Q: My dad is selling his place.

We followed your advice and contacted several listing agents. My sister and I interviewed a couple of them that we liked and had heard good things about. Each of them came up with about the same selling price for the house. Then a third agent shows up (not sure who told him about it) and told dad he can get a whole lot more money for the house. The agent brought comparable sales but they were for very different houses than the other two agents used. I think that agent is a rip-off artist, but my dad liked the price he quoted. What can I do?
A: There are always agents who will tell a seller what they think the seller wants to hear in order to be the agent who gets the listing (and the commission, of course.) What often happens is that the house will sit on the market for a long time because it is overpriced. In many cases that means the seller is losing money because while the house stays on the market, the mortgage, taxes, and insurance still have to be paid for those many months. Plus, they may lose out on something else they are trying to buy.
One idea might be to drive your dad by the sold homes that the first two agents used as comparables to his house. Discuss the similarities and differences. Then, drive by the places the third agent used to justify his higher price.
Keep in mind that homes should be compared by category. For instance, if your dad has a waterfront home, it should be compared with other, similar waterfront homes. If it is on acreage, it should be compared with homes that are also on acreage. If it needs a lot of work, and is really outdated, it should not be compared with homes that have been remodeled.
I recommend that you look closely at the reputation of each agent: their experience, and most importantly, their integrity. Get references! Find out how long their listings sit on the market before they sell. Choosing an agent is a very important financial decision, so do your homework.