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"Where are all the Home Buyers?" wondered all the home sellers.

By Paul C. Wilkinson

Real Estate Agent with CENTURY 21 Preferred

January 04, 2010 07:48 AM

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Home Seller,

Have you ever wondered..."hmmmm....Why hasn't anyone looked at my home for sale?" Of course you do, and maybe your agent IS right and you have it priced high? Maybe you should make it less tattered looking from the street? OR maybe the agent (at your request) added a comment in the Agent Remarks section that drives other agents and their buyers away like the plague.

Here are a few ACTUAL examples that I found, as I was looking through the Muliple Listing Service (MLS), of some 2009 homes that didn't sell. These comments may have kept me, other agents and buyers from looking at your home.

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1. "Seller to Find Suitable Housing Before Close of Escrow." - Or what, the deal is off and the buyer's can't move in because you haven't found something you like. My buyers are concerned with THEIR needs, not yours.

2. "Drive by only this property is tenant occupied and owners do not want tenants disturbed Please and We do not want them to know the home is for sale." - What if my buyer's want to eventually live in this house? Don't you think if my buyers were to move in OR when it goes to foreclosure the tenants might become a little disturbed.

3. "Pls don't write offers and waste our time if your buyers are not SERIOUS or if they are still writing other offers on foreclosures and holding up the property until something else gets accepted. Short-sale sellers have deadlines they have to meet. Be courteous to their situation!!!" - If my buyer's write an offer, you don't think they're serious? SERIOUSLY? Do you really thing my buyers care what your "situation" is...really? They need to buy a home, not sit around and feel sorry for you and your situation.

4. "Seller says "bring me an offer, I'll consider it". - Really? You'll consider it, how nice of you? (found in the property description comments of the listing)

5. "write contingent no showing until mid Jan, Seller may take ceiling fans and stove oven." - the buyers must wait over a month just to see the inside and on top of that you are going to take the things my buyer needs most...like the stove & oven...and you want them (and me) to wait patiently.

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Ask your agent to show you a copy of the MLS sheet of your listing. READ IT AS IF YOU WERE THE BUYER OR BUYER'S AGENT. Does it make sense? Would you be discouraged about taking the time and effort to look at it?

Remember it's not their fault, they are just doing what YOU have asked them to do. But when your listing doesn't sell, because you don't think your agent did anything, remember, they probably did EXACTLY what you asked them to do.

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Paul C. Wilkinson

CENTURY 21 Preferred - Menifee, CA

GRI, REALTOR -Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula - (951)

Cherry - Don't get me started on the photos...I've seen some posted here and they are not flattering to the LA or the seller.

Douglas - I find myself muttering and talking to myself (out loud sometimes) when I'm at the office as I look for homes to show my buyers.

Michael - Agents would have to sign up to take the course....I would bet its cancelled for lack of participation.

Ted - Too familiar and too often.

Wendy - Thinking the exact same thing.

Gary - I wonder what the sellers are thinking, but as an agent and going along with it...really?

Duane - it's frightening to think what your clients are thinking when you have to explain to them you can't show them a property they are really set on seeing.

Claire - hmmm...pocket listing? Not sure...would you keep a pocket listing to sell your own buyer knowing they won't get the drapes, ceiling fans, oven, stove, landscaping, sprinkler system, garage door opener....etc....

Karen - It is what it is...thanks for the comments.

Carole - That is another one that I see often, in fact I was going to include that example as I found several with those remarks in the expired listings. Oh, and I didn't leave the seat up.

Jan 05, 2010 08:05 AM

Carole L. MacCollum

HOME AT LAST REAL ESTATE - Wells, ME

Broker/Realtor 207-337-4792

Thanks for not leaving the seat up! LOL! Sorry about the double post....I'm finding that AR is freezing up sometimes lately, OOPSY!

You crack me up!

Jan 05, 2010 08:38 AM

Andrea Kappre

Keller Williams Hometown - Mantua, NJ

New Jersey Realtor, New Jersey MLS, Homes for Sale

Paul - They are so funny!!! Sometimes you just want to say "don't kill the messenger!"

Jan 05, 2010 10:14 AM

William James Walton Sr.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT

Greater Waterbury Real Estate

The truth hurts, Paul. But sadly, those who need it the most will give head to it the least.

Jan 05, 2010 01:50 PM

Pat Kady

Keller Williams Check Realty - Prescott, AZ

Hi Paul, Great advice! I think I will print some of the comments on "Expireds" from my MLS to put in my listing presentation, for the next seller I encounter, who is insisting on one of these types of comments.

Pat

Jan 05, 2010 03:03 PM

Lori Mode

The Mode Real Estate Group - Elk Grove, CA

Real Estate Made Simple

Paul - agents should have the expertise to explain to their sellers that these comments are not appropriate. It is amazing how the sellers will hurt themselves not even realizing that they are doing it. Seems to us that it is obvious, however it is not to some sellers and it is our duty to explain these things. Any agent who does not, is not doing their job.

Jan 05, 2010 03:51 PM

Bonnie Lovitt

CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty, Inc. - Mill Creek, WA

Paul this was a fun article. Just a reminder to all of us to be selective about our listings and to interview them as we are being interviewed ourselves. I agree this should be continued! Thanks for the humor.

Jan 05, 2010 04:59 PM

Jim McCormack

Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Jim McCormack - Edge Advantage Realty, LLC - 615-796-6898 - Murfreesboro, TN

Nashville Short Sale REALTOR - Stop Foreclosure

Funny and true.

Jan 05, 2010 05:05 PM

Carol Pease

JP & Associates Realtors - Bastrop, TX

CRS, Broker-Associate 512-721-6320

Paul:

Every home will sell, it all depends on what year and what century. Thank you for the humorous article. I've seen similar comments and scratched my head wondering who does this stuff!!!

Jan 05, 2010 05:15 PM

Donna Ross

Room Remedy Interiors, Sydney, Australia - Salton City, CA

Home Decorating, House Staging, Sydney

Paul,

You've given me the best laugh I've had all day! This is a great post. I often see the silliest photos and now you've pointed out that the copy that goes with them is a vertiable gold mine for 'foot in mouth' disease.

My favourite line would have to be; "Owner Says Sell!" Really? I never would have figured that one out.

Then of course there's it's cousin; "Priced to Sell!" Usually this line crops up after the seller has already suffered at least one price reduction.

Sounds to me like the parties were just playing games before, and have just come to realise the game is over.

Thanks again for sharing this gem!

Donna

Jan 05, 2010 05:36 PM

Cheryl Ritchie

RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD

Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

I like the part about putting on their sneakers or their hat and reading the comments like a Buyer's Agent to assess showing dynamics. Good point!

Jan 05, 2010 07:07 PM

Damon Gettier

Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA

Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

I have not seen this kind of stuff in our MLS.....sometimes I don't have it as bad as I think!

Jan 06, 2010 03:51 AM

Paul C. Wilkinson

CENTURY 21 Preferred - Menifee, CA

GRI, REALTOR -Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula - (951)

Carole - I'm glad that I can amuse you.

Andrea - Yes, but seller's need to know what they are doing to themselves.

William - It always does, doesn't it.

Pat - Great way to turn a negative into a positive for YOU! Good luck, let me know if it works.

Lori - but getting the sellers to actually listen and HEAR what you are saying is another challenge all together.

Terry - I guess they were professionals...

Bonnie - I think many agents forget they are allowed to interview the seller to see if the relationship is a good fit. Sadle, I'm guessing some are going for law of averages and numbers rather than if they will be doing a good job for their client.

James - True, yes..funny? not really.

Carol - I think every home has the capability of selling and its not the year or century....but the price for the value a buyer is willing to pay.

Donna - That's a good one too....maybe there are some out there that need to be reminded that it is the SELLER, doing the SELLING....LOL. Glad I could make you laugh.

Cheryl - I always like having an extra set of eyes in case I entered something incorrectly (my mistake) the seller's don't think I'm an idiot, in fact they appreciate the fact they are part of the transaction and I'm not just the man behind the curtain.

Dianne - What's amazing is the number of listings that have this sort of language, with some agents being repeat offenders with a huge list of expireds after their name.

Damon - Then consider yourself lucky!

Jan 06, 2010 05:09 AM

Bill Carroll

Corcoran Real Estate - Westhampton, NY

IN REAL ESTATE, REPRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING

Paul- I hope sellers out there are reading your post. A very revealing glimpse of what happens after many listing agents get what they want- the signature!

Jan 06, 2010 06:20 AM

Robert L. Brown

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

And they want to blame us for the deal not going through? They need to look to themselves and figure it out.

Jan 06, 2010 06:57 AM

Margaret C. Taylor

Century 21 New Millennium MD - Mechanicsville, MD

St Marys/Calvert/Charles MD Real Estate Agent

I have seen similar comments too. It is unfortunate when the description doesn't do the listing justice either because of the seller or the agent. Margaret C.

Jan 06, 2010 01:46 PM

Roger Abuata

Roger Abuata - Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Also, Commercial financing

And I thought I was the only one who have seen all those and more... very real.. very funny.. Keep it up Paul..

Jan 07, 2010 08:59 AM

Paul C. Wilkinson

CENTURY 21 Preferred - Menifee, CA

GRI, REALTOR -Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula - (951)

HOR - Let's hope so. But a good point on how some act once they have the contract signed.

Robert - WHo else is there to blame?

Margaret - It defineatly affects the number of home showing as agents will avoid this listings if they are poorly written.

Joan - A violation fo the COE for sure about disclosing personal client information. I agree, just take it off the market.

Jan 09, 2010 10:12 AM

Sue Neff

Tennessee Real Properties - Jamestown, TN

Principal Broker, Jamestown, TN

I had an agent in my firm (new, but should know better) actually put "none" in the REMARKs area. Guess there is nothing good to say? I asked her to revise all of her listings immediately and remove the NONE and PUT something GREAT in there.

Sue

Jan 10, 2010 02:44 AM

Paul C. Wilkinson

CENTURY 21 Preferred - Menifee, CA

GRI, REALTOR -Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula - (951)

Sue - You would think that an agent would have something useful to tell other agents in the agent remarks section. But to put nothing to me seems outright lazy!

Yuno - Haven't we all. Thanks.

Jan 10, 2010 09:33 AM