The Search Begins: Hunting Down My Perfect Agent

I don’t know how many chapters this story will end up having—but I do know this: it’s going to chronicle, in vivid detail, the wild ride of selling my Breckenridge cabin. The decisions, the strategies, the missteps, the surprises, the villains, the heroes—it’s all going in here, so you don’t have to live it yourself.

My launch plan was simple enough: start lean with MLS exposure through ByOwner.com. About $150 for their website, or $195 plus a half-percent at closing if I tack on MLS. If that doesn’t produce traction, I’ll graduate to a reduced-fee, full-service agent. And if that flames out? Fine—then I’ll bite the bullet and go full pop. But that is the absolute last resort.

I officially kicked things off early Saturday morning, coffee in hand and optimism in the air. Within hours, the chaos began. Deception? Check. Intrigue? Double check. A surprising hero already stepping into the spotlight? You’ll meet them soon enough.

Buckle up. I’m about to do the exhausting, confusing, occasionally infuriating work most sellers don’t have the patience or appetite for. You? You just get to watch. Front row seats. Free admission. And trust me—once you see what I’ve already seen, you’ll be glad you’re not the one on the tightrope.

Because here’s the truth: finding the right agent is personal. Deeply personal. Every seller has their own mix of priorities—timing, price, transparency, marketing plan, fees, ethics, personality. I have mine, and you’ll have yours. The trick is finding the agent who understands your values and refuses to put their interests ahead of yours.

So, what did my first 24 hours look like?

I moved—fast.

• I reopened communications with a Redfin full-service, reduced-fee agent I’d previously worked with. They charge 1.5% and got a past deal done.
• I tapped Clever, who claims their agents come in around that same magic number—1.5%. Two reached out almost immediately.
• I spoke with a broker from 1% Lists—yes, that’s their real branding.
• I dropped a note in a Facebook group asking for agents willing to negotiate fees. The silence was deafening.
• I tried UpNest (owned by Realtor, by the way), but the lowest I saw was 2%.
• An agent I happen to know contacted me after seeing my UpNest post—we’re actively exploring that.
• Zillow? As I’ve said elsewhere—that door’s staying shut for now.

And because I don’t do chaos without structure, I built a leaderboard. A literal scorecard. And right now, one agent is out in front by a mile. And no, it’s not just about who charges the least. Commission matters—a lot—but I’m looking for my perfect agent, and that perfect agent may have a greater commission.

Here’s my criteria, and I’m not compromising:

• Full-time. Ethical. Client-first.
• Experienced and connected—especially as the market shifts toward buyers.
• Creative. Strategic. Not average.
• Smart enough to price correctly the first time.

Because here’s the math nobody disputes: I’d rather pay 1.5% on a $1M sale than 1% of nothing when the property doesn’t sell.

The good news? I’ve already learned things you’ll want to know. For one, buyer agents aren’t all wandering around asking what the comp is anymore—they’re just writing it straight into the offer. To that I say: farewell and good riddance to the steering era.

Gone are the days of hearing,
“If you don’t offer industry-standard buyer comp, no one will show your home.”

What still needs to change? The idea that the seller pays. Buyers—listen closely—you finally have leverage. Negotiate that fee. You’re the client. Use the power. Why? Because you pay in the end.

This is only the beginning. The stories, the tactics, the headaches, the wins—they’re coming. And I’m going to lay them out so clearly, you’ll either be wildly entertained, wildly grateful, or wildly prepared.

Either way, welcome to the ride.