Part Two: Sellers…(and What to Do With All That Feedback)
From iStock
Alright fellow listing agents, grab your wine tumblers and your thickest skin, because it’s time to talk about the fine art of delivering buyer feedback to sellers. AKA: Translating “This house smells like despair” into something your client won’t cry over.
If Part One was about unfiltered buyer truth bombs, Part Two is about what happens next — when it’s our job to take those bombs, defuse them, and gently lob them over to the seller without detonating the relationship.
First things first: Sellers are people too.
People with memories in that house, with a special connection to the 1992 Tuscan kitchen they still think is "very in right now," and with feelings. And unfortunately, those feelings are often wrapped up in throw pillows, floral wallpaper, and an emotional Zestimate that says their home is worth $100K more than the market says it is.
So when we say things like: "The buyers felt it was a little dated."
What the seller hears is: "Your house is ugly and worthless and your taste is trash."
Our job? Translate. Navigate. Deliver the sting with strategy.
An Actual Conversation I Had Once:
Me: "So, they loved the layout but mentioned a smell. Did you maybe cook something strong the night before the showing?"
Seller: "I just made salmon and boiled eggs for my meal prep."
Me: (Internally screaming)
TIP #1: Don’t wait until the listing is dying a slow, feedback-less death to start sharing the truth.
Regular feedback updates keep expectations grounded. A seller can handle one "they didn’t like the carpet" comment. Five weeks of no offers and THEN hearing it needs all new floors? That’s how you end up losing both the listing and your will to live.
TIP #2: Present feedback as patterns, not personal attacks.
One person says the layout is weird? That’s an opinion. Five people say it feels choppy? That’s a trend. And trends are easier to talk about than opinions. It shifts the tone from "One picky buyer hated your home" to "Let’s align your home with market expectations."
How NOT to Deliver Feedback: "They said it felt depressing."
Better Version: "The buyers had a hard time connecting emotionally to the space. Let's brighten things up and add some warmth to the staging."
Story Time: The Taxidermy House
I once listed a home where the seller had 37 (yes, I counted) taxidermy animals staring you down from every wall. We’re talking deer, bears, ducks, a bobcat in the laundry room. The buyer feedback came in hot: "This feels like a hunting lodge from a Stephen King novel."
The seller loved it. Called it his "man cave masterpiece." I gently suggested we remove "a few" of the animals for staging. He agreed to hide 3 ducks and put a sheet over the bobcat.
TIP #3: Use Humor to Soften the Blow.
When appropriate (read: always appropriate), humor can keep things from getting too tense.
Me: "So... one buyer said the carpet reminded them of their great-granny’s house. The one who still has the dial-up phone and ceramic cat collection."
Seller: "Okay, okay... it is old. But it hides the dirt really well!"
Me: "Sure does. It’s basically camo at this point. Want me to bring over some samples of updated options?”
TIP #4: Use Feedback to Drive Action, Not Drama.
Your seller is going to be more motivated to repaint that lime green dining room if they see it’s not just your opinion, but the actual buyer market rejecting it. Feedback isn’t an insult — it’s a flashlight showing us the path to SOLD.
Sellers Behaving Badly Greatest Hits:
The seller who stayed home during showings "to point out features," and ended up giving the buyers a 30-minute tour with his shirt off.
The sweet lady who left out a plate of cookies and a stack of political flyers.
The guy who insisted on playing smooth jazz on the surround sound during all showings, but accidentally queued up his heavy mental workout playlist.
All of these things showed up in feedback. All of them were... awkward. But all of them led to coaching moments that helped us get better results.
TIP #5: Not all feedback requires a reaction — but it always deserves a conversation.
Sometimes, feedback is just personal preference. You don’t need to tear out the kitchen because one buyer doesn’t like white cabinets. But you should talk about whether your price reflects what buyers are saying. Feedback isn’t about changing everything. It’s about knowing what’s working, what’s not, and how to move forward.
The Bottom Line:
As listing agents, we're in the delivery business. And not just contracts and keys. We deliver truth. Strategy. Tough love wrapped in professionalism and sometimes a smidge of charm. Our job isn’t to coddle the listing—it’s to sell it.
So, take the feedback. Translate it. Spin it. Deliver it with heart. And if your seller cries, that’s okay. Give them a tissue. Then tell them to rip up that carpet and paint the mauve bedroom. Because behind the sign, the truth isn’t just helpful—it’s the thing that gets the house SOLD.
Until next time, may your sellers be realistic, your feedback be productive, and your Ring doorbells forever malfunction during buyer commentary.
—Roxanne
