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Should You Take Every Listing?

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams 302218

It is our job to help the seller to sell their home and inform them of what we know, what we have researched about the area, and their home. Everything needs to be addressed at the listing presentation from the price, market conditions, the appearance, what advantages their home has, and all the terms. If we take a listing solely based on what the sellers wants to do and saying yes to everything the seller says, then we are not doing our seller or ourselves any good, because we are not doing our job properly.

With that being said, we also have to keep in mind that it can be very costly for any agent to list every single listing that comes our way. Commission is the only thing we earn, so it is important to make sure the listing can be sold and will sell successfully. If we don't, we can end up spending alot of money and time marketing listings that are possibly overpriced, outdated, or just plain messy.


When your going to take a listing, ask yourself a few questions to be sure it is one that you want to present.

1. Would you buy the home yourself if you were a buyer?

2. Are the sellers terms and the time frames reasonable?

3. What are the positives and negatives of the home? Do the positives out number the negatives?

4. Are the sellers motivated?

5. Can the home be shown well? (If not, what can be done to improve it and will the sellers agree to it?

6. Will the sellers list with you on your terms?

If you can answer "No" to any of the questions above, I would think twice before listing the property.


Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
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Comments(4)

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Another agent in our office has a townhouse on the market for six months. Two offers and the most recent a good offer.....and the seller says...I really don't know if I want to sell.  I felt sorry for that agent who worked so hard for the last six months. MANY Open Houses and ads. goodness.

Aug 21, 2009 03:34 AM
Jon Budish
Resident Realty - Fort Collins, CO

When I lose a listing because the sellers don't believe my assessment of all of things you address, I keep track of the progress on the M.L.S. as a way of assessing my original thoughts. They almost always end up expired, or selling at the lower price that I recommended.

Aug 21, 2009 03:43 AM
Amy Jones
Amy Jones Photo - Mandeville, LA
(licensed in LA)

Good points. Realtors also need to have a list of points to consider when working for our buyer clients.

Aug 21, 2009 05:13 AM
Brande Bradford
Keller Williams - McDonough, GA
Realtor

Sally, that is so unfortunate for your agent in your office. I know how that can be.

Jon, that is a good thing to do, great idea!

Amy, thank you and your right, good thought for a blog.

Sep 03, 2009 09:07 AM