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Letter to Mr and Mrs Sellers....Onslow County NC

onslow county nc homes Sorry Mr and Mrs Seller, I hear you and I understand what you are saying but it does not matter

How much you paid for your house

How much you still owe on your house

What it appraised for last year

How much the repairs and new paint job cost you

That you replaced all the carpet

That you have spent thousands of dollars establishing a lawn

What the tax office show as the tax value

Your personal situation

The only way to price your home so that it is competitive and will sell is by comparing it to recent sales (no more than 90 days) in your area taking into consideration size, age and features.

You see, there are quite a lot of homes for sale in Hubert, Swansboro and the Onslow County NC area. Buyers house for sale hubert nc expect everything to be in good repair, freshly painted and the lawn established.

I need you to understand Mr and Mrs Seller that if we overprice your home, Buyers will just move on to the next one. After-all, there is probably another about the same size, age and with pretty much the same features as yours for sale pretty close by, perhaps just down the street.

I do sympathize with you and appreciate your position but if we are going to get your house sold, we must throw all these things out the window and concentrate on pricing your house to sell using the CURRENT INFORMATION AND FACTS.

If you are ready to sell, I'm ready to help you. If you are a military family relocating, I can assist you in locating a professional, trusted Realtor in that area.

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor, Onslow County Home Specialist 910 459 9189 Email Me

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc., Making Houses Homes

We take pride in assisting Military Families locate a home in Onslow County when relocating to Camp Lejeune North Carolina

Area expert for homes in Hubert North Carolina

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone. They do not reflect or express the opinions of Cynthia Tilghman and Kingsbridge Realty, Inc. Cynthia Tilghman and Kingsbridge Realty, Inc. are not responsible for the accuracy and/or content provided by ActiveRain and its Members..

Posted by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist on 02/25/2008 07:14 PM

Comments (33)

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Originally posted at: Onslow County NC Homes Talk: Letter to Mr and Mrs Sellers....Onslow County NC

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33 Comments on Letter to Mr and Mrs Sellers....Onslow County NC

FEB

2008

Cynthia, this is an excellent post. I think there are too few in our field that will tell the seller the truth. Being honest with them will benefit them much more than overpricing the listing and it just sitting on the market...especially if they really need to sell.

Cynthia, what a great post. In this declining market, it's amazing the amount of pulling and tugging you have to do to get the sellers to price their homes to sell. When I hear....So and so got x amount for theirs 2 yrs ago, I reply....How lucky for them, but those days are gone, we are in a declining market right now and it you truly want to sell, we have to price it to sell.

Thanks for the great post.

Cynthia - I think most sellers need a copy of this post...plus a lot of agents do, too. I just doesn't make sense to overprice a listing...walk away if they insist.

Cynthia ~ Great points that you raise. I agree with the previous comments relating to Agent honesty. I think that sometimes Agents are hesitant to just tell the truth to Sellers. If I was a Seller, I would want my Agent to be 100% truthful with me.

Hi Cynthia,

Great list! the bottom line is the property is only worth what a buyer will pay for it. Buyers shop by comparison, and they don't care about any of that other stuff!

Cynthia, I am one too who kicking and screaming says my house is worth MORE!!! The market doesn't lie. It is wherever it is with the buyers at a point in time. It goes up, it goes down. All your points are well taken and great for a listing presentation.

Hi Cynthia,

You've summarized the things that don't make a difference so well here.....I wish all sellers could get out of their home what they thought it was worth or what they've put into it and then some, unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way.

Cynthia, Wonderful post and photos. It must be a very difficult time to be a Realtor in so many aspects--that cartoon told a whole story. But I am always honest with people as you are, even if they don't particularly want to hear it.

Cynthia - This is an attention grabber, a tool in your marketing arsenal. Yes if a house is not price well it won't sell; and forget about what the neighbor got for their home 6 months ago comparison is now 90 days or less. Excellent post.

Cynthia - My heart goes out to sellers when they have put so much money in upgrades/updates and will not get it back. I always thing to myself, I hope they enjoyed them.

Cynthia~My goodness the posts I have read tonight have been incredible. What an amazing post you have here my friend and after reading this, I'm hoping they will get it.

When my sellers start giving me these reasons, I try to put them in the shoes of a buyer. As a buyer would you pay more for a house than it is worth because the seller overpaid for it? Umm...no. Most sellers get this.

Cynthia... I agree, this is an excellent post and a great message to sellers out there. They need to know from professional realtors such as yourself, the truth. Not someone telling the consumer what they want to hear, just to get a listing. This one is worthy of a good feature. It's short, to the point, and speaks much truth that needs to be mentioned in today's market.

FEB

2008

Hello Kimberly,
Being honest is the ONLY way to get the house sold in my humble opinion. Thanks.

Hi Bob,
I do feel for these people. It is hard to accept that your house which you perceive as bigger and better (may or may not be true) is less than "Neighbor Joe's" that sold just a few months ago. It's a bitter pill to swallow. Thank you.

Cynthia - good points and necessary to say. Then we follow with: here are your alternatives - rent at a loss, stay there, etc.

When my military son was going to buy a house for his family at one of his postings, with 100% VA financing (all this BEFORE the current housing crisis) I asked him if he wanted to retire there - he said No. I replied, then don't buy with 100% financing, because you may never be able to afford to sell it.

Hi Linda,
True, walking sometimes is the only option that makes sense. Thank you.

Hello Darleen,
Me too, no matter how painful. To make smart decisions, you must have the facts.

Laurie,
True, true and it's a shame that some Sellers just cannot get that through their heads until they are deeper and deeper in.

FEB

2008

But my neighbor down the street got X... our is worth at least that much. I spent 20 minutes this afternoon going over that single point with a potential client. Market stats be darned. I finally told them I was sorry but it appeared we were at an impasse... the difference between what they *think* their house is worth and what I know it to be worth is only about $70,000. Thanks, but no thanks. I'm sure they will find someone to list it at their price, it just won't be me.

Cynthia,

Another great post... it takes confidence and courage to be this forthcoming with sellers. The current market warrants this kind of honesty though, and you are doing a great job in a difficult market. Thanks for writing this post and sharing it.

Gary,
I understand and when it is "my house", it does get very difficult and personal but the facts speak for themselves, don't they?

Good morning Jo,
I wish the same but in this market, it just isn't a reality. The truth is difficult to tell and accept right now. :0(

Hi Carole,
I believe many professions are having a difficult time right now but that's no reason to be less than honest with our clients. The truth /facts gives one power.

Jennifer,
We must get through to our clients, many are still living in a dream world. Thank you.

Hi Candy,
I know... so does mine. It breaks my heart but that does not help them get the house sold and that's my job. Right?

Julie,
Excellence is certainly popping up all around us from members' post. Thank you for your kind words.

Hello Ginger,
That's a good strategy and that's exactly what they are aspiring to be once we get their present home sold,... a Buyer.

Hi Jeff,
I do believe that as professionals we must reach the consumers with the message that the market has changed and that they must trust their agent to help them price their home to sell. Thanks.

Sharon,
True, after the truth and facts sink in. It's what next? Here are the choices you have as I see it. Thank you.

Jesse,
I know, I hear that all the time and it is a very difficult barrier to get through with clients. Thanks.

Hi Jan,
What the going get tough, the tough get going. Right? Well, it is time for agents to get tough. Thanks.

Cynthia, what a brutally honest post, straight with no chaser. You definitely hit the nail on the head. This post should be required reading and memorization by all timid agents.

P.S. Thanks for the heads up on my test post which was a start of a draft that got out of the corral (lol)

Cynthia...Perfect! I'm taking you along with me on my next listing presentation. I say all of these things...you will be my echo.

Expect a phone call soon and please keep your bags packed.

Kathleen

Hello Dionne,
Strong, bitter medicine is best taken quickly and without a chaser. Thanks.

Hi Kathleen,
It's easier to write than speak.....but it's our duty to be honest and straight forward with our clients. Not easy in this market. Thank you.

Cynthia, you are so right. What a home is worth is what other homes are selling for in the neighborhood. That's just the way it is. We just had a home in my neighborhood go on the market priced about $60,000 to $70,000 higher than what homes are selling for. Bottom line should they sell it I don't see it appraising.

FEB

2008

Hi Marchel,
I hope your neighbor with the over priced home is in no rush to sell! It's just a waste of everybody time and resources. Thank you.

MAR

2008

Cynthia, I love it!!! It is so true, I hear it all the time!!!

MAR

2008

Hello Christopher,
Reality check time! Isn't it? Thanks for coming by.

MAR

2008

Cynthia -

This should be required reading before anyone puts a home on the market. What your homes is worth and what it will sell for are two different things in our market. Real sellers listen - so many don't.

Hello Debbie,
Thank you and you are correct, sellers that understand the market and listen to the advice of their agents will get their homes sold.

MAR

2008

It is sad that sellers just don't seem to want to listen. This is a very competitive market so the home has to be priced right in order to compete.

Hello Don,
True, the sooner Sellers recognize the facts and come to grips with them, the sooner they can get their home sold.

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Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Hubert, NC

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Kingsbridge Realty, Inc

Address: Hubert, North Carolina, 28539

Office Phone: (910) 326-3003

Cell Phone: (910) 459-9189

Email Me

Providing information for those buying or selling real estate in Hubert, Swansboro, Jacksonville, Camp LeJeune and surrounding areas in Onslow County NC. I try to keep you informed of events in Onslow County NC

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