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The Truth Hurts (Especially When You're NOT Telling It)

By
Real Estate Agent with West Shores Realty DRE# 01789768

The Truth Hurts (Especially When You're NOT Telling It)

I had a Listing appointment with a very nice woman a few weeks ago. She invited me into her home and let me share ALL of the information that I had for her home.  Finally, came the BIG Question: What is my home worth?  I gave her the value range for her home ending with an estimated List price. 

 

She was exstatic.  Why?  Because she said that I was the first Agent (out of 3) that gave her the FULL information regarding her home.  Her complaints were as follows:  lying

1.  The other two Agents had left out the lowest Comps for her home. (She already had a complete set of her own!)

2.  One of the Agents actually laughed at her when she asked about the "omitted" property saying that it was NOT a real sale (when it was a REAL sale)

3.  Both of the other Agents bad mouthed the other Agent AND myself.

 

LISTING TIPS:

1. Give ALL information for a home (even when it does NOT line up with your view of the home's value).

2.  Never laugh at another person EVER. It is just plain rude and should NEVER be done.

3.  Do NOT bad mouth the competition because it makes people look classless and insecure. 

 

In this case, the truth hurts because the other two Agents were not telling it.  Our Sellers have access to more information than ever before.  Trying outsmart our Sellers is NOT a wise thing to do...EVER.  It is bad business and it is bad Karma.  What say you?

 

Mark Velasco-Southern California Realtor (LA County)

www.SanGabrielValleyHomeSearch.com

Search MLS: Arcadia, San Marino, South Pasadena, Downey,& Whittier, CA What is my home worth?

 

Posted by

Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Agents should know better than to speak behind another agents back. Makes you look bad in front of a client, and if you do it in front of another agent, rest assured that will come back to bite you...

Nov 17, 2010 05:14 PM
Rama Mehra
Asante Realty - San Ramon, CA
TOP 1% REALTOR IN THE TRI-VALLEY

Totally agree !! Recently a very "Big" agent team lost 2 listings to me and I hear they are bad mouthing me all over town ! What goes around comes around.

Nov 17, 2010 05:19 PM
Jonathan Chi
Prudential California Realty - West Covina, CA
Real Estate & Marketing Professional

I think we should all respect each other.  Everyone works in a different way but it is very important to disclose all facts and information to the home owners.  Giving them false expectations usually just make things worse later.

Nov 17, 2010 05:23 PM
Maureen Fukumoto
Help-U-Sell Realty Pro - Mililani, HI
Maureen

I've never seen agents as desparate as they are today.  Some will say or do anything to get a listing.  Badmouthing other agents is not only bad business but a violation of the Code of Ethics to which we subscribe.

Nov 17, 2010 05:32 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

Those are three really good pieces of information to live by.

Nov 17, 2010 05:38 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

So true, Mark - and you were lucky, the seller was well-informed. (Some agents want to tell them what sellers want to hear...)

Good for you, the truth helped you!

Nov 17, 2010 05:44 PM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Jon: Very true.  Talking bad about other Agents makes us all look bad as a profession.

Rama: Nice!  I have heard a saying that goes "if others are talking bad about you...it means that you are a step ahead of them." Great work!

Nov 17, 2010 05:58 PM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Jonathan: Very true!  I have witnessed (first hand) the unrealistic Seller expectations that come from the Sellers being lied to.  It is really sad when they hear AND see the truth for the first time.

Maureen:  Violation of the Code of Ethics AND common decency.  Most people are sophisticated enough to see through the lies though.  I usually apologize to my Sellers for having to hear such things and I just move on.

Nov 17, 2010 06:02 PM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Tim: Thanks for the comment. These tips hold true for everyday living too.

Praful:  Most Sellers nowadays are VERY informed.  They usually already have ALL of the information they need...they just want to see who is telling them the truth.  This is a sad context to start a business relationship (starting with mistrust)

Nov 17, 2010 06:04 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Number 1 is not enlightened self-interest.

Number  2 is just dumb.  Sociality 101.

Number 3 is a violation of the code of ethics.

 

Three strikes and you should be out.

Apr 27, 2011 11:10 AM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Please show you referral client my recent posts on sales in the East Eugene and Ferry Street Bridge RMLS market areas....both done in the last week.

Apr 27, 2011 11:12 AM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Your comments are really funny Jim.  Thanks for stopping by.

May 01, 2011 07:30 PM