What should I not tell my realtor when selling?

Good question, and I will answer it more directly than agents usually do. The thread is right that your agent owes you confidentiality once you are their client. Your motivation, your timeline, your absolute lowest number: an agent representing you should not be handing those to a buyer. That is a real duty, not a courtesy. But there is a distinction the thread skips, and it is the one that matters. Facts about the property are not confidential. Anything you tell your agent about a defect, a past leak, foundation movement, a repair that did not hold, an insurance claim, is generally a material fact, and in most states it has to be disclosed to buyers. Your agent cannot sit on it, and you should not want them to. That is not your agent betraying a confidence, that is disclosure law, and it protects you from a lawsuit after closing far more than it costs you in negotiation. Facts about your circumstances are confidential. That you are getting divorced, that you already bought another house, that you need to be out by September, that you would take twenty thousand less if pushed. That category is protected. So the honest rule is: tell your agent everything about the property, and be thoughtful about what you volunteer about yourself. Not because they will misuse it, but because information travels. It gets mentioned casually agent to agent, or in front of the wrong person at a showing. Now the exception nobody mentioned, and it is the important one. If your agent ends up representing the buyer as well, that is dual agency, and the duties change. In that situation an agent's obligations to each side are limited, and things you assumed were confidential may not be protected in the way you expected. Some states prohibit dual agency outright. Others allow it with written informed consent. Some brokerages use designated agency, where two agents from the same office take opposite sides. So ask your agent, before you sign anything: what happens if a buyer you are also working with wants my house? What does that do to what I have told you? A good agent has a clear answer. And ask them to walk you through the agency disclosure form rather than just handing it to you to sign, because that document is exactly where this is spelled out. Two more practical notes. Be careful what you say before you are formally a client. At a listing presentation you are interviewing, not yet represented. The protections attach to the relationship, so the conversation where you tell three agents your real bottom line is the least protected conversation of the whole process. And confidentiality generally survives the end of the relationship, so what you tell your agent does not become fair game after closing. What I would actually tell my agent, fully and early, if I were you: the property's history, warts included; your real timeline; your true financial constraints, meaning what you must net to make this work. That last one sounds like the thing to hide, but a good listing agent cannot build a strategy without it. If they do not know you need to clear a specific number, they cannot tell you whether your price is realistic or whether you should wait. The thing I would keep to myself is emotional urgency. Not the facts, the desperation. There is a difference between "we need to close by September for a job start" and "we are panicking." The first is useful information for your agent. The second changes how people treat you. I am a real estate professional, not an attorney, and agency rules vary by state, so have your agent explain how Missouri handles this specifically. My name is Zoltan Peresztegi and I work in Los Angeles, the South Bay and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, so I am not your Springfield agent. If you want an introduction to a strong listing agent in southwest Missouri who will answer the dual agency question straight rather than getting defensive about it, message me and I will make one. How they answer that question tells you most of what you need to know about them. Zoltan

Wendy, this is a personal decision. There is no one size fits all answer to this question. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Your agent works for you, and in most cases you should be an open book with them so they can represent you effectively. But there are a few things worth keeping close. Don't volunteer your absolute bottom line price. Your agent needs to know your general expectations, but telling them "I'd honestly take $280K if I had to" can unconsciously anchor their negotiation efforts at that number instead of fighting for more. Give them a range and let them push for the top of it. Don't share personal financial desperation. If you tell your agent "we have to sell by June or we're going to lose the house," that urgency can leak into negotiations even with the best intentions. Your agent has a fiduciary duty to keep your information confidential, but the less pressure they feel, the stronger they negotiate on your behalf. If there is a hard deadline, share it, but frame it as a preference rather than a panic. Don't overshare about personal conflicts driving the sale. "We're getting divorced and need this done yesterday" or "I hate this house and just want out" are things that can subtly influence how your agent positions the sale. Keep the emotional context minimal and focus on the business side. Do tell your agent about every known defect, repair, and issue with the property. That's not optional, it's a legal obligation. Withholding material defects from your agent puts both of you at legal risk. Do tell them your realistic timeline, your financial goals for the sale, and any constraints on showings or closing dates. The more your agent understands the business parameters, the better they can structure the deal to serve your interests.

🤝 First, Know This: Your Realtor is on your team. Anything you share with them in the course of your listing is confidential—legally and ethically. So while there are some things you can keep private, you usually don’t have to. That said, there are a few categories where oversharing might cause complications, not help the process. 🛑 Things You Might Not Want to Tell Your Realtor (at least not right away): 1. "I’m Desperate to Sell No Matter What" Even though your agent is working for you, if that kind of statement somehow gets relayed (directly or indirectly) to buyers or buyer’s agents, it could weaken your negotiation position. It's better to say: “I’d like to sell quickly if possible—what can we do to make the timeline work in our favor?” 2. Too Much About Personal Drama Family disagreements, relationship stress, or neighbor feuds don’t typically need to be disclosed unless they directly affect the property’s sale or condition. Focus on what impacts the house, not the household. 3. Legal Trouble or Pending Lawsuits (Unless Property-Related) If it’s unrelated to the property, your agent usually doesn’t need to know. But if it does affect your ability to sell (liens, divorce, probate, etc.), then it’s best to be upfront so they can help you navigate it properly and protect your interests. 💰 What About Financial Info? You don’t have to reveal your personal net worth or exact debt situation unless it affects your ability to sell, price the home, or cover costs like repairs, closing fees, or relocation. If you're tight on funds for repairs or prep, telling your agent can actually help—many experienced agents (myself included) have creative solutions, like: Staging consultations Vendor partnerships with delayed payment As-is strategies Seller credits or pricing adjustments 🗣 How to Set Boundaries (Gracefully): If something feels too personal or you’re not sure if it’s relevant, just say: “I have a few personal circumstances I’m working through, but let’s focus on what directly impacts the sale. If anything comes up that affects the process, I’ll be sure to let you know.” That keeps things respectful, professional, and focused—without awkwardness. ✅ Final Word: A great Realtor won’t dig for gossip or make you feel pressured to share more than you're comfortable with. The goal is to build trust, create a strategy, and work toward your goals—without judgment and with full confidentiality. And hey, if you're ever unsure whether to share something—just ask them. No offense taken, and no hard feelings from us when we know someone is being genuine.

In general, you should not tell your realtor any personal or confidential information, such as your financial situation, plans for the future, or any information that could be used against you. Additionally, you should not disclose any information that could affect the sale of your property, such as any negative aspects of the property, any problems that may not have been disclosed, or changes to the property’s condition.

Business is business and as much as it is in both parties interest to have a cordial, friendly working relationship. Your personal life is your personal life, share whatever you feel comfortable sharing that is relevant to selling the property but be factual with anything about the property. If the experience goes well and you become long life friends, great! If you think you need to share for example, I need to get this hose sold to avoid a circumstance and that is important to you, then share it.

Disclose to your realtor the truth, you are under " Seller Disclosure "

Well we get that question a lot. The best answer is to disclose to your realtor the Truth, that is why a "Seller Disclosure" questioner is given to you. Walk-through with your agent is important so you can catch things in advance.

Your real estate agent works for you, and in your best interest. In most state they have a fiduciary responsability to leagally and ethically work in yoru highest and best interest. Therefore, its in your best interest to disclose everything you can. In simple terms, think of them as your defense attorney. They are on your side and need to knwo all the information to advise you and help you. I fell that if you hold something back, your are actually hurting yourself. Your real estate agent is your advocate.