User25702_6_t Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co.
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Recently, I have had the same feedback over and over..."Well, the house shows BEAUTIFULLY and it's in second position..." Not on just ONE house, but on several of my listings.

How should I advertise to potential sellers? "Choose Rocky Mountain Realty,  where we have the second nicest listings ins the City?"

I always ask the agent giving feedback, "How can we be in FIRST position?" and inevitably, it's something that I have no control over and cannot remedy, like the one this morning. "Well, the Buyers are looking at this great bank owned property. It needs a little work, but it will be great when it's finished, BUT if they do choose a finished product, it will be yours...it's SHARP!"

Ok, so I call my Seller and tell them we're in second position. That's what I've been telling sellers for a month now. Other reasons we've lost to first place? Proximity to job, square footage, a buyer's widening list of prospects, (which I am seeing as a new challenge in this market).

How have you been dealing with "coming in second"? It's almost better not to be in the race than to come in second all the time...or maybe I'm seeing this in the wrong light?

 

22 Comments on We're in Second Position...Again!

Coming in second just means you're the first loser. Right now all you can do is lower the price. At the end of the day it's all about price.

10/07/2007 07:10 PM by Simon Conway (Picket Fence Realty)


There is a lot of that going on right now. Sometimes it is better to be second and have the buyers not get together on the first so they are more realistic.

10/07/2007 07:13 PM by James Gordon REALTORĀ® PBD SRS (Sibcy Cline RealtorsĀ®)


Thanks everyone...Simon, I don't think it's time to do a panic price drop when you've only been on market less than 30 days and you're in second place...maybe if we're still second in a few weeks, right?

10/07/2007 07:14 PM by Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co. (Rocky Mountain Realty Co.)


Coming in second is tough.  The other one is finding out that the buyers love your listing but it is their first weekend looking and with so much inventory they are going to keep on searching.

10/07/2007 07:15 PM by Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World)


I agree, it's all about price. I had a listing that saw 90 days market time (unusual for here). We have a $15,000 price reduction; however, they had "no yard", barely 10 feet deep. We were always "second". Client didn't want to reduce price for this negativity - so off market they went - waiting for our market "to pick up".

10/07/2007 07:16 PM by Karen Villa Schweinfurth, ABR, CRS, SRES, CyberStar (RE/MAX Northwest Realtors, Inc.)


Lania, in a market that is showing a bit of decline, maybe being ahead of the curve will create an advantage.  Oh, and will you call my sellers and tell them that?

10/07/2007 07:17 PM by Options Realty


Hang in there, we have been hearing this same phrase and always seem to lose to that wonderful, has this feature house that places first. I don't think it is only price but price is a great leveler. Heck, if the price is right, anything will sell........

10/07/2007 07:22 PM by Terry Westbrook ~ Realtor(R) Grand Rapids Mi Ada/Cascade Real Estate (Five Star Real Estate, LLC Grand Rapids , MI)


I shouldn't complain...I could be hearing, "Oh, my buyers didn't want to get out of the car on that one..."

10/07/2007 07:22 PM by Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co. (Rocky Mountain Realty Co.)


Lania - it is about price and its not about panic. Did they price it right to start with or did they try and build in some buffer? Time on the market isn't necessarily the issue if it wasn;t priced correctly in the first place. Please visit my blog Honesty, integrity and the unrealistic seller for more on this. Oh and just let me know if you want the link removed.

10/07/2007 07:28 PM by Simon Conway (Picket Fence Realty)


I wish I could say it was different here! All the Realtors here are hoping a great offer will come in on any of our listings.

10/07/2007 07:29 PM by Diane Testa (Prudential Fox and Roach)


I've been in the same boat recently. Keep plugging away - you'll come in 1st before too long!

10/07/2007 08:54 PM by Chrissy Harrison (ERA Tradewind Real Estate)


Right Chrissy! Eventually all of those number 1's have to get sold and I can slide RIGHT into those positions! Sell lots of houses this week!

10/07/2007 10:28 PM by Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co. (Rocky Mountain Realty Co.)


$399k, $385k, $365k, $349 BINGO, We have an offer coming in.  Comps?  $399k and $399,900 in the same building.  This unit has a $75k remodel that the comps did not have.  It's all about price.  Either the seller can wrap themself around it or not. 

10/08/2007 02:18 AM by Laurie Manny, Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Condos (Main Street Realtors Long Beach California)


I would talk right away to the Seller and get permission to lower the price a couple of thousand to give them the idea you want to get the offer.

10/08/2007 02:27 AM by Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR (Century 21 All Islands)


You might also try to present that there is a special Home Warranty with this purchase and assure them they will not have to worry about repairs for one year.

10/08/2007 02:40 AM by Gary Bland (Century 21 All Islands)


That means the other was more for the money.  Your seller can wait and hope number 1 sells or they can make adjustments to move their's to number 1.

10/08/2007 02:42 AM by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTORĀ® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)


I know it sucks,  I was told that by 4 different agents ona listing but nothing ever came of it.

10/08/2007 04:06 AM by New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor (RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, Real Estate)


Well...Laurie, I would tell my Seller to wait for a market turn before I advised them to lose 125k in a sale. If they don't NEED to sell, I don't understand why so many people would recommend that they drop price to accommodate the ridiculous market we are in.

The TRUE honest and integral thing to do would be to say, "I'd withdraw at this time and wait for the market to turn."

That being said, my listings are priced correctly...if you lower anything dirt cheap enough, someone will buy it and you'll make a commission, but that's not upholding fiduciary responsibility. No, I'm talking about places that are priced correctly and that's the feedback. That's why they make it to second place!

10/08/2007 10:13 AM by Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co. (Rocky Mountain Realty Co.)


Lania, This listing was priced right also and had a $75k remodel the comps did not.  There is just so much inventory and so few buyers that when a seller MUST sell sometimes the price just has to come down.  The market will only bear what a buyer will pay.  I wasn't suggesting a $125k price reduction.  But a reduction may just be what you need to hop into 1st place.  

10/08/2007 11:43 AM by Laurie Manny, Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Condos (Main Street Realtors Long Beach California)


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Real Estate Agent: Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co. (Rocky Mountain Realty Co.)
Lania DeMers, Broker Rocky Mountain Realty Co.
Colorado Springs, CO
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Rocky Mountain Realty Co.

Office Phone: (719) 638-5858
Cell Phone: (719) 232-5941
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