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False Advertising Does Not Sell Homes!

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty 2021016812

We have all seen it.  The home listed as "Excellent Condition" and the termite holding hands are the only thing holding up the roof.  What are they thinking?  No buyer who has been brought there under false pretenses will buy that home.

I showed a home last week that was owned by the listing real estate agent.  The home was listed as a 3 bedroom/ 2 bath in Excellent Condition.  It had only one bath.  Excellent, well that was a stretch, but not as bad as thinking no one would notice the missing bathroom.

I wrote an article about red flags.  REALTORS® Point Out Red Flags, They Don't Give All The Answers   It was stimulated by this listing.  You can draw your own conclusions on why it was probably not in Excellent Condition.

If your listing has 1 bath, say it in the listing.  If it is a tear down, price it correctly and let the public know.  There are buyers looking for rehabs.  Those looking for a 2 bath and in Excellent Condition aren't who you are trying to attract anyway.

Take good pictures, buyers won't even look at homes without pictures in most cases.  If it is ugly tell them.  I know several buyers who think those are steak.

The bottom line is no one likes to be lied to.  Do the right thing, attract the right buyers and gain their trust up front.  If they don't trust you, they won't buy.

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(28)

Pete Jalbert
The Maui Real Estate Team, Inc. - Paia, HI
R(S)

The last thing people want is for you to over promise and under deliver. I think that is the best way to ensure that a client is dissapointed when they view a property.

Jul 24, 2008 02:32 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

I was taught years ago to always point out the flaws right away. Somehow they didn't seem that bad once you talked about them.

Jul 24, 2008 02:35 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Richard - That happens way too often.  I went to see one that advertised ocean view.  It had a view of the neighbor's house and the sky.

Doris - It not only hurts the image of our industry it is not even effective.

Marchel - Do they really believe that someone who was tricked into looking at it will fall in live with the home?

Jul 24, 2008 03:15 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Anthony - I couldn't agree more.

Fernandina - Don't hold your breath.  If they have no ethics they are not likely to changer unless forced to.

Patricia - I like it.  I believe that is the way to go with a property like that.

Jul 24, 2008 03:18 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

George - You haven't spent much time looking at homes in Hawaii.  LOL

Cindy - After it doesn't sell hopefully the sellers will find a reputable agent to market their home.

Pete - I couldn't agree more.

Jul 24, 2008 03:20 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Monika - I believe if you tell them the negatives up front it gives them time to get used to the idea and makes them feel like they are dealing with trustworthy people.

Jul 24, 2008 03:25 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Randy - this sort of thing is all to common, especially with homes that are less than stellar. It is deceptive to buyers and agents alike, and misrepresentation of the client. It wastes our time as well. They aren't fooling anyone, and getting off of the wrong foot by being disceptive doesn't inspire confidence in those who are on the other side of the transaction. They probably said "buyer to verify all" as a coverup.

Jeff

Jul 24, 2008 04:31 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Jeff - I haven't seen "buyer to verify" used here.  Please do not give them any ideas.

Jul 24, 2008 05:07 PM
Jeff R. Geoghan
Coldwell Banker Realty - Lancaster, PA
REALTOR, Marketing Manager

The "condition" slot on the MLS listing is one of the biggest jokes in our market, as I'm sure in others.  It's so subjective as to be useless - but on the other hand, advocating putting "no opinion" as an option doesn't work either as customers continue to search using that field on the IDX out there...and want to see "excellent" or "very good".

Jul 24, 2008 05:49 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Jeff - I sometimes like to look at fair.  I am always looking for a bargain.  I hate when they call those above average.

Jul 24, 2008 05:51 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Randy, Great blog!  I agree with you about being honest and getting a lot of photos.  Thanks for re-emphasizing these principles!

Jul 24, 2008 07:01 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Tony & Darcy - Thank you

Jul 24, 2008 10:48 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Randy...I find that when I get to a listing and it isn't what it's cracked up tp be...it turns the client off.

Jul 25, 2008 03:04 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

William - It also turns me off to the agent.

Jul 25, 2008 06:48 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

I think that it puts the listing agent in a bad light, as well as making your buyer feel like they just wasted their time.  The problem with both is that the listing agent loses respect, and will start to get a bad reputation - and that is all agents have is their reputation.  As far as your buyer, they may feel like you took them to a home you knew wasn't what they wanted.  We spend so much time building trust in our clients, I would hope they would understand when it is not our fault, and the listing agent misrepresented the property.

Jul 29, 2008 08:51 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Troy - It is not good for our industry either way.

Jul 29, 2008 11:07 AM
Chuck Marunde
Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate - Sequim, WA
Sequim Real Estate Broker

Truth in advertising . . . a lost art.  Almost.  Among some.  Where I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Washington, we have water views galore, so it might be no surprise we have listing agents who call almost anything above water level a "water view" lot.  I wrote about a recent incident at:  Water View or No.

Jul 29, 2008 11:17 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Chuck - I actually had a client ask me to list an ocean view.  You had to stand on a chair in the upstairs bedroom window to get a peak.  I did not include the view in my listing.

Jul 29, 2008 11:22 AM
Michelle Hall
Century 21 Hecht - Denver, NC

Hi Randy, I saw some article where a guy actually sells homes quickly by marketing the house on it's ugliness.  He uses some creative words that make you stop and take notice. 

Jul 29, 2008 03:02 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Michelle - I have always felt that is the best way to address one like that.  I haven't had any ugly ones, but will know how to handle them.

Jul 29, 2008 06:10 PM