But my neighbor said . . .

It's amazing how many times people who don't know anything can mess up a transaction.

Then there is Uncle Fred and Aunt Betty who live on the other side of the map giving expert advice.

If seller are at home during the showing they usually give away the farm. Buyers Agents can ask "certain" questions that will hurt the seller during negotiations. It puts the sellers in an awkward position not really knowing how to answer buyer questions.

Great post. Perhaps the neighbor could just sell the home in their spare time.  On the other hand, the lady at the hair salon may be a better choice, and she won't charge a commission.

Most important one - Sellers please LEAVE your home, and don't talk with the buyer!   Buyers don't want/need to hear anything from you to make their decision.  Interfering with a showing 9 times out of 10 will force that buyer to have absolutely NO INTEREST in your home.    The buyer more often than not  remember the seller's incessant talking and not really get a good feel for the home.  You cannot sell your home better than the real estate agent.

Let the professional realtor do their job.

Great post - agree on all counts!!

I'm enlisting the services of a professional but want to follow the advice of a friend or neighbor who has no vested interest in whether I sell my home. Sounds like a real winning decision! Great points.

Tish - Those same rules al=pply further north also. Great post!

I hear those exact comments from my short sale clients.  Someone told them as long as the house is listed they can stay in it longer so do not clean it and show it as is. 

And, how many homes have those friends or family members sold in their lifetime?  I believe that those of us working in the business have a far better 'idea' of what works and what doesn't!  Like you, we hear these types of comments all of the time.  Then, we have to undo the thought processes!!

I work to make sure they remember all the reasons they want my experience to help them and that usually has them forgetting what the neigbor was saying.

Tish:

All great examples. Some people consider all salespeople as equal to a retail salesperson. Yet I know I usually listen to the retail salesperson if they speak knowledgeably. Don't you? Go figure!

I find it so funny that seller's will listen to someone with no experience over the person the does this for a living.  I guess it is true people hear what they want to hear.

The key is ... sell the house! Make it presentable for the public. The neighbor is a negative influence and may well be a fsbo candidate......(no offense to fsbo's)

Grat advice!  Best to keep the home in move-in ready condition or it will take longer to sell. 

You know appearance and condition do matter.  We may not want to think so and we may want to imagine we can see beyond it, but we cannot.  If we could Coca-Cola would not waste Millions on Advertising and packaging. 

Great post...buyers become very uncomfortable viewing a home with the seller present.  Sellers need to put some work into making their home accessible and appealing to buyers.

Great post, Tish! Sometimes well-meaning friends and neighbors make our jobs twice as hard. This is a great way to head off those "But my friend's cousin's girlfriend said..." comments! Re-blogging!

Neighbors too?  Gee, I hear this from "my brother/uncle/sister/cousin/-in-law who lives in Michigan/Ohio/California"...  And it's usually difficult to discuss strategy with someone who isn't at the table, but is a reliable "source"

Or as #92 said...the relationship to the "expert" can get to be pretty far removed.

Great list! I agree with all except the open house stuff, but otherwise, I can't believe someone would listen when their friend tells them not to clean! Yuck!

I would've loved to have asked this seller for how many years did your neighbor practice real estate? For what company? And how successful where they at it?

Even worse if the advice that they get from a parent or other relative, or their "friend" that is an agent in another state.  They never mention that the friend hasn't sold a house in 10 years, but they still want to follow their advice.  Amazing!