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But Mr. & Mrs. Seller… You can’t HANDLE the truth!

Here is the cold hard truth about selling a home in this VOLATILE real estate market.

What you paid for your home, does not affect the value of your home.
What your neighbor sold his home for last year, does not affect the value of your home.
Fixing the roof, maintaining the A/C or ensuring the plumbing does not leak - does not increase the value of your home. You have simply brought the home up to selling standards. Buyers have a right to expect a roof that does not leak.
The metallic wallpaper, shag carpet & 1970's Formica is not considered RETRO, it should be updated!
Bright, Bold colors are not a great selling point. (I love them & have them in my own home... tastefully done of course... but I'm not selling MY home & if I were, I would REPAINT)! Remember, how we live in it & how we sell it are 2 VERY different things. We must appeal to the MOST buyers possible.
Smoking & Pet Odors KILL DEALS!
If I can only show your home between 2:00 - 2:23 pm on odd days by appointment only with you, your kids, grandma & your yapping Chihuahua - I'm probably going to PASS!
Please don't follow me from room to room pointing out the kitchen and bathrooms. I've sold over 1000 homes and can easily identify these rooms on my own. Please DO NOT Tag Along
If you have broken down vehicles, old appliances or any unidentifiable objects stored in your front or back yard - this does not highlight the size of the yard, it accentuates the fact that you don't care enough about your property to maintain it.
IF you HAVE to be home during a showing, please Do NOT volunteer conversation. Be courteous but don't force conversation with a potential buyer. They want to inspect your home, not make a social call.

For maximum home selling success I recommend the following:

Price your home according to what is going on in your marketplace TODAY (NOT 12-24 months ago when you WISH you would've sold)
Make it available & EASY to show
Turn on your lights
Open the blinds - let the SUNSHINE in
Remove your PETS & your KIDS
Clean, Organize, Make the beds & DE-CLUTTER!
COOPERATE with your agent... Most agents do not get paid until they sell your home. Contrary to what you may believe, they have YOUR best interest at heart.

My final thought (for this post anyway) is this... Please don't call me and ask me for feedback unless you are prepared to hear the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth. Know that my feedback is just that, my opinion (and probably my clients - although the two are not always the same).

My opinions are not meant to offend you in any way, shape or form. If what you really want to know is if we will be writing an offer and you'd rather not know our thoughts/opinions - by all means, let me know & I would be happy to answer with a YES or NO!

NOW GET OUT THERE & SELL YOUR HOME!

Posted by Sue Nelson, Broker/Associate Las Vegas Real Estate ~Team Rhino~ on 08/01/2007 08:22 PM

Comments (28)

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28 Comments on But Mr. & Mrs. Seller… You can’t HANDLE the truth!

AUG

2007

Sue, I had this same thought today - well said - now that will free you up to work with the serious sellers in your market.

Susie: Absolutely... Serious, motivated sellers ONLY for me! Have a great day.

I'm just totally in disbelief. Sellers in my area are just NOT willing to let go of their perceived equity. They are living in dream land.

What they will not hear is that prices are still going down, down, down.

Lenn: Most sellers need a good dose of reality, no question.

An eye opener for some,,,,only the truth prevails.

Tina: Only those who choose to believe though... sadly, the rest will keep doing what they've been doing.

Wow! Do we have the same sellers? You described too a "T" my current situation! I might have to print that! Very well put! Bravo!

Teresa: I think they are all going to the same "we don't really want to sell our house" school. :)

You said alot and you said it well. Every seller should read this before they go to bed at night.

Angelica: I have a similar document in my "your home is listed, what to expect" portion of my listing package.

Sue - you are right. If you are going to do your clients any justice, then you must tell the truth

Dan: The truth is not nearly as popular as it should be though, is it?

You're absolutelyright but we still need to remember,people have an emotional attachment to their home. Ithink sometimes you have to be a little more gentle with them. I have tol clents we are not advertising them any more because the price is just to high. But I still break it to them genly and let them make their own decision and then i live witheither one and do my job.

Hugh: That's all we can do, is deliver the information... it's up to them whether or not they want to embrace our suggestions.

Wouldn't we all love to send this to some homeowners. Add one comment 99 cent laminate is not an upgrade!

Sue, You're candid. I like that about people. I believe that Realtors who skirt the issues and don't address the obvious are doing their clients a disservice.

Sandy

Marjorie & Doug: I think you could very easily give this list to a homeowner... especially if it had another agents name on it - because it's not coming from you!

Sandy: Thank you! My mom lives outside of Olympia and my legal name is Sandra Nelson... small world.

You get a 5 from me! I believe in telling it like it is, albeit in a gentle manner. My clients may not always like the message that I have to deliver but, eventually they appreciate that I'm always honest with them. So, maybe they can't handle the truth initially...but they always come around.

Rebecca: Thank you!! Most of them come around... and it's always great when they do!

AUG

2007

Sue, Its amazing that people just can't figure out these things on our own. I think tis post has inspired me to write the equivilant about he Mortgage Industry. I will start with:

just because your neighbor got XXXX interest rate does not mean you will get the same rate

LOL, Great post Sue!

Steak: Oooh, I like the concept. Yes, your neighbor got an ARM @ 0% interest - but it just adjusted and now they are in foreclosure... is that what you want?? :)

As an appraiser I am just glad all I have to do is go inside and measure. I don't have to try to explain value and how or why their home is not selling. It's a rough market and alot of people out there just don't undersatnd plain common sense, cean your home and fix the things you need to fix otherwise do not expect max value for your home.

Get after the sue, seller need to be properly educated, sounds like you're doing the job.

William: Your job is easier, but you do get most of the blame! Bad Appraiser... doesn't give me ANY extra money for that $5.00 flat of flowers I put out front... How dare they!!

Brian: I'm sure trying, I can tell you that!!

AUG

2007

AMEN, Sue! You hit this one spot on! Thanks!

Carol: Thank you!

OCT

2007

Sue,

Preach on Sister! That was very well said and with great timing. The market changes, and sellers have to change along with the market. It's our job to help them get there.

Ray: I couldn't agree more.. it's our job to make them aware of the flaws in the property or anything that could impede the progress of a timely sale!

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