The Flip-side to Feedback - Or - This is why I balk at giving it..

I agree that you have to be careful when giving feedback. You never know how another realtor is going to take it and how it will afeect your position.

Agent #1: Oh, only a couple thousand? Well why didn't you say so! You're reducing the price by that amount right? You're scheduling the gardener and contracting the kitchen and bath to get done right?

Some people want a home to be move-in ready. While this one is liveable, there are updates to be made some people don't want to deal with.

Agent #2: "my sellers
have never had a problem and it doesn't bother them!"

Makes me wonder, did it "not bother them" because of the cost it would take to fix it? It's great that you don't mind sitting slanted. I'm not you...I do mind thank you very much.

Kris - That's what I don't get!  When we do have permission to give feed back AND we give it honestly the listing agents get offended.  If you don't want my feedback then don't ask!

Kris giving honest feedback is very important as a listing agent. If you don't you are just going to be making your job more difficult down the road when the home has not sold.

Kris, excellent points. You have to be honest when giving feedback. Once I had buyer clients out looking for a home and saw a nice one but it was too small for them. The listing agent said that if they bought smaller furniture it would work for them. What are people thinking??

Michael:   I tell you, I wish listing agents would simply tell their sellers "The best feedback is an offer.." and tell them the truth when we can give it to them.   It would make it a much more pleasurable experience for everyone involved.

Ricardo:  It does make you shake your head and wonder "What are they thinking???".  As to the first house, it was priced at the high end of the market and needing the updates (not a good combo).  The 2nd?  Well, that is a head shaker..

Leesa:  You got it!  We're darned if we do and darned if we don't...

Bill:  That's exactly how I feel.  You asked for it, you got it, now share it with your sellers.

Linda:   LOL.  Oh, that one is said much too often isn't it?   Unbelievable.

I give feedback whenever I can. Of course I would never compromise my buyers position by "giving too much!"

Kris, I want honest feedback. If it is too butal I put in in gentle terms when passing it along to my sellers. I think they are just trying to over come objections when they offer a solution. At that point I would just smile and say, thanks for the suggestion, but the home is not going to work for my buyers.

 The truth is what agents ask to hear...until they get it. We like and appreciate feedback...and in some cases, it provides credence to areas we have already called to their attention.  The more annoying thing is when you have an offer...wait for the additional showing as a courtesey to both the seller and the other buyer and the agent drags their feet with a response....urgh !

I prefer to tell them that we showed the home, and my client has indicated that the home will not meet their needs.  Then I thank them for making the home available for us to view. You never know when something will come back to bite you.   I've had clients change their minds, even after giving me permission to give feedback.  People do change their minds. They talk to a contractor sometimes and get to thinking about the repairs...maybe the location is enough to make them decide to buy. 

I dont generally offer feedback for the same reason you dont...unless its in the best interest of my client I keep my mouth shut.  And even then I usually keep my mouth shut, because I may have another buyer that is interested in the property some day. I dont want the problems corrected; I want to use them to my advantage in any negotiations.

My pet peave is feedback that just states the obvious, like your examples...These are things the listing agent already knew (or should know), so whats the point?

Gary Waters:   One of the areas I am careful of:  I won't give feedback other than "Thank your sellers for allowing us to view the home, but my clients have not made a decision yet..." if there is any hint of interest in the home.  We have to be careful for our buyer clients.

Missy:  You're one of the listing agents who know how to communicate the feedback to your sellers effectively.  That almost seems rare..shame, it shouldn't be.

Sally and David:   I think the truth is what the agents sometimes have not relayed to their sellers, so when they hear it from us it must be like looking in a mirror.  They get afraid to say it, yet it needs to be said.  So we're the whipping boys/girls..

Judi:  I like it...that's a great way of putting it without the possibility of harming our clients.  Now if the listing agents wouldn't get frustrated or angry with wanting more...

Ron:  If I state the obvious and the listing agent is upset that tips me off that he/she hasn't said the obvious to their clients.

Kris - In our market most agents are pretty good about providing feedback that we can actually use.  What I have found is that if you are good at giving feedback to other agents in your specific market...those agents tend to get better at providing you with useable feedback when the time comes. 

Sam:  I envy you.   Don't get me wrong - I don't mind giving useful feedback when the time is right to do so and it won't in any way compromise negotiations for my buyer.  What I'm finding is this:  Agents don't want to hear it.  Or if they do, they don't want to share it with their sellers.  You can hear them sigh when you give it..

Its a shame to get offended for something you asked for. Its the only way to let the selleres know what can possibly be done in order to sell the house faster. Give me your honest feedback and I will take it to heart and possilby correct the problem!

Jeannette:   You're one of the listing agents that knows how to give the feedback in an honest and sometimes gentle way to your sellers.  Good for you!

I am always amazed at the posture that comes from feedback.  Hey, "YOU asked" is what I feel like saying...and sometimes I feel like saying "Feedback comes in the form of a contract, did you get one yet". ;)

My favorite feedback, whether I give it or receive it:  "Offer Submitted."

Kris - I appreciate where you are coming from.  Maybe instead of calling the agent or their support staff with feedback you simply fax it to them or e-mail them.  I also hate to hear the dreaded sigh from listing agents...if they don't want honest feedback they shouldn't ask for it.

I should have mentioned that many of us are utilizing HomeFeedback.com and this is the slickest showing feedback service I have ever seen.  I believe they are a sponsor or advertiser here on ActiveRain.  This is a service that was designed by agents for agents. 

Kris - Great examples of why some agents are not doing so well.  That would be those with their heads in the sand.

We are preparing to put our home on the market and I have had the kitchen tiled, new counters, sink, floor.  And the appliances are all updated within the last 3 years.  The bathroom is in process at the moment, but will be done this week. 

Why didn't these agents recommend some sprucing up from the beginning?  Or, if they did recommend it, why are the sellers not wanting to do it?  Lots of unknowns, but it's still inexcusable to receive the responses you got!

Chris:   It's been on the tip of my tongue before, but like you, I've refrained :-)

Mike:  I've learned that from you, a most excellent response.

Sam:  I much prefer the email forms feedback.  In fact, I just sent off 2 responses this morning for homes that were viewed yesterday.  The agent can then choose whether to forward them to his/her seller, and I don't hear an earful about why my buyers are wrong in their assessment.

Carol:   Why do I have the feeling that your home will sell within a week?   "Head in the sand" described it perfectly.  Good luck to you in your own home sale!

Kris, I LOVE honest feedback. Not sure why a listing agent would take it personally. Both of your feed backs would be great tools to use if I needed to get a price reduction. The first agent seems to just be selling you which is fine. The second agent is definitely in denial and needs to be looking out for his seller better than he is. 

LOL, Honesty is the best policy but if someone does not want the truth they should not ask!

thanks for the morning chuckle!

Your Friend in Charlottesville!

Kris--Silly agents to not just say thank you and pass on the feedback! I email for feedback and then forward the information to the sellers. If a buyer has made a decision in this market, it usually is over...no sense in trying resell the home to the agent...The buyer made their decision and has moved on.

I appreciate feedback, good or bad.  It gives us something to work with as we decide how to move forward to get the home sold.

Feedback is good for listing agents if they have the stones to pass it on unfiltered and unvarnished to their sellers.

Buyers who look at their homes are the ones that are looking to buy and their thoughts and opinions need to be listened to.

If one buyer says he doesn't like something that might just be personal preference but if 4 buyers say they don't like the same thing then you have a problem with that listing.

I use homefeedback.com.  The questions are there if the buyer's agent wants to comment.  I then tutor the seller to let me know the comments are not doctored.  If we see a problem, we address it.  I try to give feedback the same way when showing.  Sure makes for less misinformation.

We use showingsoultions.com and I like them; I will be forever grateful that I don't have to call or email for feedback anymore.  I applaud you for giving useful feedback; I wish there was more of that around.  I try very diligently to give feedback to everyone within 24 hours of showing the property.   If my clients have any interest at all; I let the agent know immediately.  I've seen too many houses that I have listed go to a buyer only to find out several others were interested.  I don't want the same thing to happen to my buyers.  If we have interest; there is usually a question or two I need answered anyway.

Kris, As a listing agent I feel that feedback from buyer agents is a gift and I treat it as such.  If a buyer agent has a client who may be interested but doesn't want to show their cards, I'm find with vague feedback such as it's on my client's list, but there are other properties they want to look at.  If their client has zero interest, then I appreciate any honest feedback the buyer agent can give me. 

I always love it when I give honest feedback and it seems to anger the listing agent.  Of course, there was one I did, and the agent hadn't disclosed on the listing that it was her house...  She was a VERY disaffected camper after I was done.  She asked for honest feedback. 

I would think that the shrubs would be cut - with this feedback as for the floor - at least a little investigation as to why might help it sell - to argue with an agent that gives feedback is kinda like killing the chance of getting feeback the next time -

You are right. Many agents (and sellers)do not really want to have honest feedback. If they have it, they argue with it.

I always give it when requested, unless doing so would put the buyer at a disadvantage... I don't get the agents that get angry... what's the point?  The point is they're hearing things they should have addressed with the seller before the sign went up but didn't... and now need to.  I'd be cranky too.

Kris, Congrats on the star. AR must really like you. :}  I find that most people do not like feed back. They seem to have their own agenda.

Bryant:   The first agent was selling me with frustration in his voice.  Selling me (and my buyer) I can appreciatre.  Being frustrated with me when I simply told him the truth is something else :-)   I had to laugh at the 2nd one, after I got off the phone of course. 

Charles:  Good to see you my friend.  Hope all is well with you and yours!

Teri:  You are so right on the money!  If a buyer has made their decision then it is done.  Rarely does a buyer go back to a home that they have already nixed.  There are some "maybes" of course and in that case I give the "Thank you for allowing us to view your home" feedback and that is all.

Christine:  I agree.  Sometimes feedback can be something completely different than what we originally perceived and it is helpful.  But it has to be given to the seller to do any good.

Jim:  Loved your comment.  If 5 people say it's the purple door, then gosh darn it paint the purple door a different color!  It does have to be passed on unfiltered or it's worthless.

Thank you to whomever was responsible for featuring this post.  I am delighted to share the "flip side" to feedback requests.

Kay:  I wish more agents would use that format, or at the very least read them.  For example:  Yesterday I replied to 4 feedback requests via the email format.  2 agents called me hours later requesting feedback. I don't know if the set-up doesn't reach their email, or they didn't check it.  I called them back and told them that I filled out the form and please read it.

Cindy:   Ditto.  The emailed version of any feedback form is welcomed.  I will also forward those along to my sellers so that they can read what was shared.  I also agree that letting a listing agent know if there is interest is important, if the buyer gives me permission to do so.

Gail:  You're a breath of fresh air!  I wish a couple of the callers that I've received over the last 2 days felt as you do.

Lane:  Ouch!   Shame on her for not disclosing, and ditto for being upset that you were honest.  I bet though that she took that honest feedback and created something positive out of it.

Thesa:   Yes, agent #2 is on my list of "email only" for feedback in the future.   As this home has been on the market quite some time I doubt I was the first one to bring up the tilting floor.  He must have heard it many times before and why it wasn't investigated (and corrected) is beyond me.

Bob & Carolyn:   I wish more agents would use the email form for feedback, it would save us the phone conversations with frustrated and upset agents!  There are far too many that ask, then don't really want to hear it.

Jesse:   I don't get it either.  Unless as you stated they are frustrated and angry because they knew they should have brought up whatever the issue is, and couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Michael:   Thank you very much.  The agenda is probably not upsetting their sellers.  What would be upsetting to me is if my home didn't sell and I didn't know why!

Thanks for your perspective on providing feedback.  In our jobs, it is so nice to consider every angle.

My pet pieve with responding to feedback is when a Seller's agent calls me on my cell - a week after a showing as I'm walking into showing a home with my Buyers, or a settlement, or some other important piece of real estate business: "You showed my listing at 123 Main Street last Saturday and my Sellers would love some feedback?" OK, well...mmm...what home was it? I showed my Buyers 15 homes that weekend.

I have always felt that negative feedback about real issues can help when trying to get a price adjustment, or to improve showing condition.  Its one thing when we tell them, its another when a buyer walks away for the same reason.  The type of feedback you gave should be appreciated by the listing agent.

Sometimes though I think agents focus on slight issues during feedback in a preemptive negotiating ploy.   I take feedback with a grain of salt, remembering it's coming from the rival team.

I just don't get it when agents "argue" with your feedback. Obviously those agents just don't get it either! :)

Too funny!  I have had some of the same "shocked" remarks. They should be passing the feedback along to their sellers instead of getting so defensive, or trying to "sell" you, like a used car salesman!  Great post.

That is too funny!  I just had this hapen over the weekend, a listing agent called and wanted feedback, so I gave it to her.  She wanted to know what I thought about the price, so I told her that I thought for a lot (becuase the house was so awfult hat you were basically paying for the land) it was overpriced.  And she proceeded to sit there and argue with me!  Don't tell me my opinion is wrong!  It's my opinion, how could it be wrong?  An opinion is never wrong.  If you don't want to know, don't ask, right?  LOL!

Laura:  You're very welcome.

John:   Oh my...you've one of my pet peeves also.  Now when the appointment desk asks for my cell I give them the direct line to my desk.  If an agent needs me quickly it pages me when they leave a message.  Otherwise, cell is given out on a need to know basis. 

Beth:  I've not encountered that (preemptive ploy) but can see what you're getting at.  Interesting..

Kelly:  I had another one of those calls yesterday afternoon.  Thankfully I thought quick enough to say "If you didn't want to hear it, why did you call?"  He sighed...and then thanked me for calling him back.  Yes, he didn't want to pass it along to his sellers I'm sure..

Elizabeth:   I think they should be passing it along also, but it appears that some simply don't want to be the bearer of bad news.

Marlene:   I can almost hear that conversation in my head!   Oh goodness, I wonder if the listing agent relayed your thoughts to her clients???   The arguing is something I just can't wrap my brain around.  What does it accomplish??

This so needs to be said Kris!  My feelings mirror yours + many more ways on why I shouldn't give feedback!