They say agents simply open doors. Not that simple. When an agent opens that door for the first time, it's usually the seller letting them in. And when they pass the threshold, they get to see and learn everything that is much more important than an address and square footage alone. They see what no A.I or algorithmic entity is capable of seeing. More importantly, by being let in by the seller, that opening door is one of the first touchpoints in the most significant of all aspects of the relationship between a homeowner and a professional real estate advisor: trust.

When a homeowner welcomes you into their home, and then hires you to market and sell that home, that real estate agent has a strict fiduciary responsibility to the seller, typically established upon signing a listing agreement. This legal obligation mandates that the agent acts in the best interests of the seller (the best interests of the SELLER, prioritizing them over their own interests or any other entity). This duty entails loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, and accounting. While the agent must obey lawful directions (such as pricing, marketing, and accepting/rejecting offers) they are not obligated to follow instructions that are unethical, violate fair housing laws or breach their own professional license standards.

Nowhere in any licensing law, anywhere in the US, does it state that this agent is required to obey the self-serving policies and interests of any for-profit aggregator. Nowhere does it state that agents are required to participate in a commercial enterprise that may act against the best interests of a seller either. Which home seller do you know likes an algorithmic-derived valuation from an entity that has never set foot in their home broadcast to the world? Which homeseller wants an unknown agent who is paying-for-placement/connection speaking about their home to prospective buyers who have never set foot in their home, let alone speak on behalf of their most prized and personal asset?