Motivation For Recommended Vendors

Dear Phyllis,
I am going to be listing
my home for sale soon. The
Realtor I interviewed suggested
making some minor repairs
to my home. She had a lot of
recommendations for the front
yard and pushed her preferred
gardener. The way she pushed
him made me uneasy. Also, she
has a painter and a handyman
she prefers. I liked that she
wants to help prepare my home
for sale. However, I felt that she
might have some motivation for
nearly insisting on my using
her vendors. It almost felt like
she had a fi nancial incentive.
You have been a Realtor for
many years and I wanted your
input on her motivation for her
recommended vendors.
— Concerned

Dear Concerned,
Thank you for reaching out.
I appreciate your thoughtful
question and completely
understand your hesitation.

First, I do think it’s a positive
sign that the Realtor you
interviewed wants to help
prepare your home for sale. It
shows she’s invested in helping
you achieve the best possible
outcome. Strategic repairs and
improvements often result in a
higher price and a faster sale.
It’s natural to wonder if there
could be financial motivation.
While I can’t speak to her
specifi c intentions, I can share
that many experienced agents
do have a network of trusted
professionals they rely on—
not because they receive
compensation, but because
they know the quality of work,
responsiveness, and reliability
those vendors provide. That
consistency helps ensure a
smoother process for everyone
involved.

When it comes to the
gardener, it’s worth considering
that if your current gardener
hasn’t been maintaining the
yard to listing-ready standards,
it may not make sense to
entrust them with the front
yard improvements. Many
agents, myself included, prefer
to use a landscaper they trust
and who can also maintain the
work throughout the listing
period. It’s less about financial
gain and more about peace of
mind.

I’d recommend getting at
least one additional bid for
comparison for the painter and
handyman. That way, you’ll feel
confi dent that you’re making
informed decisions based on
both quality and cost.
Ultimately, you should feel
comfortable and confi dent
in your Realtor and her
recommended team. A good
agent will support your desire
to explore options and should
be open to answering any
questions you have about their
recommendations.
Warm regards.

Phyllis