Special offer

Sellers appreciate our services and hard work .....but how much do they really think we are worth?

By
Real Estate Agent with Brokered by eXp Realty LLC SL # 3014652

I just received a call from one of my market mailers. The gentleman lives in a neighborhood I actively farm. It is located in Pembroke Pines Florida. Just to let you know ....I lived there myself for 7 years and I know the area pretty well.

He called to tell me he was thinking of putting his home on the market. I started the conversation off by finding out what his current situation was and asked him what model he had. I also asked him when I could drop by and see the home. He told me he was unable to meet with me during the week....only on the weekend. I told him that I had a cancellation for Sunday and he told me he was too busy and that it would have to wait until the following weekend.

Before we went any further he asked me "how much do you guys charge?"I told him I usually do not discuss commission over the phone and I suggested we meet in person. I really need to see the home,the location and the condition before I could determine anything else. He became reluctant when I wouldn't give him the answer he was looking for. I decided to continue this conversation further by asking him "what exactly were you thinking of paying a full service Realtor(R) who has been doing this for almost 12 yrs." His answer was "Neal...I want to net $410,000 so whatever you get over that number will be what I will pay you". I guess he wasn't worried that the appraisal would not be an issue...yet he is asking me my opinion on what I thought the house should be priced at.

My answer to him was "well if my main objective is to get your home sold and you the best possible price in the least amount of time and with the least amount of convenience to you then if I brought you an offer of $411,000 and you accept it...does that mean you will only pay me $1,000 even if I invest my time and money and it takes 6-12 months to get it sold?" He said yes. I told him honestly if he was looking just to throw his listing on the MLS and do nothing else then I would take out my different level of services menu and work from that. I just simply refuse to take any additional over priced listings and in todays market it is important to price you home right.

I explained that most Realtors(R) are getting X amount but others are actually getting more just as an incentive for them to show properties. I'm not going to take a listing without any commitment to me and if it is not priced right then I refuse to take it just to babysit. Sellers need to ask themselves whether they want to own it or sell it.

Let's face it..most sellers want to know to main things...how much they are going to make and how much we are going to make.

I mentioned that I receive calls from many top Realtors(R) that will show my listings because of the compensation that is offered. He let it be known that he didn't have to sell but if a buyer was willing to pay his price he would listen to the offer. I started to think about that remark he made and that I haven't heard that saying in a long time. "Good luck to him." 

Most of them have to spend countless hours and mileage showing 30-40 homes before getting the buyer to actually make that offer. He needed to get the most out of his listing and he would get that benefit from my aggressive advertising along with the exposure of the cooperating Realtors(R) want to show his property. I wrote a post a while back that explains my recipe for success in this market. Even now it's very hard to find buyers with the saturated inventory we are experiencing.

I ended the conversation by wishing him luck and he said if things changed then he would give me a call

I would appreciate it if you would

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Posted by

Neal Bloom

Comments(35)

Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Paula,

I won't even write the contract for free...he forgets if I write a contract I just increased my liability for nothing.

Sally,

Grasping at straws.

Aug 07, 2007 01:21 PM
Diane Velikis
Coldwell & Banker Busch Real Estate - Luzerne, PA
Luzerne County Real Estate
I am being told by more and more FSBO's almost the same. I WANT AN OVERPRICED AMOUNT, and you get the rest...
Aug 07, 2007 01:56 PM
Calie Waterhouse
Chandler, AZ
Community Builder

WOW - Neal - I don't think I've ever heard it written so poignantly.  As a stager, I get so tried of hearing home sellers complain about their over-paid, under-working agents.  For crying out loud, do they just not grasp the intensity of how much a REALTOR does?  How many other professionals "volunteer" to work for 6-12 months basically for free?  It just irks me beyond belief that people think everything is negotiable.  Where do they get this stuff?

OK - I'll step down off my soapbox.  Thanks for the well written blog.  I appreciate the insight.

Aug 07, 2007 02:46 PM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor
Neal,

I got a call from a prospect that wants to sell her house, she wants to receive certain amount of money, when I know for sure that she can not get that amount, because her home it will be overpriced for what she wants, so will I waste my time with her? no ! I explained her what is the price with market analysis and she will not receive what she is expecting, so it is better or wait or I say to her "good luck" but I am not listing that property.
Aug 07, 2007 04:47 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Diane,

FSBO's that really do not need to sell are just trying not to accept that all the entities that caused the boom also killed our current market...now we all will pay for a while.

Ray,

They will just suck your resources away and then hire the next one to waste more time..I think they are just looking for a break in the market but I have news...when the next neighbor sells low...it will only bury the overpriced homes even more.

Aug 07, 2007 11:48 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
You did good, handled professionally, no motivation from the seller and must think much of our profession.
Aug 08, 2007 01:56 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Missy,

I'm just tired of sellers that are not willing to accept the fact the market has changed and if they want to sell they have to decide ...do they want to own it or they want to sell it?

Actually that is not even the issue...the issue is he wants to hire me but not pay me anything ..although I have to present all offers to him and if it is without any compensation included how in the world do I make anything from it.

Aug 08, 2007 04:20 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Neal. A very clear and concise conversation that goes to the heart of how many people think, at least in regards to our service. I have wondered for a very long time if it is REALTORS who inspire this thinking or if people generally can be this stupid.

The legal profession seem to do a more handy job of convincing consumers of their value. People are aghast at their costs but when you need one, you bit the bullet and get one.

Not so with real estate. It is seems to be equated as only a selling profession and not one based on the transfer process and being a trustee of the land, protecting , conveying it and insuring it is not unnecessarily encumbered. Consumers for the most part like us but resent us often for the what they pay for the services rendered.

I also wonder how it was that this became a contingent business, contingent on selling that is. There is tons of legal work that has no such contingency but the legal profession also provided for the winner take all scenario.

As our industry rebirths itself, with the liabilities ever more apparent, it will be interesting to watch our new industry unfold and see what it looks like for entrepreneurs that accept the new risks for the new rewards. I have an idea it is going to look like a pay cut, don't you? No more or less consumer respect, you just earn less and have more hassles.

A very smart post and one that warrants being featured because although this scenario is well known many will have valuable insight in how better to deal with and educate the consumer about what we really do when we agree to work on contingency fees.

Aug 08, 2007 08:14 AM
Michael Eisenberg
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Real Estate Guy
A good post and topici, some sellers are unrealistic, some don't need to sell. Wouldn't it be great to just work with those who need to sell and have reasonable expectations and willing to pay their realtors a fair commision............... Ah but we don't all  live in a perfect world. Some of us are luckier than others though at getting more realistic clients
Aug 08, 2007 11:55 AM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Neal - "Been there done that".  I have always felt that one of the most important lessons Realtors will learn is "Knowing when to walk away".  There are a lot of motivated and reasonable sellers out there.  Why spin our wheels with ones that not only want to price their home above market value but don't think our time and money invested are worth anything to them.  When I learned to walk away and leave on good terms my business started to flourish.  The reason it did is because I was able to focus 100% of my time working with buyers and sellers that respected me and felt I brought value to the table.  Great post my friend and have a wondeful evening.
Aug 08, 2007 01:23 PM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
RealtorĀ®, Springfield Mo Real Estate
Neal, in todays market, if the sellers are not willing to pay, it's only hurting them not us.  We can't afford to take an overpriced listing, with the seller determined to make as much as then could in a good market.  I'm turning them down if they want to discount the realtor.  Good for you!
Aug 08, 2007 01:57 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

William,

You are so right..this business is contingent on everything. If a deal went south it could be because it was contingent on my next meal at MC Donald's.:) or how many times I drove to the supermarket:)

Micheal,

I think they might just be bored and are looking to see if they can find a fish willing to pay them what they want. Again ...if it does not appraise then unless it is an all cash deal then they are just waiting for the market to change and are wasting time.

George,

I hated walking away but the more I think about it....I think that all I am doing is supporting their habit. We know it is virtually impossible to sell at that price and do they think we are that desperate to work for free? I wish they would put themselves in the other position and see how the other side lives.

Kay,

I can't wait for the market to change again...you'll see so many sellers scrambling to get their price before the next bubble.

 

Aug 08, 2007 11:41 PM
Jeannette Morrison
Cedar Park,Leander,Georgetown & Lake Travis Areas. - Cedar Park, TX
Central Texas Real Estate, NW Austin, Round Rock

Neal,

Way to go!!  You do our profession proud by being so honest and professional.  Kudo's to you.  These type of sellers drive me nuts!  It seems to me that they still don't get that this is our livelihood and our business!  We are putting food on our table for our family's.  Why should we do this for free?  What would they pay per hour for us to do what is required to sell their home!

 

Good for you!!

Aug 10, 2007 02:16 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Jeannette,

There is no sense wasting time with a seller who does not care to employ a professional that knows what they are doing unless they are willing to pay us for our services. My question is..do we negotiate our meals in a restaurant? no....

Aug 11, 2007 12:52 AM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor
Neal,

I could not agree more with you,  you are absotely 100% right ;)   it is very difficult to undestand some sellers, they do not want to learn from our professional experiences / advises.

Ray Saenz
Aug 11, 2007 06:02 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Ray,

Well thank you...but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there is nothing for us.:)

Aug 11, 2007 12:45 PM
S W
Seattle, WA

Neal,

It certainly seems the seller is not a ready, willing, and able seller. He's not really a seller at all! I wouldn't touch that listing with a ten foot pole.

I don't succumb to some clients' views on realtors as overpaid, underworked, etc. They're entitled to their view, I don't agree with it, it certainly isn't true for me. I keep holding myself as someone worth my pay. I'll tell them what I do, how I sell their home, we talk about the services I provide in my fee, but if they can't afford me because of the price they need or are hoping to get, then they can't afford me.

I am thinking about offering the option for sellers to pay a lump sum upfront, something smaller than the full commission to make it appetizing. It won't be heavliy discounted, but it would be an option for my sellers who desire a "smarter" commission structure. This also helps the seller to percieve that they are getting a bargain... The larger amount I'll charge at closing is something they agree to if they are uncomfortalbe footing the funds. If they foot the funds, then they are eager and willing to sell. And if they do not, I won't take the listing unless it's priced according to market (as opposed to above). 

Aug 14, 2007 08:33 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Sara,

The bottom line is these type of sellers are just looking for a free ride..they do not care that we also work for a living..We try to help our clients to the best of our ability. They think we should work for free and of course when things go wrong..they love to always blame us for something which is out of our control. they also do not let us do what we need to do.

Kathleen,

If I have to bring him an offer and he accepts it..then do I only get paid the difference and do I use an open listing agreement? No way Jose. put something on paper to show some incentive.

Aug 18, 2007 12:23 AM
Cheri Smith
Prudential Gary Greene, Cypress TX - Cypress, TX
Realtor Prudential Gary Greene

When people act like that. I am learning to smile and very politely say that I would very much appreciate it if they would try for the next 3 months to sell their home on their own. I tell them if they sell it then great, they have just saved themselves 6% and if not, I will gladly take their listing for one year at 6% in 3 months time or whenever they are ready. That's making a long story short but you get the idea. 6% is less than the average 15-20% waiters get! I bet if they added up all of the tips they paid in a year they'd see our 6% differently!

Aug 18, 2007 06:46 AM
Alex Bautista
Hathaway Real Estate Group - Lacey, WA
Lewis-McChord & Fort Lewis Area Real Estate

Neal,

Thanks for the post. I'm glad you stood your ground. I have to admit I've found out the hard way that overpriced listings are just waste of time and resources. When I first started real estate I would take listings even though I knew the price the seller wanted/demaned was overpriced. I was just happy to get the listing but I've since realized that it's better to pass on those kinds of listings and concentrate on homes that actually have a chance to sell. It's especially true in this declining market.

Aug 18, 2007 05:19 PM