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Why do my neighbors have a for sale sign in their yard?

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Benrud Realty

I'm sure that we've all had it happen.  You wake up one morning, have coffee, go get the paper, and then BLAM!, you see the "For Sale" sign in your neighbors yard...and it's not yours.  Your first thought is probably one that I could not post in this blog!  Then after you get over the initial shock, the head starts to spin about what could have gone wrong.

I am not a very outgoing person when it comes to people that I don't already know.  I put up a pretty good front when meeting new clients and it doesn't take me very long to get comfortable and establish good rapport.  But I have a very difficult time stepping outside my comfort zone and introducing myself and my profession to people that don't already know.  Maybe it's that I spend all day talking with people and just want to relax and hide when I get home.  But the result of not meeting hardly any of my neighbors is the competition's for sale sign in my neighbors yard!

It first popped up several months ago when there was still snow on the ground and I can tell you that it drives me slightly crazy each day.  The house is overpriced for our neighborhood, has bad pictures, and I have seen very few showings, and the listing agent has done no open houses.  It actually took her several months after the snow melted to take a new picture of the house.  I take pride in having up to date pictures of my listings, so that alone was tough to see.

I have been a good girl and not gone over to their house to see how the sale is going.  So has anyone else had them happen to them; what is your advice and what are your thoughts for the future.  I am watching to see when it might expire but do I want to take on a listing that is obviously overpriced? 

Oh and by the way, I would really like the house to sell because they race and repair very loud stock cars which often interupt my nice quiet evenings!

Thanks all and have a great real estate day!

Comments (3)

Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Hi Tina- there are THREE homes on my street for sale. None listed by me. Next door was a transfer and they could not pick their own agent. Across the street is listed by a fellow who lists WAY over priced then cuts his commission. He makes his living off buyer calls. Home number three was FSBO for almost a year. The gentleman is now listed with an agent 50K over my suggested price.

All of the homes have been for sale since the Fall. Sometimes I think it is easier to sell outside your own neighborhood. But it still sucks to see another sign every morning!

Jun 28, 2010 04:37 AM
Chris Alston
Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Silicon Valley, California) - Campbell, CA
Silicon Valley, California

:(

That does happen...  It's not really their fault...  When they thought about real estate, they didn't think of you first.  What I mean, is that sellers (about 70%) of the time, only talk to one person. 

Maybe they look at you as their friend, who likes to hike, and drinking coffe, etc...  So take the time to position yourself among your neighbors as the Realtor who likes to hike.  The Realtor who drinks coffee...  etc...

Jun 28, 2010 05:30 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Tina Bann

I has one of my relatives use another Agent awhile ago that was in this business or only 2 years. I have been doing this for 30. That was a hard nut to crack.

Feb 12, 2015 08:43 AM