A month or so ago I was referred to a client from a Realtor colleague in Houston to sell the childhood home in College Park, MD.  I visited the house, spoke with the Persoal Rep. for the Estate and got the Listing Agreement with the house priced to sell.  Long story short, the offers came in, the Personal Rep picked one, we worked through to settlement and everyone -- Sellers, Buyers, Realtors -- were all happy campers.

Here's why, in retrospect, I think it happened like it did: the Seller had been messing around with the house for a year.  They had attmepted to use an Auction service that resulted in no bids and no sale and lost fees to the Auction company.  There was no mortgage but they were still paying utilities and insurance and they had decided it was time to SELL THE HOUSE.

Now, I'm up at bat with another estate sale but this time the scenario is a bit different.  The dad just dies recently so all the furniture, clothes, knick knacks, etc. are still exactly where they were when the owners passed away.  The eldest son is left with the responsibilty for handling the house which includes finding a Realtor who can sell the house.

It turns out this guy is very data driven but, of course, since he grew up in the home and since his parents lived in it until there death there is some emotion involved and, of course, there are the brother and sister.

The place is nice, in good shape and would "show well".  It's also dated (pastel colors in the bathroom tiles from  the '60s), the kitchen is small and, probably most important, the market is in the tank).  Nonetheless, he says he wants to sell by the beginning of the school year (read: Septemeber).

I'm up against other Realtors and I'm thinking to myself that this would be an easy listing to "buy" but I can't bring myself to do it.  Suggesting a high price to a Seller in this market is professional hari kari. Plus it doesn't really perform a service to the Seller.  The property won't sell, I'll have wasted money trying to sell it and the Seller will just be made at me and kick me to the curb anyway. I might was well have sent the money to you!

So I left the house with the mixed emotions.  Part of me hopes he never calls.  The other part - the part that wants all the listings - hopes that, if he doesn call, he'll at least price it right.