I always appreciate referrals and work my hardest to give the best service to all of my clients.
But sometimes that just isn't enough.
I was thrilled to receive a referral from a potential future client based on my interactions with them through social media and then meeting them in real life. They see the work I do, the marketing, how hard I work for my clients. When a co-worker asked them if they knew a great agent in Towson, they immediately recommended me since I live and work there.
I went on the listing appointment a few weeks ago. I was well prepared, had my numbers, statistics, marketing pieces and information, and know the neighborhood very well -- I even have a good friend who lives down the street so I am very familiar with the area.
The listing appointment was odd, though. I couldn't put my finger on it, as we walked through the house, but something just didn't click.
Then we sat down to discuss price and marketing. And we hit a brick wall.
All of the data, including recent sales, tax-to-value ratios, and price-per-square foot averages led me to a certain price range. Their take was much different. Then I was asked why they should use an agent rather than sell on their own. Though I answered the question, speaking of marketing and the majority of the negotiations etc coming at or after the contract, I already knew I did not want to be their agent. These sellers had their set idea of price and what they expected, and I knew that I could not help them achieve either ideal because I cannot create a market price where there isn't one, and I clearly was not the right person to lead them to a successful sale.
That being said, I did not know how to handle this, because I still am hoping for the people who referred them to use me at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Yesterday morning, the answer came in the form of an email informing me that "We've decided to go with another realtor" [sic].
Would I have loved to have another listing in an area where I specialize? Sure. But not at the wrong price and with expectations that I cannot possibly meet.
Sometimes people are just not a good match. And that is OK. There is no need to force a bad match, because in the end, it will cause you (and them) more stress than is necessary in an already stressful situation.
*3/6/10 -- As a follow up, the home came on the market with the other REALTOR, and I am happy with whom they chose because he will work his hardest to get it sold. The sellers did, however, overprice it from where the market data showed by about $40,000.*
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