I recently went on a listing appointment where I was the higher price of the agents interviewed. I had asked them to discuss the other agents figure with me prior to making any sort of decision to list the home. Of all things the price is one of the simplest adjustments to make. The agent wasn't just "some agent" it was an agent that had been used for the purchase of another home by these sellers. However our price difference was nearly 46,000 dollars apart on an 185,000 dollar home (my price).
Some may suggest that I bought the listing, however I can show proof of price. So I think we have to define the difference between buying a listing and pricing it right. I have a suspicion that the other agents were looking for a quick sale and quick commission check. I'm getting to my point so stay with me. The sellers called me shortly after the feedback from the other agent to list the home. I said I'd be happy to come out and list your house and went out to the appointment.
I know they didn't choose me simply because of price, but it was certainly a factor. This got me thinking about the typical seller. Even if the agent is high and way off the typical seller is going to see $$ signs when they are told and inflated number. In fact these particular sellers were so disgusted with the agents and the company that they completely wrote them off. Imagine the situation where the assessment by the other agents was correct and I was wrong. All things the same I'm the one that looks bad and get written off.
We walk a delicate line as real estate professionals. I think it's extremely important to show the sold, pending, and active competition in the area because it paints a fair pictures of that local market. The fact that we walk away from listing appointments without the listing could be far more influenced by price and commission expense than marketing plan.
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