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Could this be the Secret Recipe for listing more homes?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

As you know, there is no one magic pill that will make your real estate career successful. That takes a good mixture of skills, market knowledge, and dedication – together with effective and consistent marketing.

But there always are some things that can raise you a notch above your competition, and perhaps become that “secret recipe” or tipping point that makes you the “chosen one.”

Enthusiasm is one of those things.secret recipe

Your enthusiasm shows in everything you do – and lack of enthusiasm shows too.

I think back to a story a good friend told me…

She had decided it was time to sell her home on Mercer Island, so she called one of the top agencies in the area.

They sent an agent who met with her and went through the house shaking her head. It certainly was close to a well-traveled road. She could hear the traffic. The bedrooms were small too. She’d have to base her pricing recommendations on those facts, plus some other shortcomings she didn’t hesitate to mention.

The second agent (from a less well-known agency) came in and pointed out the positives – like being close to the road for an easy commute. She did eventually bring up a few negative points, but in the context of overcoming them or turning them into positives. Meanwhile, she thought it was a “wonderful” house.

Of course she got the listing, and my friend wasn’t disappointed. The agent’s enthusiasm carried through to her marketing, and the house sold quickly.

If you like the property, your enthusiasm makes it easier to sell.

When I was an agent it was always easier for me to sell homes on acreage and cabins in the woods – simply because I was drawn to them and actually felt enthusiastic about them. Houses in town were tougher, because I could never imagine wanting to live where I could look out a window at my neighbor’s house.

Other agents would feel just the opposite – who would want to live so far from everything?

My advice: Find something about each house that you can truly appreciate and feel enthusiastic about. Then convey that enthusiasm to the seller at your first meeting.

It might be nothing more than a bay window, a rock fireplace, or a sun-washed breakfast nook, but find something. In fact, find as many “somethings” as you can.

You can get back to the negatives and how to overcome them later.

What if there is nothing?

If there truly is nothing you can see about a listing that appeals to you, there are two possible scenarios, and two reactions.

In one case, the seller knows the place is a disaster, and is willing to price the house to sell to an investor who will fix it. You can feel enthusiastic about marketing “opportunity” to those investors.

In the other case, you simply don’t like the place and the seller wants top dollar. The seller will probably notice that and choose another agent. If not, it could still be in your best interests to walk away.

What if it’s the people you can’t stand?

Let someone else have the listing. You’ll be miserable doing business with them.

 

Image courtesy of everydayplus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This article first appeared at https://copybymarte.com/could-this-be-the-secret-recipe-that-lands-that-next-new-real-estate-listing/

Comments(54)

Ann Nguyen
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Truckee, CA
Lake Tahoe Truckee Homes For Sale

This is so true. I showed a condo when the market was tanking and the condo was lovely. The sellers had done a lot of updates and decorated it very tastefully. I was impressed and complimented them. They ended up taking the condo off the market since they could not sell it for the price they wanted at that time. When they decided to sell a couple years later, they contacted me and asked me to be the listing agent. The market was still not that great but I was happy to market this lovely condo and got it sold quickly for the best price at that time.

May 23, 2017 07:36 AM
Marte Cliff

I love that story Ann Nguyen - your polite appreciation cost you nothing, but gained you plenty.

May 23, 2017 08:46 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Marte,

It is definitely easier to sell something that you personally like. To find out more about the property, I sometimes ask, what attacted the seller, when they bought. Hopefully, those features are still around.

May 23, 2017 09:14 AM
Marte Cliff

Dorte - I think that's a really sound practice.

May 23, 2017 08:47 PM
Rochelle Kretchmar
GenEquity Mortgage - Lewisville, TX
Simply Irresistible Staging

Totally Agree with your post!  You have to like the home you are listing or in my case staging.  My job is to see the best in every home and to let others see that as well.

May 23, 2017 11:56 AM
Marte Cliff

Rochelle Kretchmar I remain in awe of what a good stager can do with a house - envy your talent!

May 23, 2017 08:48 PM
Stephen Arnold
HomeSmart Elite Group - Scottsdale, AZ
CRS, GRI, SFR

One can typically find at least a couple of good points to talk about with each home.  More often than not...I ask the seller to tell me the five greatest attributes of their home.  It just helps witht the property description and understanding why they purchased in the first place! Great blog post Marte!  

May 23, 2017 12:29 PM
Marte Cliff

Stephen Arnold That is such a wise practice. Only someone living in the home can really know what's the most special about it.

May 23, 2017 08:49 PM
DALIA KIBBY
One Sothebys International Realty - Cooper City, FL
Selling Florida Homes with Passion!

Amen to this post! I have walked away from potential listings when the sellers wouldn't price realistically. Not easy to do but, in the long run, I didn't need the headache of an unsold listing or two and anxious sellers. 

May 23, 2017 12:33 PM
Marte Cliff

DALIA KIBBY Walking away isn't easy, especially if you don't have a lot of other listings. You just have to focus on what it might have cost you to take the listing - and what you might gain now that you're not going to wasting time with it.

May 23, 2017 08:51 PM
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Very good advice Marte. Especially the last one. I have no hesitation to fire a listed client if necessary. I work in a no BS - no tolerance client zone.

May 23, 2017 12:37 PM
Marte Cliff

Good for you Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR There are people who not only waste your time, but drain your energy. It's best to fire them.

May 23, 2017 08:51 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

Sound advice, especially the last few sentences.  I always say a few positive things but sometimes the negatives outweigh the positives and the sellers are in denial--or take suggested improvements as an insult or 'well, it's ok this way for us'  I want to scream--you are not the buyers!!

May 23, 2017 08:46 PM
Marte Cliff

Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR I recall running into sellers who said "If they want it clean, they can clean it when they buy it."

May 23, 2017 09:12 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Marte Cliff - it is like building the relationship - find the positives and work on it!

Show what's good about the place and it becomes easy for the agent to sell the home.

I always want the seller to tell me what they love about their home - and it makes my task easy!

May 23, 2017 09:02 PM
Marte Cliff

I think that's so wise, Praful Thakkar.

May 23, 2017 09:13 PM
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

This is an interesting topic Marte. Glad you brought it up. Homes with lots of positives and few minor negatives naturally elicit enthusiasm among buyers, sellers and agents. Other homes can be much more of a challenge, especially for agents.

May 23, 2017 10:34 PM
Marte Cliff

You enjoy a challenge, don't you James (Jim) Lawson, DBA?

May 24, 2017 07:36 AM
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

You have to be enthusiastic about what you do-Sell homes.  If you do not show this to a seller you are out the door.  Find some great points about the house and plan to market those.  Pricing a home accordingly is key.  There are buyers out there for every home if we are willing to go the extra mile.  Whether it is a Great Home to live in or an investment fixer.  Thanks for the reminder.

May 24, 2017 05:14 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes, Rose Mary Justice - every house has "something." Even a tear-down is opportunity for someone.

May 24, 2017 07:37 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

If your description is "nice home, nice yard, nice area... be happy here" it is ho hum. If the agent is not excited and promoting the features of the property and local area, the other end of the marketing signal won't be either. Passion, enthusiasm is contagious Marte Cliff ! Great points in your blog post as always!

May 25, 2017 02:29 AM
Marte Cliff

Andrew Mooers You made me chuckle because I have seen SO many ads similar to that. The favored word around here is "great." Take any page of ads and you can count dozens of "greats" - from the kitchen to the yard to the bedrooms to the flooring.

May 25, 2017 07:33 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Marte... I'm a big believer in "passing" on business and people, who do not enthuse me. Especially, people. If I can't get excited about working with my clients, I'd rather refer them.

May 25, 2017 04:19 AM
Marte Cliff

Nina Hollander That's sure a lot easier on your nervous system!

May 25, 2017 07:33 AM
Peter Davies
Borawski Real Estate - Northampton, MA
Exceptional service, without exception...

Enthusiasm can be infectious, and to the same degree so can doubt... It is our job to vigorously represent our clients interests, if we don't believe in them we should refer them or politely walk away.

May 25, 2017 07:36 AM
Marte Cliff

So true Peter Davies - feelings, attitudes, and especially emotions are as infectious as flu bugs. A good reason to stay around positive people.

May 25, 2017 07:44 AM
Michael Ackerman
Vanguard Properties - San Francisco, CA
CRS, Top Producer, 24+ Years Experience!

Great post!

Sellers, Buyers and Agents are all individuals.  

Those of us who view the glass half full can immediately see the positive. Admittedly - there are a few homes I never wish to sell to my buyers.  I let them know, if we acknowledge the flaws now - remember - when we go to sell, the next buyer will see them too!   Honesty is the only policy.  

May 25, 2017 11:22 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Michael Ackerman honesty IS the only policy. For some reason your comment made me think of that old Mary Poppins line about a spoon full of sugar making the medicine go down.

May 25, 2017 11:39 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I totally agree. Enthusiasm and positivity can go a long way in obtaining a listing and getting it sold.

May 26, 2017 03:49 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Kat Palmiotti - it does affect both.

May 26, 2017 06:53 AM
Anna Hatridge
R Gilliam Real Estate LLC - Farmington, MO
Missouri Realtor with R Gilliam Real Estate LLC

I am excited every time a seller asked me to list their property.  Why?  Because they are asking me to represent them.  To me, that is a huge compliment.  I think you have written a post that is the perfect recipe for success.

May 27, 2017 07:08 AM
Marte Cliff

It IS a huge compliment, Anna Hatridge - and it's a huge responsibility you accept along with the listing. Not all agents realize that.

May 27, 2017 09:23 AM
Mike Kelly,CRS,CIPS
The MJKelly Team - Santa Rosa, CA
"One of Sonoma County's Natural Resources"

I've had Realtors show one of my listings and get real enthusiastic and excited about the property. It's contageious and this carries over to the client. As an old grissly veteran of real estate for 38 years I don't get enthusiastic but more realistic about a house. Perhaps I should temper my "worldly" look with the energy and enthusiasm of the young Realtors.

May 31, 2017 11:06 AM
Marte Cliff

Mike Kelly Perhaps. I don't think you need to jump up and down about them, but a positive outlook is always a good thing. Notice the good before pointing out the negatives.

May 31, 2017 11:14 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Spot on advice Marte!  Selling requires a few skills, and enthusiasm for a product or service definitely helps to convey the positives to a buyer!  Love your post!

Jun 02, 2017 12:32 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes it does, Jan Green - whether that "buyer" is purchasing your services as a listing agent, or purchasing a house.

Jun 02, 2017 04:31 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Marte Cliff ...when you like a property, that enthusiasm radiates.... If the property is a pain in the butt to sell and you would never live in it, that too shows....

Jul 11, 2017 04:14 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Barbara Todaro - We can try to hide our feelings, but we're seldom successful.

Jul 11, 2017 08:08 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marte Cliff ,

I'm so glad Praful Thakkar re-blogged this post. I've read it before but read it again because you are so right enthusiasm does radiate and sellers see it and know buyers will too!!

Jul 11, 2017 04:59 AM
Marte Cliff

Dorie Dillard - I always found it easier to sell a property that I would love to own.

Jul 11, 2017 08:08 AM