Yes and that agent is a good friend. Handling the mechanics of a transactions is no problem for him/her but business savy isnt there. I had numerous discussions with him/her trying to explain what needed to be done but it was on deaf ears. He/she is just too nice of person to be forceful and persistent which is necessary. My recent seller who was in denial was subject to a few very forceful and heated discussions with me. She was in denial and I told her shoe would regret not listening to me. I laid it on the line because I knew she needed to hear what I had to say. It could have cost me the listing but representing her best interests instead of mine were served by laying into her. Its not something i do often but sometimes have to. While you cant force a seller to take a lower offer, you can convince many to be realistic if you understand economics and finance. I have conversations like that with my clients all the time as I suspect you do.
Cabal, I do everything the others do around here and more except blindinly solicit business here. One thing i would suggest is getting an agent who is within a reasonable distance of your home so they can provide the service you need and deserve. Sorry Rus, but I think Jamul is a bit far from wherever this house is. When I get listing opportunities in your area I refer them out because it is better for the client that I do so. I get calls all the time on listings from buyers that want ME to show it to them on short notice. I cant do that on a listing that is far away. The one exception I have to this rule is distressed sales where I beleive my skills in helping them deal with that aspect are more valuable than the disadvantage of being far away. Plus they dont care what price it sells for, just that it sells and they are protected.