Bess Freedman: What Happens When Trusted Advisors Lead Us Astray?

In a thought-provoking opinion piece for Inman, Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman warns that the growing push toward private listing networks threatens the trust that underpins the real estate profession, and that consumers should be wary whenever exclusivity and opacity are marketed as advantages.

“As with any profession, recognition and deference should be given to those who study and become versed in their field,” Freedman writes. “But what happens when our trusted professionals fail us and erode confidence by steering us in the wrong direction?”

Freedman contends that while off-market sales have long served a legitimate purpose in unique circumstances, making private listings the default strategy benefits brokerages more than consumers. “The golden rule for being a real estate professional is to put the client’s needs first above all else, especially your own,” she writes, adding that most sellers want “to maximize the real estate market by offering their property to the total open market.”

She argues that limiting exposure can deprive sellers of the strongest offers while making homeownership even less attainable for buyers. “By getting as many eyeballs as possible, you will maximize your chances of getting a buyer for the best price,” she notes.

Freedman concludes with a warning that resonates beyond real estate: “The reality is that very smart people can have very selfish ideas.” Her message to consumers is simple: ask questions, demand transparency, and don’t mistake exclusivity for value.

Read the full opinion piece on https://www.inman.com/2026/06/25/bess-freedman-real-estate-is-falling-for-the-madoff-playbook/