Keep your agent!

As everybody knows, there can be a lot of money at stake when selling real estate. If you are already in contact with an intelligent, competent, honest agent, STICK WITH YOUR AGENT! Why would you increase your risk by switching to an unproven, unknown agent? There are lots of "carrots" that agents will use to try to get your business, but most of them don't gain you much in the end and don't compensate for the risk of working with an unknown agent.

Here's a recent example to illustrate my point: The site agent at a new condominium complex convinced a buyer that the developer would accept a contingent offer on one of the units in the building if the buyer allowed the site agent to list her house for sale. The implication seems to have been that the developer would not consider a contingent offer if the house was listed by another agent. If the site agent is a good agent, things may turn out fine. But given the current sales climate, I can just about guarantee that the developer would consider a contingent offer written by any agent, particularly if that agent had a good reputation and could show that the property had a good chance of selling at the listed price. The buyer is taking a big risk for no reason.

There are lots of good agents out there, but there are plenty of mediocre ones, too. Mediocre in real estate affects your pocket book, your legal obligations, and much more. If you've got a good agent, keep him (or her)!