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Fresh Ideas for Listing Success

By
Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

For years I've had a one step listing packet to present to a Hawaii Home Seller at our immediate first appointment. I thought it was very extensive and  complete with my marketing plan, comps, any building permits, city and county tax info, listing agreement, SRPDS (Seller's Real Property Disclosure Statement), Seller's Service Pledge and loads of info. I was proud of my marketing plan, especially since I had so much to show for my efforts with my websites, blogging articles and so forth.

That's what I get for thinking.

Education is key to getting our license and continuing education is key to continued success.  I get out of my closed box every once in awhile and get more education to implement new and fresh ideas to my business. In this respect it allowed me turn around my thinking and got an "AHA moment" to presenting my listing presentation.

Many Hawaii Home Sellers want to know right off the bat how you are going to market their home. In those cases  I have immediately gone into the marketing aspect to show off my expertise with virtual tours, cd's of those virtual tours to present at Open Houses, flyers, internet sites and so forth.  They always loved the marketing aspect and then we got down to business of pricing.

Sometimes I did it all backwards!

PRICING is the most important part of the presentation.  I believe that now because if we cannot come to an agreement then there is no sense to continue on.  There have been a couple of times that we did not come to an agreement and I had to walk away. Overpricing becomes a deadly affair as everything stagnates; including agent enthusiasm to show the property.

Pricing the home right is the biggest part of selling a property in this market.

Implementing new ideas with an ever changing market is imperative.

Posted by

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2015 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's

Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

Comments (95)

Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Sounds like a good plan.  I have been meaning to revamp my marketing material.

Mar 24, 2010 06:20 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Looks like many agree with pricing first. If we do not give them the supporting documentation (like Randy noted) then how can they come to a price range anyway?  We give them our expert opinion on the market but let them arrive on the price.....always.

Loreena: I'm not sure I would hold back the comps, supporting documentation because anyone can call an agent and get numbers as well.  Bottom line...we use our best discretion for a presentation for the seller and if we know what we're talking about (or not) they'll see it.

I have struggled the past few months for NEW and FRESH ideas for my listing presentations and after going to the listing CRS classess last week I got rejuvinated...and revived to continue on with a new outlook.  I refuse to stay stagnant and remain open to new ideas, aha moments and a great outlook for future business success.

Watch me go now!

Mar 24, 2010 06:35 AM
Carol Pease
JP & Associates Realtors - Bastrop, TX
CRS, Broker-Associate 512-721-6320

Sally:

Thanks for the great article.  You've certainly given me something to think about.  I usually address price last in my presentation.

Mar 24, 2010 06:56 AM
Kathy Opatka
RE/MAX CROSSROADS - Ocean City, MD
Serving Ocean City, MD, & The Delaware Beaches

Sally,

I work at establishing report, then go right into the pricing.  If we don't have a meeting of the minds on price, I don't need to go into my marketing plan.... I won't be taking the Listing!

Mar 24, 2010 07:15 AM
JL Boney, III
Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC Real Estate

I try to get through pricing and condition first as I see these as the most important thing to discuss. Just like you said, if we can't agree on that upfront, then why go any further.

Mar 24, 2010 07:42 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Sally - pricing is so important and it is definitely what the sellers are waiting for. I love those AHA moments!

Mar 24, 2010 08:14 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Sally, yeah.  Pricing is pretty much everything.  I think a good market analysis is the key to getting sellers to understand what's going on in their part of the world.  And I don't mind being their second agent.  And if their first agent takes it for more and sells it for their number, well, then I was wrong, and that can happen once in a while. 

Mar 24, 2010 09:31 AM
Ty Lacroix
Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc - London, ON

Price and their net proceeds get there attention, from there, show them how you are going to get it

Ty

Mar 24, 2010 10:14 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Oh yes, it's all about marketing the listing at the "price that will bring a sale" not overpriced house that sits ther.

Patricia

Mar 24, 2010 01:34 PM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Oh yes, it's all about marketing the listing at the "price that will bring a sale" not overpriced house that sits ther.

Patricia

Mar 24, 2010 01:34 PM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

You will always find something pertinent to place in your LP but who reads it!!!???  I attended a coaching class which stated how colored pictures did more talking than the words on the pages.  Words can be boring in this situation.

Mar 24, 2010 02:08 PM
Tom Tillapaugh
Exit Team Advantage Realty -Oneonta NY Real Estate - Oneonta, NY
Oneonta NY Real Estate

GREAT POST! There are hundreds of great presentations on how agents "can" market their properties.  I still haven't seen one that can sell an overpriced property.  Convince the seller that you are the professional and know how to accurately price a home, explain that it is a waste of time for both of you to over price their home, show them the real picture of their market, determine their motivation, see if they are on board with you, and decide if the listing is one you want to invest  your time and money.  You are in control, not them!

Mar 25, 2010 12:59 AM
Home Loan Search.Online
Home Loan Search Online - Newnan, GA

When the home is overpriced and the seller actually gets an offer, at least in my area, it will have a hard time appraising and then the buyer will either have to walk away or renegotiate. Taking a listing that is overpriced doesn't do anyone any good.

Mar 25, 2010 01:55 AM
Ann Cordes
Century 21 Randall Morris and Associates, Waco - Waco, TX
Home Ownership is Not a Distant Dream

Your right Sally, if you can't get them to listen to your advice on pricing, they are not going to listen to anything else.

Mar 25, 2010 02:36 AM
Carol Fox
Allen Tate Company 704-905-3935 - Matthews, NC
Helping You Discover Charlotte's Best Small Towns

Hi Sally,

I always start my presentation with telling the sellers that I normally talk about three things:  the benefits of listing with my company, pricing, and marketing.  I then ask them if they are already sold on my company (the largest in the marketplace) and if they are, we skip that part of the presentation.  We then go to pricing.  If pricing goes ok, then we go to marketing.  This enables me to not waste time on materials that aren't necessary.  After 25 years of making listing presentations, I get very bored.  And if I'm bored, they probably are too.

As far as convincing the sellers of the correct price, I walk them through my reasoning comp by comp.  By the time we're finished, they understand why I'm suggesting a certain price range.  They may not be happy with it or may not agree, but they certainly understand where I'm coming from.  If they do list, understanding my reasoning helps me get price reductions, if they are needed.

Mar 25, 2010 08:27 AM
Jirius Isaac
Isaac Real Estate &TriStar Mortgage - Kenmore, WA
Real Estate & loans in Kenmore, WA

Pricing is important, but if you cannot agree on price, suggest that they pay you on a fee schedule whether the property sells or not.  I do it several times a year.

Mar 25, 2010 04:47 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Coming in the door, sellers always want to know about price and there's nothing wrong with presenting this info upfront or early and then bring out the supporting information to back up you position. Every now and we have to tweak our presentations.

Mar 26, 2010 12:45 AM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

Pricing is the most important think, so it just makes sence to list it first.  Great post, thanks for the blog!!!!

Mar 28, 2010 04:48 PM
Suzanne Strickler
Realty Mark Associates - Havertown, PA
School is never out for the Successful.

Sally - Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes is in agreement in his monologue, "1001 tips to sell a house? There's really only one...just reduce the price!"

Apr 10, 2010 06:26 AM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

The number one marketing technique is to start out with a properly priced house.

May 07, 2010 11:42 AM