"Think you've had no offers? Actually, there've been several." (OSH Notes in RED)

This is a paragraph excerpt from an article noted below.


Legally, the broker you hire to sell your home is obligated to tell you about all offers that come in. In reality, some don't. Perhaps he thinks the offer is insultingly low for you, but more likely, "the broker thinks it's too low for his own purposes. He wants to hold out for a bigger commission," says McNeill. Or else there's an outside broker (or "co-broker") circling your house, and the primary broker is waiting for one of his own clients to make an offer so he can keep the full 6% to himself.

"You must be clear with your broker that you want to be informed of all offers," McNeill says. "Otherwise, you may be leaving him to make decisions that you should be making." Check the listing agreement drawn up when you hire the broker; if the promise to disclose all offers isn't listed explicitly, insist that it be added.

There are lots of shady brokers out there who give a bad name to good Realtors like myself!  I feel for the sellers and/or buyers who have to put up with unethical business practices!  Hopefully you are lucky enough to select an agent who represents your best interests at all times ultimately a true professional you can trust with one of the biggest transactions you will make in your life!  This is why most agents are referred by friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. as they have had positive experiences with their agent.  But you always to interview a few different agents before you make your final decision and don't think you can't fire an agent....cause you can!  If you ever feel like your "LISTING" agent has misrepresented themselves or not made your best interests a priority, you can ask for your property to be withdrawn from the market and ask to be released from your listing agreement by granting you an "UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE".  This will allow you to gather more information about other brokers and allow you to relist your property with a new agent who will hopefully produce the results you expect using decent business practices.

SOURCE: [http://finance.yahoo.com/education/real_estate/article/101456/10_Things_Your_Real_Estate_Broker_Wont_Tell_You via: smartmoney.com]