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Our house has been on the market for 7 weeks and we have had only 4 showings. Those 4 showings were in the first 2 weeks. We have had no showings at all in 5 weeks. We feel we are overpriced and would like to lower the asking price.
Our listing agent is taking, on average, 2-3 days to return our phone calls and e-mails. Before we signed the contract to list, our agent answered the phone immediately or returned calls/e-mails within an hour! We told our agent we want to reduce the price via voice mail (again) a few days ago and have not received a return phone call yet. This is not the first time we have asked to reduce price. The agent has come up with an excuse why we should not reduce the price every time we have asked to do so, but we are tired of waiting. No interest at all in 5 weeks leads me to believe we are not priced right.
We signed a contract and must keep the house listed with this agent until spring.
Is there any way out of this contract so we can list with another agent? Should we stick with this agent and hold on until spring?
Your next call should be to the agents broker. Let him/her know that the agent is giving you sub par service and you want a different agent to represent you. I would say that you want out of the contract due to the agents in attentiveness and reluctance to sell your property. Keep track of all your calls and the amount of time it takes the agent to respond. Then go speak to the broker. The agent works for the broker.
6 months for a sale agreement is too long. The agent is no hurry to sell. He's probably keeping you on the back burner or maybe a pocket listing where he may try to double end the deal. If he finds a buyer he may want to represent both the seller and buyer to capitalize on the full commission. I would get a different agent. I wouldn't do more than a 90 day agreement. That's plenty of time to sell a reasonable priced property
6 months is standard in my area, especially having a listing extending over the holidays. I do agree with calling the agent's broker and asking for a new agent to be assigned to you. If you want to drop the price, the agent needs to do it.
Six months is pretty standard around here, too, and we have a hot market. I didn't see where the OP said he had a 6 month listing agreement but any agent who does not return your call (assuming it comes to you during business hours) the same day is not servicing the listing properly, in my opinion, and I've never heard of an agent who minded a seller who wanted to lower the price! If your agent is so busy that he/she can't return your call promptly or lower YOUR price when asked, then why aren't you getting more showings?!! Talk to the managing broker and either get everything back on track with your agent or tell the broker you want a new agent...now.
a good agent will allow you to fire them at any time
Right, I would call and ask their broker to release you from the contract.
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This is not the first time we have asked to reduce price. The agent has come up with an excuse why we should not reduce the price every time we have asked to do so, but we are tired of waiting. No interest at all in 5 weeks leads me to believe we are not priced right. 
Be prepared
