The big TEASE

Laura:  How about "Seller will pay the buyer's interest rate down by ___ %"...  That one is playing well here in the Austin area at the moment!

Hello Laura,  I have never cared for bonuses paid to the selling agent, except of course, I like to get one, but I feel like the seller is better served to reduce the price or offer an incentive to the prospective buyer than to the REALTOR because I think REALTORS should be matching people to properties regardless of bonuses.  We're actually paid quite well when things actually close.  How's the market in South Carolina.  We're dead here on the outer banks.

I agree that I would prefer the seller to lower the price before a bonus.  That makes us all look bad that we are in it for the money only.

Hi Laura, You are correct in saying that homes will sell when it is priced right.  It will sell if it has an appeal for the buyers and has a "feel" that it's just right for them.  The perks may get them into the house but if the home does not sell itself the perks are meaningless.  People want a home that is right for them; one that will meet their needs and be trouble free for some time after their purchase.

Agree that bonuses aren't as effective as a fairly priced listing.  Offering something of value to the buyer like a yr of house cleaning or yard service is better.

It's certainly attractive and only sometimes effective. As one that used to be a news writer for CNN..I hate the tease..fun post

Laura,  I love the tease...it's what makes life interesting.  It's not that easy to do effectively in real estate though since we have to be so transparent on everything.

Laura, no I don't think the buyer will buy the house that has the bigger agent commission but I do think that agents will be sure to include that home in their list of homes to show any buyer looking for a home in that locatiion and price range  thereby getting the home more showiings and increasing the chance that one of those buyers will select that home.

I completely agree with you.  Get down to basics, right price, clean home, and correct advertizing and the home should sell!

Ted

I think the big tease some agents use is the listing where the description goes on about how beautiful, stunning, gorgeous and wonderful a house is, and then there are no photos.

Hi Laura - I love the TEASE and it's proven to be effective. My take in business is to give someone the news they're looking for and then give them a compelling reason to contact you for more. If you want to learn why I feel this way, just check out my recent post here and for even more reasons, check out on of AR's newest and fastest growing groups, Bright Ideas. Thanks for sharing & Greetings from Paradise.

OK, did it work? Di you check my blogs or the Bright Ideas group?

Pricing and staging are key and should be priority #1! But as long as the tease isn't deceitful, I don't see a problem.  I know that it can be effective tool to get buyers to call and ask more questions so that as a listing agent we have more opportunity to tell the buyer other features of their home.  If the home doesn't fit, then it's an opporunity to sell something else.

I don't suggest agent bonuses. Usually my clients suggest them and want to try it when they are competing with new construction and they know the builder is offering higher commissions.  It's worth a shot if a seller wants to go there. But I can't stay that it has increased traffic dramatically or attributed a closing to the increased coop.