SOS: A Call for Homeowners to Take Control

When you buy or sell a home, you’re going into one of the largest financial transactions of your life. In my recent opinion piece for RISMedia, I wanted to sound the alarm: don’t assume everything and everyone involved is working in your best interest. Transparency, exposure, and honest representation matter now more than ever.

“If you are smart enough to rely on experts to guide you through a process, then that means you are also smart enough to know when some so-called ‘experts’ are faking it.”

The role of a trusted advisor is vital but it’s equally important that homeowners ask hard questions and stay informed. The story of the Bernie Madoff investment scandal is a reminder that even smart, well-resourced people can get caught because they didn’t ask enough questions early enough.

One of my key points: when you’re selling a home, the more open the market, the better your chances of achieving a strong result. “The golden rule … maximum exposure yields maximum price. If you are selling your home, do not be fooled into believing it benefits you to sell your home within one brokerage.” In short: begrudging yourself to an “internal,” closed, or captive market limits competition and likely limits your outcome.

“Real estate, like the stock market, functions best when it’s open and transparent. Value is created through exposure, competition, and informed demand.”  If your stock broker suggested you shop around shares of a popular stock internally within their brokerage before going to the open market, would you agree? Probably not, because common sense says when you list broadly, when data is available and marketing is not constricted, everyone wins: sellers, buyers, and the brokerage industry itself.

A Final Word to Homeowners

Homeowners: I urge all of you to be proactive, informed, and unwilling to be boxed in. “Growing the information sphere, not stifling it, is what is in the best interest of sellers, buyers, and the overall brokerage industry.” Don’t accept gimme-easy, one-broker deals without understanding what you might be giving up. Ask: How broadly will this home be marketed? Are there constraints that reduce competition? Is my agent truly putting my interests first?

Thanks for reading. If you’re preparing to buy or sell, now is the time to ensure you’re working with advisors who believe in open markets, clarity, and maximum reach, not closed circuits or deal-making shortcuts.

For the full article, visit RISMedia: “SOS: A Message for Homeowners.”