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Giving the Straight Scoop to Home Sellers

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty 2021016812

I have been doing this a few years and have represented more than a few people selling their home. 

Some of these examples may sound a little tongue in cheek, but are based on real life experiences.  Some examples on the list were from sellers I chose not to represent.  You can probably guess some of the ones that fell in that category.

Most sellers are great folks to work with and have followed our best recommendations to a successful conclusion.  The list below represents and very small percentage of the sellers I have interacted with over the years.  A few potential sellers account for more than one of the listed items below.

  • Your hair dresser does not know more about pricing homes, than your real estate agent.
  • No your home is not worth $100,000 more because you have the original 50 year old avocado appliances.  They are not antiques, they are just old.
  • Yellow shag carpet is not back in.  Even if it were, people do not want the original carpet from the 70s.
  • Finding the cheapest agent is not a good system.  If they can’t defend their own commissions, how will they defend your price?  Sometimes the cheapest is still too expensive.
  • A buyer will not fall in love with your home and be willing to pay far more than anything else ever sold in the neighborhood.  Even if you could find such a buyer, their lender will have something to say about it.
  • Most buyers will not see past the dirty dishes in the sink and the junk cars in the yard.  Please clean the house and yard before showing it.
  • Not everyone is a dog or cat lover, many are even allergic.  Please remove the dogs and the dirty litter boxes for showings and do everything possible to eliminate the pet smells.
  • You cannot expect to get full value on the major additions to the home, that was not permitted.
  • Your neighbor is wrong.  Your home is not underpriced.  If it were it would be sold already.  They just want you to raise the value of their home (Conflict of interest).
  • If your home has been on the market for an excessive period of time, it is simply overpriced.
  • Mr. / Ms. Seller there are only three variables in establishing the actual price your home will eventually sell for. The side of a cliff is not a gentle slope.
    • The Market - which you have no control over.
    • Condition – which you control.
    • Asking price – which you control.
  • If you stand on a chair and look out the second floor window and you see the ocean between the trees and buildings; it is not considered an ocean view.
  • A cabinet under the stairs does not count as a wine cellar.
  • Staging your home costs less than your first price reduction.  It sells your home for more money and it sells faster.
  • Please remove anything from the home you do not want stolen or in pictures on the internet.
  • No, we are not trying to give away your home.  We also want it to sell for the highest price possible.  Not only is our commission being tied to the sell price, so is our reputation in the neighborhood.
  • The plants your son is growing in the closet, with grow lamps; are not ferns.

Selling a home can be a stressful process.  By not following the advice of good professionals, your level of stress can go up tremendously and your chances for success will diminish greatly. 

If you are looking to sell your home on Oahu, bring me in ahead of time.  I can help you plan the preparation of your home and to guide you through the process.  We have aggressive marketing programs designed to sell homes faster and for more money.

Posted by

 

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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®

Broker-in-Charge, ABR, AHWD, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, MRP, SFR

eXp Realty

Team Leader - "The Prothero Group"

Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers.  His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.  His luxury home listings sell faster and for more money.

Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors.  To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents. 

www.HawaiiRandy.comOahu (Honolulu County) Property Search  Hawaii Military Relocations

Comments(42)

Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc
NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA
"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

Thanks so much for this post and thanks for the comments as well

Nov 18, 2013 12:05 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Randy, 

Love the one about standing on a chair to see through the trees at the "ocean view"  lol!  It's not the ocean view folks are looking for. 

Great list.  My absolute favorite is that staging your home is cheaper than the first price reduction.  If you don't do the right preparation, you are costing yourself a small fortune. 

All the best, Michelle

Nov 18, 2013 12:28 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Scott - Geography doesn't change the classics.

Crick - Thank you

Michelle - I heard the staging example a few years ago and have been using since.

Nov 18, 2013 12:34 AM
Nancy Conner
Olympia, WA
Olympia/Thurston County WA
LOL at these - and oh yes, I've heard a good share of them too. The funniest thing is how different the perspective becomes when home sellers are home shopping! (Not that they always get the irony)
Nov 18, 2013 01:12 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome
Randy, How about the home built with the heavy duty nails? Good to see in the Rain.
Nov 18, 2013 01:14 AM
Dalia Kibby
Cooper City, FL
Your Trusted Realty Professional

Wow, great list of Seller Scoops! It's like we're neighbors, the business is the same everywhere. Thanks for sharing.

 

Nov 18, 2013 02:39 AM
Jim Beitz
Keller Williams Success Realty - East Layton, UT

I love that last one.  Those - those are not ferns. Please get them out of the house before we take photos (of the things you don't want in photos on the internet).

 

Nov 18, 2013 03:09 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Nancy - Even funnier when the home seller is a real estate agent.  It is fun to see how differently they view their own property.

Margaret - I haven't seen that one yet. I am sure it is a matter of time.

Dalia - It definitely is not a regional thing.  I hear the same stories form agents around the country.

Hassle Free - I am sure the son did not wat his ferns on the internet.  LOL

Nov 18, 2013 03:45 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Oh, that list was a trip down memory lane-especially that last one! (He'd better move the "ferns" so they're not stolen!)

Nov 18, 2013 03:01 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Michelle - Stolen ferns can be a problem. Too Funny.

Nov 18, 2013 09:34 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

My mom finally gave up the avocado appliances 10 years ago lol. Now she has a samsung state of the art fridge and nice washer/dryer.

Nov 20, 2013 05:19 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Sally - At least she didn't try to get an extra $100,000 for her home.

Nov 20, 2013 11:40 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Ahhhh but that is exactly the reason she hasn't sold!  She thinks her property land value is worth double of what it is..... try a million Randy!

Nov 22, 2013 12:12 AM
Jeffery Griffin
Jeff Griffin LLC - Wailuku, HI
Broker Owner

Excellent post, Your son is not growing ferns lol all of these are so True .Aloha Jeff

Nov 22, 2013 05:27 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Sally - There are agents who do that to get the listing.

Jeffery - There are more of them than you sometimes realize.

 

Nov 22, 2013 05:34 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Randy, that was good, and so many times Sellers feel their "oldies but goodies" are worth more!

Dec 08, 2013 05:30 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Randy, love this list and thanks for the laugh.  If only we could get sellers to believe, that no, their house is not the exception to the rule.

Dec 08, 2013 06:43 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Joan - Sometimes old stuff is valuable, other times it is just old.

Leah - There will always be those who must fail at least once to get the idea.

Dec 08, 2013 08:10 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

It has been a long time since we have connected. You are making some great stories of a few of your former transaction. Would be even funnier if thery were not so darn true.

Dec 08, 2013 09:27 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Margaret - The truth is funnier then fiction.

Dec 08, 2013 09:52 AM