Hired to Sell, Nowhere to Be Found

Traditional brokerages train agents to "list it and let others sell it." Get your property on the MLS, stick up a sign, then sit back while other agents do the actual selling. This connects directly to last week's issue about inflated commission negotiations. When your listing agent builds in 2.5-3% for a buyer agent upfront, they've essentially pre-paid someone else to do half their job.

But here's where it gets worse. When buyers find your house on Zillow or similar sites, they're immediately steered away from contacting your listing agent. Instead, their information gets sold as leads to random agents who then negotiate that you pay them 2.5-3% to bring the same buyer who was already interested in your property.

Think about that logic: A buyer finds your house online, gets redirected to an unrelated agent, and now there are more hands in the pot demanding their cut for walking them through the property your listing agent should be presenting. Double the agents, double the fees - and guess who pays? You and the buyer do.

This is all part of the outdated traditional system that deliberately overcomplicates what should be a straightforward process. By creating artificial complexity and multiple unnecessary touch points, the industry justifies inflated commissions that benefit brokerages while systematically burdening consumers.

When you interview listing agents, ask this simple question: "Will you personally show my property to every interested buyer?"

The right agent will say yes and explain how they'll give an informed tour highlighting your property's best features, then step aside to let buyers explore privately. Even when buyer agents request showings, your listing agent should still be present to properly present what they were hired to sell.

This approach does three powerful things:

Most agents don't offer this because their brokerages profit from the lazy, two-agent system. But sellers who demand their listing agent actually show up are reducing transaction costs by thousands.

Want to know the specific requirements to look for in a listing agent who will prioritize your interests over their brokerage's profits? Write me directly at [email protected] or schedule a free strategy call.

I'm Mathew Speer, founder of Real Estate Insider News and PropertyPage.io—the first consumer-centered real estate listing platform. I've invested in real estate for two decades, worked as an agent for 14 years including time at large brokerage firms, and owned and operated my own independent real estate brokerage, Local Real Estate Advisors, for eight years.

After witnessing an industry that profits from keeping consumers in the dark, I authored "The Consumer's Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate" and built PropertyPage.io to provide the transparency and control missing from traditional real estate transactions.

I write this newsletter to arm you with the knowledge that saves thousands while simplifying the process—exposing the tactics, revealing the truth, and giving you the power to transact on your own terms in a system designed to work against you.

Do you know the true cost of using a traditional buyer agent? They tell you the seller pays them, but who really foots the bill? I'll break down the hidden math that every buyer needs to understand.