I love going out and meeting other agents.  I love learning about them, seeing their listings, the way they act, things they do to stage a home... I just love it. 

For example.  Recently, an agent called our office and talked to our broker.  Her office is in Ramsey, and she has a listing here in Mora.  The hard part about that is that you aren't familiar with the competition.  I feel sorry for her, because she called our broker, saying that she had gotten feedback from one of the agents here in the office, and their opinion was that it was priced too high.

That was me.

So why did I do it?

Before we went to this listing, we went to another one that is EXTREMELY similar, located just a couple blocks away.  It is priced $20,000 less.  Overall the condition was about the same - except for the basements.  In the first one I showed, the basement was finished.  It was still an old "Mora basement" as we call them, but complete with carpet, sheetrock, paint, etc.  I left that listing and went straight to this one.  The basement was bare concrete, and we could see the cracks, water leakage, and mold.  It was a cold, cement floor, and had that "Mora basement" feel. 

It wasn't necessarily that I thought that it was extremely high, but should be closer to what the price on the first home is, at least.  My buyer, comparing both of them, said it was no contest - he would buy the first one.

Now, some agents would think I knew nothing and continue on their merry way.  Some agent would decide to hate me.  This agent deserves some credit.

She called my broker, and he hadn't been in the house for years.  She asked if the whole office would tour the house, give some feedback, and in exchange she would buy us all lunch.

Lunch?  Heck yes, we'll be there!

So today, we went over and met with the listing agent, and walked through.  The agents agreed with me - if some things were fixed, it would definitely be worth more.  As of right now, it was overpriced.

She feverishly took notes on all the things we thought would make a difference in the selling price.  We talked, gave examples, laughed, and we discussed further over a great lunch at the Downtown Deli.

All the while, I'm thinking "This is what real estate should be about.  Agent opens, great honest feedback, FREE LUNCH!  Okay, not really the free lunch.  The working together - that's what it's all about.  I think of other agents who don't want advice, don't communicate with other agents, and I think "Why?"  On a nice sunny day I love nothing more than to meet an agent from across the road on the sidewalk, and talk about real estate, the weather, and our listings.  Honestly, there's nothing better.

So, I want to commend Sharlene for inviting us out, buying us lunch, and asking for our honest opinion, and honestly listening.  If only we were all like that!  :)