the bad and the ugly. While I may be sharing things a seller does not want to hear, open, straightforward and honest communication with clients is key to a great sale. I would ask you agent why things are falling through? I am a Chicago Burbs agent, what we have seen in our market is a flurry of activity, homes selling in hours or days and unbelievable bidding wars. Statistics are showing that buyers have remorse at offering so much over listing prices, esp in a shifting market, home inspection issues came up, buyers could not qualify with rising interest rates, or homes are not appraising. I know it can be very frustrating for you and most likely your agent. Did you have your home staged, did you have professional photos taken? It does not sound like the marketing is an issue, just getting a buyer to stick. There are a few ways you can go about this, first, I would have a discussion with your agent, do it in writing and be kind but firm with your questions. I would directly ask what are the reasons given for each contract falling apart. The attorney will likely not know the details, as your agent should. If it is inspection issues, you can ask you agent to get the details from each buyers agent, fix the issues. Best of luck, communication is key.

The best place to start is by asking your agent for her opinion as to why buyers are backing out. There could be several reason. In the current market interest rates have an impact on the buyers purchase power and it is possible that they were priced out of the market with the latest rate hike. Although agents sometimes do not want to work with one another they usually put those feelings aside in the interest of their client. Lastly, make sure that you ask to see all offers that are sent in writing.

Explain that you are unhappy and would like to go a different route.

Hi Michelle, there is something that appears to be spooking the buyers. Any inspection issues that you need to fix. The agent wants to earn a commission and would sabotage the deal. Find out why. You also have an attorney representing you. What did they say?

As a Real Estate Broker with several agents on our team I have run into this situation. Not everyone is a good fit. If you have these concerns I do believe the best thing for you and the agent is to discuss them in person and be honest and respectful. The Realtor has put time and money into the sale of your home. They should at least be able to address your concerns. If after you address the concerns and you are still not happy with the situation, then you should begin looking for an agent that is a better fit. My guess, your agent will handle it like a professional and use the feedback to grow to become better at what they do and help you to a successful home sale:). Best of luck.