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Sellers, Did You OK Your Agent's Marketing But Are Not Happy With It?

By Cindy Westfall

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

May 21, 2012 12:51 PM

Sellers, Did You OK Your Agent's Marketing But Are Not Happy With It?

So I get that you hired an agent because of their expertise to list your home and let them run with it..it's what they do. What I don't get is why you wouldn't speak up if you're not happy with the way your home is being marketed. Selling a home is a joint effort between both the seller's and their agent, so I can assure you that your agent would MUCH rather you let them know if there is something you might not like instead of perhaps voicing this to your family and friends.

I'm pretty sure that you had to have looked at the marketing items, checked out the pictures on your flyers, and how they look on the internet right? By law you have to sign off on the RMLS listing documents that show the listing description..both public and private. I know when I list a home, I always run all marketing by the sellers first before putting it out there. This is never set in stone..and in most cases is an easy edit if you want something changed.

I bring this up because I was just looking through the local Portland MLS while doing a market analysis and there was one picture with snow...snow in the end of May in Tigard? I'm sorry, but it doesn't take much for your agent to come out and take another picture..you need to speak up! This just screams that your home has been on the market for a while! There was also the listing where the private remarks stated that this was a "divorce" situation. Now of course the seller could have agreed to this...but to me that kind of information tips the buyer to your motivation of moving. Did the sellers see the same things I saw?

I know sometimes this is hard to bring up to your agent, but it's in your best interest to speak up. I've recently added to my listing checklist asking my sellers if they want any of my marketing "tweeked" throughout the listing. In the past I've just had it "OK'd" in the beginning. I'd like to think that my marketing is kick butt...but every now and again, a seller can see something that can enhance it.

Sellers, Did You OK Your Agent's Marketing But Are Not Happy With It?

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Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Great letter to Sellers... Cindy! I couldn't agree more! And I happen to think you are a kick-butt Realtor! Go get em' girl ;)))

P.S. Too funny... I was commenting on your post at the exact same time that you were commenting on mine ;) GMTA!

May 21, 2012 01:46 PM

Will Hamm

Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hey Cindy, we go out and reshoot pictures in May and Oct for our sellers, sometime I do not think they know what we do, but we do always tell them.

May 21, 2012 02:03 PM

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX

Selling Homes Changing Lives

Cindy,

I'm glad you spoke up on this issue. I don't see it often, but when I do, it's just like seeing somebody else's sore thumb.

If I was a seller, I'd want my REALTOR to showcase my property in its best and TRUE light. Obviously, some people don't and that's a shame. I can't believe the agent is doing their job when they show snow when the season has past.

May 21, 2012 02:40 PM

Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan

Samson Properties - Bowie, MD

I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Hey Cindy. First I want to say Congratulations on the new move. And pictures of snow in front of the house in May? No way? I thought it was something that only happened here in my part of town. It is always great to communicate with your clients what you are going to do to sell the house and things you are considering doing to improve the chances of finding a ready,willing and able buyer. SUGGESTED.

May 21, 2012 05:43 PM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

To me, the photo means that the agent has ABANDONED the property and the sellers....I ALWAYS have my camera with me and take update photos of my rental properties CONSTANTLY

May 21, 2012 07:52 PM

Rob D. Shepherd

RETIRED - Florence, OR

RETIRED

I run mine by all sellers including the RMLS plano immediately. Its a lot easier to make changes then. I have also seen builder sketch's on homes that were already finished.

May 21, 2012 11:18 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Mel, thank you! Grants Pass, Medford, Top Agent!

May 22, 2012 01:05 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Will, I agree that many sellers probably don't know when things have been updated or changed. This is why weekly reports are key to keeping them updated.

May 22, 2012 01:06 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Patricia, When I see that kind of thing, it makes me think that the sellers must be ok with it to let it happen. In this day an age with technology and ease of uploading, there really is no exuse for not updating photos. Might be that sellers don't know how to approach the agent. When it comes to selling your home, if they are not happy they really have to speak up.

May 22, 2012 01:14 AM

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Cindy, Updating photos is so often overlooked by agents in their busy day. I have to check myself on this one. Thanks for the reminders.

May 22, 2012 01:43 AM

Andrea Bedard

Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD

Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Hi Cindy, we don't have a form like yours in our area but I also like to emphasize to my clients that I appreciate any and all input and email them a copy of the listing and links to online marketing. If they would like me to change something, I'm happy to do that as long as it's not in violation of any laws or rules. Marketing should be a continous process .. making sure that pictures are still up-to-date is a must.

May 22, 2012 03:32 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Lanre, thanks! It's been a lot of work...but very stimulating for my business. I think that there are many unhappy sellers out there that are not communication this with their agent...but instead talk about it to their friends and family, which is not good. Thanks for the suggest!

Hi Wallace, I agree..it sure doesn't send a great message when you see things in pictures, or open house dates that were from 2 months ago in the remarks.

Hi Rob, It's a must to show the sellers any marketing items at the start so they can sign off on them. Most of us have templates, so it can be an easy change if the seller doesn't like the way a picture looks, etc.

Hi Debbie, I have no doubt that you have any listing that have nothing but excellent photos...and not an inch of snow the summer :).

Hi Andrea, that's exactly how it should be done..as it is a continuous process. Pictures online are the main way a buyer looks at a home..so dated pictures are a major no.

May 23, 2012 08:15 AM

Jill Sackler

Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY

LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Divorce info in the remarks section? That's a new one for me. You're right about the snow pictures in the summer, though.

May 23, 2012 01:07 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Jill...yep, the words "this is a divorce situation" was clearly in the private remarks. This sure does tip off the motivation to sell and to me doesn't do much for the seller.

May 24, 2012 12:59 PM