Maybe it's always been this way.  Who's to say?

It's reasonable to assume that most home sellers pick their Favorite Agent to list their home.

Wouldn't you agree?

But here's where the twist comes. 

Between the seller and his agent, a listing price is chosen. 

And if the Favorite Agent is a good one, and most are, through market research of recent sales of homes that are similar, that picked listing price is within the ballpark.

But here's the catch.

What happens if the home doesn't sell quickly enough to suit the seller?

Oft times the seller and the Favorite Agent go their separate ways, and a new agent -- the second choice -- is retained to carry forward the baton.

Rarely is anything changed about the property other than that the listing price is lowered.  Sure enough, within a week or so, the home is under contract with a buyer.

So it wasn't the agent that needed changing, it was the price. 

And the question that I often ponder is why the Favorite Agent was fired rather than the homeowner doing what was obviously the inevitable -- just lowering the price?

There is one Dallas agent I have watched for a long time.  The agent has made a good living and garnered a good reputation in the role of the Second Agent.

But rarely is thia Second Agent picked as the Favorite Agent.  Do you suppose when this agent is picked as the Favorite Agent, another Second Agent is picked to sell what she had listed that the market had decided was overpriced?

I swear I don't know.

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - PARK CITIES

Since 1964

214 503-8563

WEB

 

 
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43 Comments on I WAS THINKING...MAYBE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

APR
24
2011
111,058 Points 1 Featured Post

I bring this very scenario up when I know the home is overpriced and the only thing needed is a price reduction.  By getting in front of it, if the Seller is a good partner in the transaction, one is not likely to lose the listing. 

11:00am • #24
Outside Blog

When the second agent gets there, the seller is more receptive to knowing that there is a problem.  PRICE!

11:11am • #25
2 Featured Posts

It's obvious, Bill. The Second Agent is better at pricing homes, and because he/she knows you can't overprice a listing, most sellers will not choose the Second Agent. Sellers go with the agent who tells them what they want to hear!

11:13am • #26
195,987 Points Outside Blog

Robert, #20 is a professional and his reputation and integrity hasn't been compromised by an over zealous client. Picking a favorite agent isn't a one way street when dealing with a professional, the agent also chooses who to represent to avoid any mishaps, don't you?

12:25pm • #27
759,106 Points 13 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Bill we have had 4 or 5 listings as the first agent that were overpriced and the seller refused to budge until they got the second agent. So Now we price like the second agent. But there are time we do not get the listing . They go with someone else. it does not sell. And the folks willnot come back to us because thery are embarrassed about not listening in the first place. It is a fun game !!!!

12:32pm • #28
226,528 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Of course it's about price.  Even in our current market, there are still agents who 'buy' the listing by sugggesting or agreeing to an overly high listing price. I've never liked this game but it seems to work for alot of agent. I'd rather tell the truth up front and not have to continually chase the market down. It can sometimes be difficult to compete if other agents are throwing out bigger numbers.

12:59pm • #29

IN MY LIFE, ALL I WANT IS TO BE SOMEONE'S FIRST LOVE, SECOND HUSBAND AND THIRD REAL ESTETE AGENT....LIFE WOULD BE SO GOOD!!!!!

1:11pm • #30
119,891 Points 3 Featured Posts

Bill, I believe that some sellers are in denial and will only grasp the reality of needing to lower the price when it is reaffirmed by another professional. Kind of like when I tell my kids something, but it's not to be believed unless a stranger says its true. And even then, it's the stranger's truth and not the parent.

1:28pm • #31
177,707 Points 25 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

If more sellers asked their potential agents what their list to sales price ratios consisted of, these "games" wouldn't exist as often.  I am pleased to say mine is still at 98.7% over the past 10 years (as far back as our current MLS records go back).  Here, in Boise, Idaho; I won't take overpriced listings or it will goof up my averages.  I have told sellers that if they don't respect my price to please put a clause in their listing with the "overpriced" Realtor's listing that they can cancel at any time they feel that price offered by the agent is incorrect.  I have re-listed and closed homes based on this approach.

2:30pm • #32
1 Featured Post

Its very easy to check the stats for any agent in our MLS. Every agent has expireds and withdrawns if they are actively working with listings. Yes, everyone comes in first, second, or third, its the nature of the business.

5:07pm • #33
586,545 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

"Buying Listings" with inflated list prices has been going on for a long long time.

I knew one agent who did it deliberately, then told buyers "The price is X, but I can get them down to Y for you." And he did - he was a very effective "brow-beater."

Guess I don't need to say what else he was...

7:35pm • #34
655,247 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Bill, Oh my this scenario goes on and on and on!!  I have been in both positions.  It DRIVES ME NUTS when they reduce the price to the price I requested with the second agent!! 

8:13pm • #35
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Too often in our business, it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.

10:19pm • #36
APR
25
2011
1,023,886 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I have been there and it hurts.  I saw how cheap the sold it and commented, "I could have done that."

6:59pm • #37
627,283 Points 16 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Goodness, this reminds me of one deal that I lost. I told the seller the right price, they insisted on their price, it expired, they gave it to another agent for the price I told them to list at to begin with, and it sold for that price. Go figure.

Which in most cases means that I would rather be the second agent as opposed to the first agent...

9:32pm • #38
237,219 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I don't know if you meant to be funny, but this post made me laugh.   Good post though - sometimes it's good to be the second agent!

11:43pm • #39
APR
26
2011

Knowing the personality type of the Seller is key.  This will tell you how to best sell your self and establish a listing price.  Do this process carefully and there should be a 

3:35am • #40
118,017 Points Outside Blog Hit Router

Ouch! Maybe the first agent didn't want to have that conversation with the seller and it cost them a sale...

 

2:55pm • #41
122,426 Points Hit Router Called Shot Master

Agree with Robert (#20) and Kimo (#27) 1000%.

 

3:59pm • #42
APR
28
2011

I know this would be frustrating if I was the preferred realtor, but it really makes you wonder if the preferred agent isn't doing a great job communicating with the seller about being realistic on the asking price.   As a loan officer, I have similar experiences, because I tend to be the number 2 person.  I get the deals that others can't get done because I have frank conversations with the borrowers to learn all of the details and can figure out how to structure their loan to get it done. The challenge is getting realtors to refer their client to me first instead of doing clean up.  But I will admit is does get me referrals. 

4:31pm • #43

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BILL CHERRY

William S. Cherry & No Co., Wealth Coach

Dallas, TX

More about me…

William S. Cherry & No Co., Wealth Coach

Address: 9936 Windlake Circle, Suite 101, Dallas, Tx, 75238

Office Phone: (972) 677-7028

Email Me

This is the place where we discuss how to manage commissions from real estate sales so that you will accumulate wealth. Call me 972 677-7098 http://www.realtorwealthcoach.com


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