Once a property goes to market, most sellers expect regular updates from their agent. And most agents deliver them. The real question is whether those updates contain the information sellers actually need to make good decisions.
After more than 35 years in real estate, I’ve noticed a consistent gap: sellers may receive plenty of activity updates, but very little meaningful insight into how buyers are genuinely responding to their property.
A report showing 25 inspections, 1,500 online views and a handful of interested parties might sound encouraging. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
Download our Free Downsizer's Home-Selling Guide for 2026
What sellers really need to understand is what happened after those inspections. Who came through? What did they say? Did they believe the property represented good value? Have they requested a contract, downloaded a strata or building report — and if so, have they been followed up?
Most importantly: what is the collective feedback telling us about how the market is responding?
This is where quality reporting becomes invaluable.
Many agents focus their reports on statistics, and only include detailed commentary on buyers who’ve expressed strong interest. The problem with that approach is that some of the most valuable information comes from buyers who aren’t interested. Understanding why a buyer chose not to proceed can reveal patterns that help sellers make smarter decisions throughout the campaign.
A quality buyer feedback report should identify each buyer by name and provide meaningful detail: their level of interest, their personal circumstances, their feedback on the property, any comments about price, whether they’ve requested a contract, and what follow-up has taken place.
The purpose of reporting isn’t to demonstrate that the agent is busy. It’s to help sellers understand what the market is telling them — so they can make confident, informed decisions at every stage.
This is also why I pay close attention to reporting when helping clients select an agent. During interviews, I always ask to see examples of the reports sellers can expect to receive. The quality of those reports reveals a great deal: how thoroughly buyers are being followed up, how well feedback is being captured, and how much a seller will actually know once their campaign is underway. It’s a question more sellers should be asking.
Detailed written reporting also creates accountability. Sellers should be able to see that every buyer has been contacted, follow-up has occurred, and no opportunity has been missed.
Red Flags to Watch for When Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Some agents rely primarily on verbal updates, texts or WhatsApp messages throughout a campaign. While these have their place between inspections, they shouldn’t replace proper written reporting. Selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions most people will ever make. Buyer feedback, pricing commentary and follow-up discussions are important pieces of information — they deserve to be documented and available for review.
Without a written record, it’s far harder to identify trends, track buyer behaviour and make informed decisions as the campaign evolves.
One question I encourage every seller to ask their agent is simply this: “What is the market telling us right now?” A good agent should be able to answer that clearly — and back it up with evidence from buyer feedback and campaign response.
The better informed a seller is, the better positioned they are to achieve the best possible outcome. Good reporting is what makes that possible.
Selling a home involves a series of important decisions, and having access to the right information makes all the difference. If you’d like an independent perspective on your selling strategy, agent selection or campaign performance, feel free to book a call at a time that suits you — or call me directly on 0411 522 233.
Book A Free 30 minute
Phone Consultation With
Our Vendor Advocates!
Exceptional guidance ⎯ outstanding result!
“We recently engaged Kathryn Fantov as the Vendor Advocate for the sale of our mother’s home, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. From the outset, Kathryn was proactive and professional. She introduced herself to our solicitor and ensured she was kept in the loop with the contract preparation. We entrusted her with the keys to the property, and she promptly conducted an inspection, providing us with a detailed report outlining what needed attention.
Kathryn then created a clear and practical timeline to guide the process. She researched the local property market thoroughly and shortlisted three real estate agents, interviewing each one. She provided us with a comprehensive agent comparison report, which made our decision easy and informed. She also sourced quotes for both internal and external cleaning, and throughout the entire process, she maintained excellent communication with all three of us. We always felt informed, supported, and confident in her guidance.
Right up to auction day, Kathryn was exceptional. Her expertise and dedication helped us achieve a result that exceeded our expectations.
Would we use her again? Absolutely—without hesitation.”
⎯ Denise Argus
