So my ex decides it's time to sell the house he moved out of (the one I'm living in) and pressures me to sell it "by owner"  I've got a full time job and use all my free time keeping up a place that used to be kept up by no less than 2 adults and 3 teenagers!!!  I put my foot down and say ......well, it's probably not fit to print even here in "Out of Bounds".  Anyway you get the gist.  So I hire a real estate agent who seems the least annoying........at first.  Super low-key and nice until I sign.  Then he becomes Mr. Nag, lecturing me to keep the place clean, and clutter free, windows gleeming, no personal effects left out - like my toothbrush in a pretty ceramic holder on the bathroom counter!!! (I do still live here after all), paint this and that, polish ....get this, the copper plumbing in the basement!!!! etc,etc,etc.  I kill myself trying to make the place as perfect as humanly possible, and it was a very nice, clean, comfortable house before all this "professional advice".   Now the house as been on the market one mere month.  He has shown it to two couples, only one of which actually wanted a horse property, which mine is.  Other real estate agents have shown it to people who haven't been qualified to buy it, or who weren't interested in living in the country!!!!  Now he emails me that he wants to reduce the price!  The places he has shown me that he thinks I might want to move into have either been way out of my price range (which he has been told over and over again) or they have been total dumps - and I'm not being snobby here - I mean places that would take thousands of dollars to make liveable!!!!  Now if I reduce the price of my house, how the hell am I supposed to afford something decent to move into???!!!!  All he is interested in is selling my place and making his godd**n commission, which is in the neighborhood of about $25K.  This irks the hell out of me.  What on earth has he done to deserve that kind of money????!!!!  It's more than I make in a year!!!!  Well, I told him I wasn't ready to reduce the price yet, hell, I'll stay here until the damn market improves even if it takes years!  And the ex has to keep helping support it as he has half interest in the place (and makes more money than God anyway so he can well afford it).  It's not my fault he decided that internet dating was just too good to pass up!!!!  AAAArrrrrgggghhhhh!  Geez, why does it seem so hard to just find someone to make a decent offer on a lovely home that has alot to offer and so that I can find a little place that's not falling down around me???            

I think I can boil it down to PEOPLE SUCK!!!  

Everyone anymore is out for the almighty $$$$$$$

they have help for all addictions except that one!!!!

No you aren't asking too much, or expecting too much.

Stay put as long as you feel you need, and Ex'll just have to deal! and so will the fuckin realtor!

That reminds me of those tv shows about selling houses.  The houses have to be in showcase condition before people even think about walking through it.  Those were set up to make a show but it does seem to be the trend around here now.  Are people that stupid that they can't see what a room looks like with a bit of clutter??  And why should you spend money painting when most purchasers are going to repaint anyway to get the color scheme they want?
And another thing, since we're on the topic.  I don't know if this is everywhere, but why is a set price agreed upon, then the purchaser brings in an inspector who then proceeds to tell you how many thousands you have to knock off the price because this and that needs fixing.  And they inflate the price of whatever needs fixing!!!  
It's been 15 years since I've sold a house, and I still remember exactly what you're going through.  Stand your ground, do what is best for you and don't let that guy push you around.

I have to agree with both responses. First off, if you're happy where you are, why should you have to leave? It was the ex's decision to abandon your marriage. And as such, he should be made to reap the result of his choice- including the cost of maintainng your home. If he wants to sell it so badly, offer to let him buy you out and he can wait around for a qualified buyer while you take your half and seek greener pastures. Or, if you truely love where you're at, try refinancing so you can buy him out of his half & he can then go pound sand. Either way, the real estate agent sounds like he got his sales experience on a used car lot. Best of luck to you.

Blessings,

Draco

Thanks for the support, everyone!  After I let off some steam I felt better.  I told the realtor I wasn't ready to reduce yet and got a lecture on my priorities, yadda,yadda, yadda....  I just stopped listening after awhile.  The good news is a year or two ago this all would have upset the hell out of me; but I've grown, made progress in my spriral dance on the wheel of life, and after the initial irritation it doesn't bother me anymore and I can sleep at night!!  Goddess will find me a buyer when the time is right and She'll help me find the right place to move into.  I'm just gonna be patient and have faith while I get on with my life.

I would seriously consider changing realtors if all they can think about in your situation is their commission.  ...because that's what the "priorities" lecture is really all about.    What YOU consider important is WHAT IS important...not what the realtor thinks.  I'm sorta with ya on the idea of not selling yet.  This is your home.  Think about it.

You are 100% correct Seamonster. As the seller, you are the boss Acasia. Who the hell does that realtor think he is giving you a lecture on priorities? If he's not willing to go the distance to get you the best possible price for your home, then he doesn't need your business! There are plenty of hungry realtors out there right now with the market in its current state. If he's so quick to get you to lower your price, he may have a buyer already lined up (possibly a friend or family member) who's interest holds a higher priority in his world. Sounds to me like he's a little shady. Just a thought darlin'

Blessings,

Draco

 Yep, I agree with you all.  I'll can be infuriatingly stubborn when I feel like it, and I feel a big stubborn streak coming on!  I know I have to move eventually, this house is way too big for one person.  And when the divorce settlement is final I doubt I'll be able to afford living here.  And I do want a little place where I can start over again, but I will not be pushed into doing what I don't want to do.  Thanks for all the wisdom and support.  I love this castle!!!!  

Boy that sounds familiar....I had my house on the market for over a year and 2 real estate agents....I figured the first ones (friends for years..) well things were going on like not getting my ad in the paper for open house ( a realtor open house which is .....cause NOT ONE person showed up ) so that tells me where things were going...well...I set me a price so....I decided to take it off the market..."things are bad right now"....they say ...........the minute it comes off I get all these calls from realtors trying to get my business..."things are picking up" ...right...so one guy had a good sales pitch and ALL of them I talked to asked me how I came up with the price...I told them the truth...where I want to live ...is not cheap but I wanted to go back to my old neighborhood I hate it out here my daughter needs a different environment for a school (terrible kids out here the gals she was with ....long story ) anyhow.....course he suggested to clean up and also all the boxes I have he suggested a storage unit.>>(sorry but I am NOT going that far) ...anyhow I did what I could and it's like why bother doing much I wasn't getting any calls but what? 2 the whole time and one gal came through and complained about stuff being too small mind you I was told by the 2nd realtor....I originally wanted $269,900 so I was talked into lowering the price to $233,000.....and still NOTHING which at that point I was hoping not to sell....but yeah I agree....all they want is their money no matter how much of the deal you come out of on the bottom...they are all pushing for that so called 1st time buyers thing and either way once that goes through they get money..........
I hope things work out for YOU and NOT them....some realtors can be a pain