Good morning. Ever wonder why the agent you hired to sell your house isn't there to show it to interested buyers? Instead, they hand out lockbox codes to buyer agents who barely know your property.
You literally hired someone to sell your house, and they're not even present when buyers tour it. In what world does that make sense?
Here's what's really happening:
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This is all part of the outdated traditional system that deliberately overcomplicates what should be a straightforward process.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.
What to Ask Every Agent You Interview: Will You Actually Sell My House?
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:
Demonstrates to buyers that extensive additional representation isn't as necessary as the industry claims
Gives your property a competitive advantage through knowledgeable presentation
Positions you to confidently counter offers that demand inflated buyer agent fees
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.
Looking for transparent options? Visit PropertyPage.io to explore existing listings, or email [email protected] for personalized guidance on navigating today's market.
Next Week
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.
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About me
I'm Mathew Speer, creator of PropertyPage.io, the first consumer centered, fully transparent real estate listing platform. After 20 years investing and 14 years as an agent, I authored The Consumer's Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate and write this newsletter to expose industry dysfunction and arm consumers with insider knowledge.