Maura- I agree... when I see seller motivated, it makes me think desperate seller, bring on the bottom feeders!

Hi, Jeremy! Thanks for reading and commenting. This is one of the most aggravating things to me right now...I mean, aren't they motivated simply by virtue of going through the hassle of listing and having their house tromped through by REALTORS and potential buyers day in and day out! I would HAVE to be motivated to endure that!

~Maura Gebhardt

Maura -- I could not agree more -- Just price your home where it should be and the negotiate -- sometimes ability to close quickly may be a great thing for the seller and the price may be a little lower -- I hate it when it say "motivated seller" and the home is over-priced -- buyer makes a reasonable offer and then seller say NOPE, I want the listing price!  Huh???

Some good points, Maura. I always think that the Motivated means desperate. I would think that the ones that say desperate is the first ones that attract buyers. Thanks for you post, Royal..

Maura ~ Our market in Nova Scotia is different, because when we hear "Motivated Seller" Realtors eyes  pop out of their heads.... We always think in our minds that the seller is in a situation that they need the house GONE ASAP...Due to Divorce, Bankruptcy, Transferred etc...We like to hear this from the listing agent.  We often get bidding wars going on! and the client ends up with more money in their pockets.

Hi, Joan! I completely agree with you! It's frustrating, at the least, with over-priced properties!

Hi, Royal! Thanks for reading and commenting. The desperate ones do attract the buyers but then are seemingly less willing to negotiate!

~Maura Gebhardt

Hi, Paula! This is exactly what it makes me think of, as well. A desperate situation that a buyer can take advantage of. If that was truly the case, it might make more sense. However, I am seeing it written on half of the listings or more, so much so that I have ceased to believe that they are really motivated and that their agent is just trying to create a buzz.

~Maura Gebhardt

My buyers love to see motivated seller, they can look at 10 homes and always want to make a offer on the one that says motivated. Sorry for the "unmotivated sellers" hope this helps

I wonder if it really even has anything to do with the seller...it seems it is so overused by Realtors that want everyone to look at their MLS listing and bring all the buyers in thinking they will geet a great deal...then the client gets mad when an offer come in real low...the buyers agent is wondering why no response to their offer?

Maura,

Your blog not only casts the spotlight on the "Seller's Motivation" but that of the "Agent's Motivation" as well!  "Motivated Seller" tells me their agent was incapable or too lazy to explain to their Seller that the "motivation shows in the price!"  What more; who does the agent work for?  In New Jersey, if you're the Listing Agent, you had better not put that phrase in the comments unless you practice "Transaction Brokerage!"

Thank you,

Jim Flanagan, GRI, e-PRO

Maura, great infomation and something tells me that you're exactly right, that any low ball offer would not be accepted.  The only reason that I could see useing this is if they are about to lose it completely and really would take what ever is offered. 

Jim ~ In Nova Scotia, we are not allowed to use that phrase unless the Seller says to use it.

I totally agree, when I see motivated seller I only think of one thing, this seller needs to sell quickly and is not worrying about taking a little lost, they just need to get out, but then I notice the price of the home is $10.000 over priced for that area!  Using the term Motivated Seller is very common here, but now I am confused on what it really means.

Great post!

Hi, Deanna! Our buyers love a motivated seller, but writing it on a listing sheet doesn't necessarily mean it's true!

Hi, Chuck! I agree - think it's overused and abused! I wonder sometimes if the sellers are always aware that their agents have included this phrase in the listing comments!

Hi, Jim! You are 100% correct! I think it definitely has more to do with the agent's motivation and laziness. Educate your clients about the market! Help them understand the folly in overpricing a listing, especially in a softer market! Don't simply let a phrase like "seller motivated" be your selling point!

Hi, David! If a seller is truly on the verge of losing their home, they should be working with their agent and their lender to advertise a short sale. You're right - I don't think the average seller would simply accept any offer.

Hi, Lorinda! You're absolutely right! I think (and, more importantly, buyers think) this guy needs to sell quickly and I'm going to get an unbelieveable deal. What a shock when they turn out to be unwilling to negotiate!

~Maura Gebhardt

Hey Maura...did you have any problems from the storm...I am also a Financial Advisor with World Financial Group on Johns Creek Parkway...haven't asked if they had problems...

I don't think clients really know that they may be put on the MLS as desperate...then others make a low offer and they get insulted....mostly because they love their house and have too much emotion involved in it.

Maura,

Thanks for the post.  The marketplace would seem to be much more fluid if there were less games to be played, including the "motivated seller" card with a non-motivated seller price.  IMHO, the agent's most critical role is to assist the customer in pricing the home appropriately from the jump, based on the customer's needs and the market conditions.  All to often, the substance of that advice is hard to come by.

Hi, Chuck! We did not have any problem with the storm - we did get hail, however! Check out my blog entry/photos.

Hi, Chris! I completely agree with you! The market would fare much better with fewer games and more realistic parties involved!

~Maura Gebhardt

I just hate when it's listed "seller really motivated" and you come in $10,000 under asking and the agent and seller are offended and say "we aren't going to give away the house". Guess what? Then don't put motivated:) 

Hi, LaNita! I totally agree! I guess it's a very subjective term, "motivated."

~Maura Gebhardt

What is the difference between advertising "Seller motivated" and "Seller desperate to get rid of it before they get foreclosed on!" Has anyone listened to the media exploiting foreclosure stats? And then why would a seller get their feelings hurt when an offer comes in about 20% less than asking?

Hi, Chuck! It's interesting in our market - there seems to be a big difference between "Seller Motivated!" (meaning, agent trying to market property but seller not desperate) and "Seller Motivated!" (seller actually desperate). EXCEPT it is impossible to tell the difference since they use the same language.

It's mind-boggling. If I found out that my agent was using that to market my house (without my knowledge, which I think it is most of the time), I think I'd be very upset!

~Maura Gebhardt