Bankrate.com fields a question from a disenchanted homeowner. "Q: Four months ago, I signed a six-month listing contract to sell my house with a big local real estate office. I think it was a mistake. They've only gone through the motions, and didn't bring a single offer, showing my home just twice in a fairly hot market. Now, I'm getting calls from them, saying the price is too high and I should cut it. If price was my only weapon, heck, I could have gone FSBO."

"A: Your best option at this point, unless you desperately need to sell your home immediately, is to wait out the balance of the contract and shop around for a new brokerage. But that won't necessarily strike at the root of the problem. While there's certainly a chance your agent is a slacker, there's a better chance your home is, well, a tad overpriced."

"Anyone who's been in the real estate business for a while will tell you that the most common reason a property isn't selling or being shown is a too-high asking price. Think about it: If your agency thought there was a good chance of selling your home at or near your asking price, it wouldn't be trying to talk you down, they'd much rather hold out for that higher commission check."

"I presume your home is priced above the area 'comps' that your agency should have compiled for you in a comparative market analysis. Sometimes, if such higher-than-market homes do attract suitors, the deals can disintegrate when buyers have trouble securing financing. For example, if present market conditions and comps for the past six months don't support your asking price at the bank, the home will not appraise favorably for a home loan."

"Be careful trying to hold out. If your house remains on the market too long, it might actually get harder and harder to attract good offers. After a while, buyers may assume you're getting desperate and will try to lowball you. Also, it doesn't sound as if there have been many, if any, buyer's agent tours of your house. In the first couple of weeks after it went on the market, there should have at been at least a few such agents dropping by to preview your place for their clients."

"The price may have kept them away. If buyer's agents are not bringing potential buyers around it could be a good indication they, too, think your house is priced too high."

"If you do plan to change agencies, interview three different ones and get estimates on your home's price range. But don't just pick the one that best agrees with you. Sometimes, agents will use that tactic, all the time intending to talk you into lowering your price later."