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Keeping sellers in the dark?

By Valerie Spaulding

Managing Real Estate Broker with Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA 73708

October 18, 2008 05:16 AM

Are agents keeping sellers in the dark and if so WHY?

Do they not want to know? Do agents in this different market NOT want feedback on their listings? Are they not keeping in contact with their sellers and communicating feedback to them? I would find that to be a very big NO NO in this time -well anytime for that matter!

Recently my partner and I showed 7 homes in our area with a buyer that was from out of town. It has been one week since we were in these homes and not ONE - NOT ONE listing agent called either one of us to find out what we were doing there and or what our feedback of the home was! I am flabbergasted. That was a total of 5 different listing agents. 3 of them were out of area agents.

I find it EXTREMELY important that our sellers have feedback- good or bad. It helps us educate them, keep us in constant communication with them, and shows that we are doing our job. Looking at how many people have looked at the property as well can give us an indication also as to our pricing (you know 30 showings and no offers - hey what's the problem do you think?) When my partners and I list a property we work hand in hand with the seller as a team and as a team if we do not stay on top of what is happening with the listing and the showings, we are not giving the seller our best.

In this day and age of all the technology out I find it hard to believe that there are agents have not figured out how to "READ" a keybox to see who has been in their listing. Especially the out of area agents who will probably not be out to check the house every week for agent business cards. The technology nowadays makes it so simple - you don't even have to leave your home as long as you have a computer! It still amazes me that noone has checked with us as to why we were there.

Is there some new fangled reasoning behind why they are keeping the sellers in the dark that I don't know about or haven't heard about? I check our keyboxes at least every other day and immediately email or call the agent who showed the home to get feedback. Email is so simple and quick! I for one will not keep my sellers in the dark, feedback is a very important tool in my business as well communication with the seller - is it not in yours?

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Vickie Nagy

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA

Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Calling for showing feeback seemed to go the way of the do-do bird in the hot market and it's really slowly coming back around. I showed 12 properties last Saturday. Only 3 agents phoned for feedback.

Oct 18, 2008 05:23 AM

Jared Wangsgard

Holladay, UT

Do you think it is possible that a lot of agents are in denial? More and more it seems that agents are taking over priced listings for whatever reasons. Maybe the lack of feedback is do to the agents not wanting to be told what they already know "The house is overpriced and a complete dog."

We must be completely honest with our sellers and be willing to walk away from the listing if the sellers are not going to list on our terms.

Oct 18, 2008 05:33 AM

Richard Mielke

RE/MAX Results - Gettysburg, PA

REALTOR, Gettysburg Pennsylvania Real Estate

I give feedback if asked for it. Some agents never bother to ask. In this market, feedback is so important.

Oct 18, 2008 05:38 AM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Vickie - Thanks for your response - I guess it will come back around, but sure seems or is to me an important communication issue and if I were the seller and knew - I would be very upset!

Jared - Denial - possibly I guess. So out of sight out of mind and just "pray" it sells? I sure don't want to work like that. How can we be honest if they don't even have the feedback from agents etc. Feedback is a huge way to communicate to a seller and take some of the pressure off yourself as well regarding condition, price etc.... Thanks for your reponse Jared.

Oct 18, 2008 05:40 AM

Shirley Parks

Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX

Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

We have Centralized Showing Service here and we make our appointments to show home through them. Then we automatically get an email sent by CSS for the listing agent requesting feedback.

Oct 18, 2008 05:41 AM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Shirley - Thanks for the "feedback" - do you find that the listing agents get feedback from the agent who showed or previewed the property?

Oct 18, 2008 06:08 AM

Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty

Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ

Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Getting feedback should be a priority in this market. Negative and positive feedback will provide the sellers with the ability to enhance the positive and work on trying to get the negative into a positive. It also helps when in negotiation with a purchase contract.

Oct 18, 2008 06:22 AM

Rebecca Anne Cole

PNC Mortgage - Timonium, MD

I would want to hear feedback from potential buyers if my house was on the market. If my agent was not asking for feedback and sharing it with me, I would wonder what was going on.

Oct 18, 2008 06:30 AM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Leolinda - absolutely! We use it not only to keep in contact with the sellers but just as you said a positive and a way to address the negatives and help them see what we need them to see... it's so important.

Rebecca - I don't know what's going on. I kep waiting for their questions and nothing!!! I can't believe they do not talk with their seller or their seller doesn't ask....

Oct 18, 2008 06:44 AM

Kathy Fey

Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

I have actually overhead agents talking about their listings and one agent comment that she did not give the sellers feedback because she believed that the sellers would fire her if she did! Makes no sense to me! Bet she got fired anyway!

Oct 18, 2008 09:28 AM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Kathy - that's pretty comical actually - I don't mean to put anything bad on anyone but hey - part of our job is to communicate with our sellers and educate them and get them to be realistic so why not utilize "ALL" of the tools 9feedback) being a mjor one to get them to see the light......

Oct 18, 2008 09:31 AM

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

You are right. fed back is crucial. Was it my listing Ha! ha!-Dinah

Oct 18, 2008 04:32 PM

Michelle Roethle

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Belfair, WA

Your NorthWest "Real Estate Solution"

We are seeing agents phone us weeks later. It may be possible that we just lost hope that they would be shown at all!!!!!!

Oct 18, 2008 04:35 PM

Dinah Michelle

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Shelton, WA

Great blog. We should all check more. Who knows what has happened since you last looked!

Oct 18, 2008 05:12 PM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Dinah - no it was not one of your listings and you have been very efficient in getting back to me with feedback and I appreciate that. I make it a point to check at least every other day. I keep track of it also in my sellers listing folder. When the seller starts to get frustrated and I can go back and show him/her the comments etc - they tend to see the light a little better if there is an issue I am trying to address with them, whether it be price, curb appeal - whatever - it also takes some of the pressure of you as well. Feedback - It is a great tool!

Oct 19, 2008 04:10 AM

Ryan Lowe

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Feedback is important but if the buyers have nothing nice to say, it can be hard to share that. Overall, good or bad, you should try to get the feedback.

Oct 20, 2008 03:01 PM

Valerie Spaulding

Windermere Peninsula Properties~Allyn~Belfair~WA - Belfair, WA

Allyn-Belfair-Hood Canal-Local Expertise!

Ryan - thank you for your comment. Yes it can be hard to share the negative, but the negative can actually be the MOST important part to share especially if you need to relook at things with them. It also takes the pressure off you some so that you can focus on changing the negative into a positive.

Oct 20, 2008 03:22 PM