Special offer

*Individual Results May Vary

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with American Foursquare Realty RM423982

*Individual Results May Vary - How many times have we seen that small print on offers and advertising?

Richard Strahm - Lansdale Real EstateWell, it's that time of year where we sit down and reflect on what has happened in the past 12 months.  For me, it was a good year.  But I did have those two listings that never sold.  And when I think about them, I wonder if "Individual Results May Vary" is a disclaimer I should put on my listing presentation!

I promise my sellers that I will work as hard as I possibly can to get their home sold for the most money possible, in the shortest time frame with the best terms.  But I expect the sellers to work with me to attain those goals!

So why didn't those two listings sell? All of these things occurred on one or both of the listings:

  • Pricing:  This was the biggie.  Both sellers "knew" what their homes were truly worth and scoffed at my detailed analysis.  But what am I to know?  Neither would budge on their unrealistic expectations.
  • Smoking:  I'm not trying to get you to quit smoking.  I'm trying to get you to quit smoking in the house you are trying to sell.  Face the facts - people don't want to buy homes that reek of cigarette smoke.
  • Pet odors:  Don't get me wrong, I love pets.  I have three.  But when you're a pet owner trying to sell a home, you have to work ten times as hard to make it seem that it is a pet free home.  In one of these cases the dog smell was overpowering.  But the owner refused to use Febreeze because "it gave her asthma." (See above - this was from the heavy smoker!)
  • Condition:  A 1974 bathroom with a fresh coat of paint is not a remodeled bathroom.  Really.  And laminated fake butcher block kitchen cabinets will not wow buyers.  So when you want top dollar (see above), the condition better be perfect!
  • Style:  I'm sure you liked your sky blue ceilings with your maroon walls.  Lime green sculptured carpeting set things off nicely.  And the peel and press tiles in what should have been a hardwood foyer ("for the dogs" - see above) may have been practical to you, but it's not what buyers want to see.

I'm no shrinking violet.  I pointed out all of these items to the sellers.  Unfortunately, my advice was not heeded.  And the homes never sold.  I run into both sellers periodically.  We chat about the weather, their kids and other mundane stuff.  But we don't talk about real estate.  Because they know I'm not going to take their listing again if they decide they want to try and sell again.  Unless they do it my way.

So while I'd like to tell every one of my sellers that I am going to get their home sold - Individual Results May Vary!

Posted by
 Richard Strahm is an award winning Realtor specializing in the North Penn areas of Montgomery County -- Lansdale, Upper Gwynedd, North Wales, Towamencin, Hatfield -- and beyond!  Visit him at www.a4square.com or call today at 215-853-2624 for a free and private consultation about all of your real estate needs.
 
 
Richard Strahm
Broker / Owner
Realtor, ABR, CRS, PSA, SFR, SRS, SRES
 
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA

415 North Broad Street
Lansdale, PA 19446

Direct: (215) 853-2624
Office: (215) 647-0700
Fax: (215) 529-8931

Email:  Richard@a4square.com

www.a4square.com

PA Lic # RM423982

Copyright © 2010-2018 Richard Strahm.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Comments (6)

Pam Sitterly
RE/MAX VINTAGE - Magnolia, TX
CRS Magnolia-Tomball Texas

Good Post! Individual results will vary. When you follow your agents direction, you are more likely to find a buyer, than when you do not.

Dec 19, 2010 11:51 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

You're the real estate professional............they need to heed your advice if they expect you to take the listing on their house again...........it has to be your way or the "highway".............

Dec 20, 2010 12:08 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

I'm sure the doctor has advised not to smoke at all and if they don't take that advise, why would they take yours. I try to put a dollar value on what their habits cost. Homes in this price range sell for $25K less if they smell like smoke. They get a better picture of what a pack of smokes costs.

Dec 20, 2010 02:02 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

How's the old saying go, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.  Some sellers fit that category. 

Jan 02, 2011 07:18 AM
Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

Anita - non-drinking horses I can usually handle.  It's the stubborn asses that I have difficulty with!

Jan 02, 2011 07:43 AM
Anonymous
john steven grissom

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY....  John Steven Grissom.    One of my favorite phrases....  I like it even better than, "there are no absolutes". stevegtexas@aol.com

Mar 16, 2011 03:55 AM
#6