I’m riffing on the agent relationship that Kim Tracy Prince, the other mom blogger on this site, mentioned in her recent post. Taking the broad view, it seems to me that there are two types of agents who can help sell your house: the Shark and the Therapist.

As I mentioned last week, I met with three agents prior to listing my house. Oh, and a fourth one snaked her way in under the guise of wanting a showing, but was really trying to get me to list with her. I’ll write about that in a future post.

The first agent was slick:  nice new car, shiny shoes, crisp suit. He carried a glossy magazine devoted to the town and a laptop computer. He told me he’s the top seller in my town. He was all about making the sale. This guy was a shark. When he spots a sale there’s no doubt he’s going to make it.

The third agent from that fateful day was haimish; that is, he was unpretentious and warm, like family. I imagined calling him late at night seeking assurance or asking pressing (to me) questions. I was certain he was the kind of guy who’d hold my hand literally and figuratively if an offer fell through or we hit an inevitable bump in the sales process. Agent three was a therapist.

I don’t know which one is right for me. The Shark will find me a buyer, but will he talk me into taking a sale I don’t want? Will he be patient with me? I hate to think of my agent rolling his eyes if I call and interrupt his dinner, explaining to those around him that his crazy client is calling yet again. “Oh, the things I do for a sale,” he’ll sigh after hanging up the phone.

The Therapist wouldn’t do this. The therapist would be patient and understanding. But is he aggressive enough to bring in a buyer in this tough market?

My husband doesn’t waste time on such mental gymnastics. “Are you kidding?” He answers when I toss out my question. “I want a shark. I want to sell our house. I don’t need an agent to hold me up when times get tough.”

For now, we’re selling by owner (though we used a boutique firm to get us on the MLS), so I’ve managed to avoid this question.

In the end, it all comes down to trust. A seller has to go with the agent that she believes is going to get the job done ethically and efficiently. The Shark or Therapist monikers don’t matter. That said, if I come across a real estate agent who actually is a therapist and can legally prescribe anti-anxiety medications, I’ll sign a listing contract on the spot.