The Truth About Feedback: A Letter to Sellers in Today's Market

When showings are few and far between and homes are sitting on the market longer than they did just a few years ago, every showing feels significant. You tidy the house, adjust your schedule, gather the kids, load up the dog, and leave your home hoping this might be the buyer. So when hours (or even days) go by without hearing a word, it's frustrating.

I want you to know something first: I understand.

Four years ago, I was the seller. Even though the market was at its absolute peak, I was every bit as anxious and impatient as any seller today. One evening, we received a last-minute showing request just as I was about to start dinner. I scrambled to clean the house, get all three kids out the door, and wrangle my dog behind my neighbor's fence. Since dinner was no longer happening at home, we went out to eat instead.

The buyer and their agent never showed. No call. No text. Nothing. I was absolutely infuriated. I remember thinking I should send that agent my dinner bill. It felt incredibly disrespectful.

Over the years, though, I've learned something important: there are all kinds of agents, and even poor behavior isn't always malicious. Sometimes it's human error. Sometimes it's a misunderstanding. Some agents are naturally empathetic. They know what sellers go through to prepare for a showing and make a point to communicate. Others are laser-focused on serving their own client and simply aren't thinking about what happens on the seller's side. Some are overwhelmed. Some struggle with organization and time management. Like every profession, it takes all kinds.

Our showing service automatically requests feedback an hour after a showing ends and sends another reminder the following day. Some agents leave thoughtful comments before they even pull out of the driveway. Others respond that evening or the next morning. Some need a gentle nudge. There are agents I'll remind through the showing service, then follow up with a text, a phone call, and an email...and still never receive a response. The reality is that I can't make another adult do their job.

What I can promise is this: the moment I receive feedback, you receive it too. There is no gatekeeping. My showing system automatically pushes feedback to both me and my sellers in real time. I don't proofread it. I don't soften it. I don't decide what you should or shouldn't hear. If someone shares their thoughts, you'll have them as quickly as I do.

Then we decide together whether it's useful.

Not every comment is actionable. Sometimes a buyer says the price is too high, even though the market data tells a different story. Interestingly, I've found those buyers are often the ones most likely to submit an offer—they're simply negotiating before they've even written one. Sometimes the feedback is, "The price seems fair, but it just wasn't for my buyers." Other times they'll mention they wanted a first-floor primary suite, even though the MLS clearly stated the primary bedroom is upstairs.

A lot of feedback is simply proof of life. It tells us someone walked through the house. I recently had a conversation with an agent I really admire who told me they intentionally leave very little feedback beyond, "Thanks for letting me tour your home." Their reasoning was simple: they don't want to show their buyer's hand. That's a strategy, too.

Not every piece of feedback changes our approach, but sometimes it offers reassurance. Maybe buyers loved the house but not the neighborhood. Maybe they loved the neighborhood but wanted a different floor plan. Sometimes it confirms we're attracting the right buyers, even if we haven't found the buyer yet. And yes, sometimes it points us toward something worth adjusting.

One thing I've learned over the years is this: silence is feedback, too.

Selling a home today requires patience, perspective, and trust in the process. I know waiting is hard. I know you'd like answers after every showing, and I promise I'm asking for them.

What I can do is advocate for you, communicate honestly, interpret the feedback we do receive, and keep moving forward.