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Ask Denise: The Realities of Keeping a Listing on the Market

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Education & Training with The Lones Group, Inc.
The Lones Group, Inc.

Q: I have a seller who has put her home on the market twice in the past 12 months, then cancelled it each time within 3 months of being listed because she wasn’t getting any offers – let alone a sale. How do I get her to keep her home on the market long enough to find viable buyers in today’s market?

A: First of all, you need to take the time to talk to your seller about the realities of your current market. If the days-on-market number is 6 months, and your seller expects her home to sell in 3 months, she isn’t being very realistic about how long this will take.

Secondly, you need to have a frank discussion about realistic pricing. Your seller’s home will have to be priced very competitively in order to ‘beat the odds’. In fact, she probably needs to be below the ‘now’ price in your market. If she’s not willing to price according to your market and her timeframe, you’re spending your time and energy on a listing that will likely not sell anytime soon.

The Lones Group, Inc.

Comments(3)

Frances C. Rokicki
Fran Rokicki Realty, LLC - Bolton, CT
Broker-Mentor,CRS

Denise,  I have expressed this question and answer, to my clients, who haven't yet realized the market condidtions.  A market is called a Buyer's Market, when it takes more than 6 months to secure an offer.  It becomes a Seller's Market, when it takes less than 6 months to secure an offer.  Our listings should be for a time frame of one year, not 6 months!  That's the market truth, today!

Mar 30, 2011 09:57 AM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Sounds like the battle between reality and expectation!  Education is the only way to resolve that matter.

Mar 30, 2011 10:25 AM
Denise Lones
The Lones Group, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
CSP, MIRM, CDEI - Real Estate Coaching & Branding

Frances,  agents today need to know the difference between buyer and seller markets.  Great feedback. 

Kathy I totally agree that education is key to resolving matters of importance. 

Apr 11, 2011 12:28 PM