Do you feel obligated to list your home with your old buyer's agent? (new agent, state)

[oh come on!]

I see this often.

Owner bought home with buyer's agent Bob 10 years ago.
Owner wants to sell now, hires Bob.
Buyer's agent Bob does a visibly lousy job listing the home. Home doesn't sell.
Owner tries again 1-2 years later, again with Bob Buyersagent as the listing agent.
Home doesn't sell again.
Sometimes owner even tries third time with Bob again!


What's up with the attachment?


If you've been in a similar situation, how come other listing agents can't pry you away from your old buyer's agent?

[Jkgourmet]

I trusted the agent who was our buyers agent for our second home purchase, and sold our first home (First house agent had retired). She was great at that time. Eight years later, we hired her to sell that house and find us another. Did a decent job finding us a new house, but a truly awful job selling the current house. Bad. REALLY bad.

Frankly, I mostly blame me - NOT the agent. I'm responsible for hiring her before checking her current business plan and current success rates with selling homes. This was in a down market in Phoenix, AZ and she neglected to tell me that her primary business was currently REO's. I blame myself for not interviewing other agents, and re-interviewing her.

Five years later, we sold that third house and never even called her. Started all over by interviewing three new agents to sell it for us (we bought out of state).

[Hemlock140]

We bought 22 years ago, and our agent was a retired teacher. Much as I liked him, he has to be at least 85 by now, and hopefully retired. I think when we sell in a few years we'll find someone else.