Bad real estate agent...need advice

[Wing Feathers]

To the original poster: contact the agent's broker about this matter. No need for the personal threats just yet...

[DerbyCityDiva]

Wing Feather,
The poster said this was the only agent in the office, so I'd guess it's a broker/agent/one person company. And, if that's the case, it might help to explain the lameness about the website update as well. Could be she is also the webmaster. I'm not trying to justify her actions (or lack of them) I'm just trying to get a handle on this.
But wow, I have a really hard time understanding why any agent with any listing, wouldn't just jump on the price reduction thing. If the listing was originally over-priced, IMHO she dropped the ball from the beginning. But here's a chance to recover.
Personally, I have refused to list properties when the seller's opinion of the property's value didn't jive with the comps, and the neighborhood. It has saved me grief, advertising dollars and shoe leather. And, yes, like tomocox mentioned...the property would eventually sell thru someone else, very close to my target estimate. But oh well. On a couple of occasions, I was the selling agent, so everyone won. And in the end, those sellers understood, and respected my original honesty.
And I'm with Chele11 100%...

I've never seen a listing contract longer than 120 days.

...that's the first thing I thought as well. 8 months and it's not expired yet? I strongly suggest the poster doesn't do that again, with any agent.
rholloway should look for an agent that is willing to spend the advertising dollars necessary to get the property sold. There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking a prospective agent where they plan to advertise, and how often. You might also ask them for their additional plan of action, open houses, etc. Think exposure, exposure, exposure.
Honestly, I'll probably take a hit here, but I'm all about someone that sells real estate for a living. The broker/agent that works out of their home and has another job for their main income doesn't have the same investment in the outcome. Most second-job agents that will try and list something for as long as possible, and then just wait for a buyer to fall in the door. We used to call those agents 'me-takers'. If a buyer does stumble onto the listing, they'll write the contract and take the commission...;-)
The folks that earn a good living selling real estate are generally energetic, organized, and constantly moving. They tend to stay abreast of changes, and realize that selling your listing asap is in everyone's best interest. Selling real estate involves so much more than sticking a sign in the yard, and listing it in the MLS.
For most regular folks, their home is their most important investment. The buying and selling of property will be some of the most important and stressful decisions they'll make. For the price of that commission, you deserve a pro.

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by chele11

From a buyer/seller perspective and one who works continually with agents, I'd first read your contract with her. I've never seen a listing contract longer than 120 days. Some don't even have a length of time on them (I found that odd!)

Tomocox: It's a free country. If the OP states facts, even putting the agent's name would not be defamatory, but simply evidential.

Chele, while it is a free country, deflamation of another's character is not only inappropriate, if indeed ruled by a court to be financially detrimental to a business or business person, the offender can pay big time.

In your first point, you display quite a lack of experience. Yes, 90-120 day listings are popular in the 2009 era, but 180 day/six month listings, even 1 year listings are common. In Kentucky, as in most states now, the law clearly states that a listing contract must identify the termination date of the listing to be legal and therefore binding.