Your Realtor is not your scapegoat

You've hired a professional real estate agent to market your home because you realize that by doing so, you will have the BEST chance of selling your home for the HIGHEST PRICE in the LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME. Please, please, PLEASE, listen to your agent...and please, please, PLEASE don't treat us like your scapegoat when your home doesn't sell.
I believe I speak for all agents when I say:

Number 1: I cannot read your mind! Please don't expect me to somehow anticipate that you would leave for a week and turn your air conditioning off in 90 degree weather. As a seller, it is your responsibility to make sure that your home is in show ready condition at all times. I don't feel it is fair to get a phone call from you telling me that your home was probably too hot and didn't show well during the past week, and that you are upset with me because I should have somehow known this...and turned on your AC before every showing. If you want me to do something while you are away...you have to ASK.

Number 2: I did not remodel your home into a floor plan that doesn't accommodate most buyers. I did not pick your lot, put up the flowered wallpaper, or choose your cabinetry. Your home will not appeal to EVERY buyer, no matter how much YOU love it. Please don't blame me when your remodeling or decorating choices make your home harder to sell, or when you haven't serviced your furnace since 1980.

Number 3: I cannot make a buyer want your home! I know you would like to believe that I have magic powers that will sell your home...but I don't. I can't twist a buyer's arm until they "give", I can't force agents to call me back with feedback, and I can't make them give me a reason why the buyers chose another home over yours. They just liked it better. End of story.

Number 4: I do not control the market. I cannot make your house worth more money, even though I wish I could. I don't set prices. If it's overpriced, it will not sell. And if some buyer does come along and offers you your price, it still has to appraise...or no deal. Also, I did not take all the equity out of your house to purchase a boat, take a vacation or to pay off your credit cards. What you owe has nothing to do with what your house is worth. Please don't blame me for the economic conditions of the market or for your spending habits.

Number 5: Please listen to me when I suggest a certain price, or ask you to clean your windows, mow your lawn, remove your wallpaper, or allow showing flexibility. I KNOW the market. I KNOW your competition. I want YOUR HOME to be on a level playing field. I want you to be successful.

Number 6: If you don't trust me, if you don't believe in the hard facts of the market data that I provide...then please don't hire me. We'll both be miserable. I am a professional and I deserve to be treated like one. I will work extremely hard for you and will market your home 24/7. I will go out of my way to make you happy. Please don't tell me how to do my job. I've worked with HUNDREDS of buyers and sellers. This is what I do. I know how to do it, and I'm good at it.