Why doesn't the listing agent show your home more often?

If your listing agent is not showing your home as often as you would like, it does not mean that your agent is not working hard for you. A lot of homeowners think it's only natural that their listing agent should be showing their home. And it is, to an extent- but it doesn't always happen, and try not to get too upset about it.

When you hire your agent, you expect your agent to market your home to the best of their ability, and to get as many buyers through the door as possible, so that one of those buyers ends up purchasing your home.

If we look at things realistically and statistically, most agents have a group of buyers that they are working with at the present time. Let's say, on average, that number is 25. Out of those 25 potentials, how many would be in the market for your home? Most agents work in a variety of price ranges, and towns, so the possibility of an existing buyer being interested in your home is somewhat slim.

Which brings me to the next point- If the agent is marketing your home, and marketing it well, wouldn't they get new buyers just from your listing, that would already have some interest? The answer to that is yes, but the amount all depends on how marketable your home is as well as the agent's marketing efforts. For example, if your agent made sure that your home had all the exposure it could possibly have, your home may not be as marketable  as you think it would be. The other point to make here, is that you must make sure that your agent presents your home in the best possible light to buyers. Even when all the conditions on marketability and presentation are met, the market may be very slow. It does not mean that your agent is not doing their job.

The last piece of the puzzle, and the most important one, is that your agent also markets your property to other Realtors. It is a well known statistic that the vast majority of agents RARELY sell their own listings. In addition, historically, less than 3% of all homes sell at public open houses.  

In our area of Fairfield County Connecticut, there are over 7,000 agents who are members of the Multiple Listing Service. If they all had 25 prospective buyers, wouldn't THAT be a great place for your agent to concentrate some of their efforts to secure a sale for you? What do you think the possibility is that just one of those 7,000 members has a buyer for your property. That would be,..... well 7,000 times greater than just your agent having a buyer, wouldn't it?

So try not to get too upset if your agent doesn't show your home as often as you would like. Some agents, myself included, show their own listings more frequently- and secure sales on their own listings, but that also is rare, and even for those of us who do manage to  find our own buyers for our listings, it's the exception, rather than the rule. Just remember, that your agent is  working on selling your property nonetheless.