OMG--- The Seller from H%@#

Thanks to all of my friends on active rain who have sent me get well cards. I was NOT sick. I was dealing with the seller from hell! I am not afraid to tell you who this seller was either, the seller was.........me!

Yes, I decided it was time to sell my home. I started out fine. I put on my Realtor hat and said to myself, hire an expert, you are too emotional attached to the property. So I found the best listing agent in my area (truth be told, the second best, I was not in the running)

I interviewed the Bizzy Blondes, Jeff Pantanella, Judy Seller, and Rae Wayne. Wasn't really an interview, I knew I was hiring them. The presentation was going flawlessly until the big question, "So Ralph, what do you think the value of your home is"?

My Realtor hat must have blown off and was replaced with "Seller" hat. I said, "Jeff, I would like to price it competitively (still Realtor speak) I am thinking $799k". Jeff said, "Ralph as a Realtor you should know that the market has moved quickly in a downward fashion"

He said as a Realtor, was he impugning my thought process. I proceeded to "tell" him how much better my home was compared to the competition. I told him I saw all of the active inventory and my house was the best on the market. I told him how much work I had put into it, etc etc etc.

"Jeff, where do you think it should be priced"? I asked. Jeff said $749k. Well after being totally disrespected in my own home, we agreed to my price of $749K

First open house, vindication for me, 100 people came through my home...HAH, Jeff what do you know?

Three weeks later, no offers, no low ball offers, no silly offers, no offers.

One month later, after complaining about having to keep the house as neat as a pin, dealing with open houses, people coming in and out. My daily phone call, what's happening. My sarcasm, "I should have sold it myself". my questioning of their marketing, asking if they are spending enough on advertising.

Jeff says, "Ralph, $725K". I go on a rant that 30 days isn't enough time, DOM averages are 65 days, we have not been exposed long enough, etc etc etc. I see out of the corner of my eye, my Realtor hat. I place it on, and improve the price on Friday from $749 to $725.

Sunday' open house goes well, first thing Monday morning a full price offer is faxed over.

Realtor hat fell of, seller hat goes on...should we counter them higher, maybe the season is getting better, let's wait for more offers. I enter escrow at $725

Then the battle for request for repairs, and the nightmare continues.

40 days later we close escrow, I am in my new place in Beverly Hills, and learned a valuable lesson. I am the seller from hell

I would like to thank the Bizzy Blonde Team for putting up with me, selling my home, and keeping our friendship in tack.

To the active rain community......I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaack