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"WIGGLING THE LURE". THREE PRICING STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP SELL YOUR HOME...

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

I love fishing.  I have since I was a kid.

Selling houses is a lot like fishing. 

     Ken sells homes vs. Ken catches a bass

When you put your home on the market, you are really going fishing. 

You are fishing for a buyer.  And the bigger the fish, the better...

Three pricing strategies that will help sell your home.
 

  1. Wiggling the lure.   I use this strategy with my sellers who have a very interested party looking at the home.  Several positive showings in a row or a second showing. 
    Sometimes a small reduction of $1000 or so will trigger a strike/contract offer.  It is like "wiggling the lure" in front of the fishes nose...

  2. The slow and steady retrieve.   Small price reductions done at regular intervals.  Perhaps 1-2% of the asking price every two weeks or so.  
    Each price reduction causes an email to be sent to thousands of would be buyers searching for a certain criteria (ie. Naperville townhome, Four Lakes condo).  It also insures an overpriced home will eventually find it's proper market and get sold...

  3. The negotiation reduction.   I use this strategy when a home has an offer but the negotiations are going slowly.  Let's say you are asking $400K for your home.  A bidder comes in at $350K.  You counter with $390K, but don't get much response.  My advice would be to reduce the price of your home to $390K immediately.  You have already admitted you would sell it there.  Tell everyone!

    This might cause your reluctant bidder to rethink his position, and accept your offer.  Either way, more buyers will be interested...

 

Remember, just like fishing, it's not just the bait you use, but the presentation...

Ken

       

Comments(103)

Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Hi Ken,

Love your analogy. Good idea on reducing the price to where the sellers accepted. I've done it but it has been awhile.

Mar 30, 2010 11:56 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Mark, Erica, Green, Elliot, Gary, Ted, Heather, Billy, Gene, Alana, and Jeff.  This is fun. 

Love all the traffic!

Thanks everyone for reading.  I am glad you enjoyed the post.

I like a game of poker from time to time...

Erica, so happy to see you are excited.

Marc, not many climb aboard with the idea right away.  But it does get them thinking price.  That helps getting the home sold.

Thanks again everyone!

Ken

Mar 30, 2010 11:59 AM
Jenn Erickson
Oaklawn Real Estate - Wilmington, MA
Broker|Owner - Oaklawn Real Estate

Great analogy and has given me some good ideas on how to handle a listing.  I appreciate your insight.  Happy fishing!

Mar 30, 2010 12:31 PM
Dinah Stallworth-Lewis
Priority Real Estate LLC - 318.332.8281 - Natchitoches, LA
NATCHITOCHES, LA HOMES FOR SALE

Great tips for negotiating offers.

Mar 30, 2010 12:56 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

That last one is interesting...  I've done the other two.  I like to pop the listing up in mind every once in a while...

Mar 30, 2010 01:13 PM
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Ken I love it. I like numbers 2 & 3. They both sound like good plans to get a modestly overpriced listing in line.

Mar 30, 2010 01:35 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Tom, Lane, Dinah, and Jennifer.  Wow.  Thanks.

It's a great feeling when you write a post so many enjoy.

Let's all sell some houses!

Ken

Mar 30, 2010 02:12 PM
Michael Eisenberg
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Real Estate Guy

Great analogy about price reductions, fantastic way to get your point across.

Mar 30, 2010 04:22 PM
John Alesi
Century 21 Award - Mission Viejo, CA
(Orange County California Real Estate)

Ken, I especially like your second point of a slow and steady price reduction.  Each time there is a change, it gets noticed by all who have it in their search.

Mar 30, 2010 05:23 PM
Ty Lacroix
Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc - London, ON

Ken:

All 3 are good strategies but unnecessary if the home is priced correctly the first time.

Ty

Mar 31, 2010 12:53 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Michael, John and Ty.  Thanks for reading!

Glad so many are enjoying this post.

Thanks again,

Ken

Mar 31, 2010 02:08 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Michael, John and Ty.  Thanks for reading!

Glad so many are enjoying this post.

Thanks again,

Ken

Mar 31, 2010 02:09 AM
Aaron Silverman
SuccessfulRental.com, Bluewater Property Management, LLC and Lowcountry Turnkey Properties, LLC - Charleston, SC
Improving Real Estate Experience through Education

Good tips.  Thanks.

Aaron

Mar 31, 2010 05:49 AM
John Basila
A Denver Home - Littleton, CO

Love the creative blog!  Wish I had thought of it!!

Mar 31, 2010 12:03 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi John and Aaron.  Thanks so much for reading.

Wow.  The 98th comment.  Pretty cool.

Thanks again everyone for reading!

Ken

Apr 01, 2010 12:48 PM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Ken,

I think marketing always has a bit more art than science.  I appreciate your fishing tips.

steve

Apr 01, 2010 06:27 PM
Mike Woods
M.S.WOODS REAL ESTATE, LLC - Indianapolis, IN

Tip number 3 was excellent and makes perfect sense. That is a great strategy for all to consider.

Apr 02, 2010 03:27 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Ms and Steve.  Thanks for reading.

I haven't read this post in a couple weeks, but just made me chuckle now...

Thanks again guys!

Ken

Apr 18, 2010 01:34 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Interesting tactics Ken. You gave me someting to think about. I like your analogy.

May 11, 2010 05:44 PM
Matt Robinson
Professional Investors Guild - Pensacola, FL
www.professionalinvestorsguild.com

Great post and great ideas!  I will add those 3 strategies to the tool belt, and go on my merry little way.  Keep raining...

Sep 03, 2010 10:47 AM