Home > Blogs > Alan May > What the heck am I doing here?

I don't have any decent feedback for you...

By Alan May

Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

April 05, 2017 07:41 AM

The kitchen was just too small.... no... that's not fair... the kitchen was plenty large.

The kitchen needed updating... well, not really... the appliances were only a year or two old.

They really wanted a four-bedroom... geeze, the place was a three-bedroom when we made the appointment, so that doesn't seem like decent feedback.

The basement wasn't big enough... the master bedroom was too dark... the yard was too small...

I dunno... I just don't know. There really was nothing about the house that my clients didn't specifically like. It just didn't "click" for them. I don't have any decent feedback for you... they just didn't want to buy it. Does that count as feedback?

Hmmmm?

Re-Blog

Comments(10)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Susie Kay

Ultra Real Estate Dallas Fort Worth - Plano, TX

North Dallas Specialist

Everyone has a different opinion about feedback. At one point when showing properties my buyer said that the house that we looked at was not well taken care of. Yes, you can see that the walls were not even flat, backyard with lots of weeds and tall grass etc. When I relay the message to the listing agent, he got insulted. I guess that's why some agents won't really say much on the feedback.

Apr 05, 2017 07:48 AM

Li Read

Salt Spring Island, BC
Nina Hollander, Broker

Charlotte, NC

Alan May

... and sometimes (as in my example)... you just don't have any decent feedback, other than "we're not writing you an offer".

Apr 05, 2017 08:05 AM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Alan May ~ hi Alan... because my sellers always look for feedback--good, bad or indifferent--I always provide feedback to a seller's agent when I've shown or previewed a home. Sometimes it's hard to say why someone didn't care for a home, and if that's the case I say it just wasn't their cup of tea. But more often than not, there is feedback that is useful to a seller to know if an issue can be addressed or not. I have a case in point right now... seller did not want to replace an old roof. 13+ showings later, he is replacing the roof... he got the message after enough people mentioned the roof.

Apr 05, 2017 08:10 AM

Susan Haughton

Alexandria, VA
Li Read

Salt Spring Island, BC
Jon Kolsky

Long Beach, CA

Alan May

I always try to provide feedback, too... mostly based on the "I want to get feedback when I ask... so I will provide it when I'm asked"... in the hopes that Kharma won't be a beyotch.

But sometimes it's just a "They're just not that into your listing" without any truly useful feedback.

Apr 05, 2017 08:12 AM

Jon Kolsky

Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA

Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Alan May ~ feedback? Boy.... Sometimes it isn't easy, and in some cases, the best feedback is a smile or chuckle

Apr 05, 2017 08:45 AM

Li Read

Salt Spring Island, BC

Alan May

true that, Mr. Jon. And sometimes it's difficult to smile.

Apr 05, 2017 08:51 AM

Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

Feedback is sometimes just a pain. As you said, there isn't always one thing that turns the client away from a particular home - other than it just wasn't the ONE!

Apr 05, 2017 10:28 AM

Alan May

right... and yet, I know (as a listing agent)... feedback that says "it just wasn't the one"... doesn't satisfy me at all.

Apr 05, 2017 10:37 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I just don't even anymore. Ask for it or give it unless I'm hounded and then it's usually "they just didn't think it would work for them".

Apr 05, 2017 11:07 AM

Alan May

unfortunately... that's just the type of feedback I'm talking about... not particularly helpful... but then that's how they felt.

Apr 05, 2017 11:23 AM

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I often give feedback however most of the clients tell me what they really feel and the realtor wants only the hear all about the glory of the listing Alan May

Apr 05, 2017 01:00 PM

Alan May

I disagree. Sometimes I'm waiting for "honest" feedback, so that I can use it as leverage for a price reduction.

Apr 05, 2017 01:21 PM

Suzanne Strickler

Realty Mark Associates - Havertown, PA

School is never out for the Successful.

Alan May ~ one of my favorite feedback responses: "Oh we saw so many that day, which one was yours?" <sigh>

Apr 05, 2017 01:15 PM

Alan May

One feedback I got said the kitchen needed updating. When I asked the agent about that... I told them "we have a brand new kitchen"... they said "Oh... I must have been thinking of a different house.

Apr 05, 2017 01:22 PM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Of course,, you can always say they liked it but preferred something else better

Apr 05, 2017 05:50 PM

Alan May

I like honest feedback... but sometimes you just don't have anything.

Apr 05, 2017 05:55 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Sometimes there is not much to say, in which case I say "it's just not the right house for them," and reiterate there was nothing objectionable, it just didn't feel right.

I always give feedback when asked, but sometimes the feedback is the house shows very well, it just wasn't the right one.

My pet peeve, though, is agents who ask for feedback and then want to argue. Don't ask for my opinion and then argue with me.

Apr 06, 2017 07:39 AM

Alan May

I agree... sometimes it's just not the right house.

Apr 06, 2017 07:59 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

When I give feedback it goes something like this...Thank you for allowing me to show your home today. This is not the right property for this buyer but I will keep it in mind for others. There is no reason to say a whole lot more.

On my listings, I just want to make sure they got in and did they have any questions.

I do appreciate hearing when there is a problem ie: a smell of gas, a water leak, a door left open, a broken skylight due to a storm... etc.

Apr 06, 2017 10:05 AM

Alan May

I don't love feedback like that... as the listing agent... I'm looking for a "reason".

Apr 06, 2017 10:53 AM