What are you going to do - magically produce a list of eager preapproved buyers to play bidding games with (dang - that only works in a rising market)QUOTE]
That doesn't necessarily happen in a rising market, it depends on the area. Most agents would/should keep a database of people that look for a particular area, price, house type etc and they can be contacted, fact not myth.
or pony up the seller's deposit / stamp duty yourself.
Should that be purchasers stamp duty?
Go on, convince me of the tangible value that an agent can deliver today - apart from advising prices decreases till the market responds
Advising price decreases has actually been the advice by the majority of posters on this site on related issues, so its funny that you should pin that on EA's. Even lately there has been OPs staing that their EA was advising against dropping price and you guessed it, the EA was accused of not doing right by their client.
Regarding service, I rarely use myhome as daft seems to get a better return down here as do the local papers. Further value that can be added is an office that can have your property on show with a sales brochure for those that dont use the net, agents can be contacted pretty much 7 days a week, we would have a much broader knowledge of the market, you do need to know more than your area as people will be keen to make comparisons, an agent can bring a client from another property to yours because they tick similar boxes, on top of all that issues of property law, planning, stamp duty etc are better dealt with by a professional.
There good and bad agents out there, just like any other profession. It pays to shop around and not to transfix on the selling price or the fee.