One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is simple—your agent is supposed to be working for you. And technically, that’s true. But in practice, it doesn’t always play out that way.
Sometimes agents get caught up in what’s easiest, fastest, or most convenient… and they don’t even realize they’re no longer acting in your best interest.
Let me give you a real-world example.
Right now, I have a property that had been sitting on the MLS. It originally came on the market higher than I recommended, and between timing, condition, and a few other factors, we missed the sweet spot. On top of that, the seller’s health declined, and her son—who has power of attorney—reached out and said, “We need to get this sold.”
At the time, we were listed at $1.8 million. His suggestion? Drop it to $1.1 million.
That’s a $700,000 reduction.
Now, could we have done that? Absolutely. And I’ll be honest with you—there are agents out there who would have said yes immediately, put it on the market, gotten it under contract quickly, and moved on.
But here’s the problem… that would not have been in the seller’s best interest.
Instead, I pushed back. Not because I didn’t want to sell the home, but because I didn’t want them leaving that kind of money on the table. We had a conversation, we walked through the numbers, and we agreed on a more strategic approach. We reduced the price to $1.5 million—still a significant adjustment, but not a fire sale.
Now? After a recent showing, we’re expecting an offer around $1.3 million.
Let’s do the math—had we dropped to $1.1 million right away, that’s potentially $200,000 lost for the seller.
And here’s the question you need to ask yourself…
Who Was That Decision Going to Benefit?
Because the reality is, a sale at $1.1 million still pays the agent. It still gets the deal done. It still checks the box.
But it doesn’t maximize the seller’s outcome.
That’s the difference between an agent who is just trying to get a deal and one who is focused on getting the right deal.
The Subtle Ways This Happens
This isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t always look like bad advice.
Sometimes it shows up as:
- Agreeing too quickly to a major price reduction
- Not pushing back when emotions are high
- Prioritizing speed over strategy
- Avoiding tough conversations about value and positioning
And I get it—those conversations aren’t always easy. But that’s literally what you’re hiring a professional for.
The Market Doesn’t Reward Panic
In today’s market—whether you’re in Ocoee, Winter Garden, Windermere, Clermont, Minneola, or Orlando—buyers are more patient. They’re more selective. But they’re still buying.
That means pricing matters more than ever, but so does strategy.
If you want a deeper dive into how pricing plays into this, I covered that here:
👉 https://www.daviddorman.com/pricing-strategy-real-estate
And for broader market context, resources like the National Association of Realtors can give you a national perspective, but what really matters is how those trends are applied locally.
Advocacy vs. Agreement
Here’s the bottom line—your agent’s job is not just to agree with you.
It’s to advise you.
Protect you.
And sometimes, push back when it matters most.
In this situation, the seller ultimately had the final say—as they always should. But by slowing things down just enough to think strategically instead of react emotionally, we were able to preserve a significant amount of their equity.
And that’s the job.
Final Thought
So the next time you’re working with an agent—or considering hiring one—ask yourself:
Are they telling me what I want to hear… or what I need to hear?
Because those are two very different things.
And in a transaction this important, that difference can cost—or save—you a lot of money.
If you ever want a straightforward, honest conversation about your situation, I’m always here to help.
When you hire David Dorman, you GET David Dorman.
📞 407-948-8295
🌐 https://www.daviddorman.com