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When the Home Seller exposes their fangs!

By * Rate A Home

Services for Real Estate Pros with Rate A Home

January 16, 2008 04:09 AM

There's nothing worse then the fangs of a seller being exposed. Today's market has produced more tension between the Seller and the agent.

Seller's want lighting fast action when it comes to the home they are looking to sell. Today, it's most likely not going to happen. Longer listing periods where a property nearly becomes stagnant are getting pinned on the agent.

The fact is, no matter how much advertising dollars an agent throws at a listing, or the hours invested in open houses, just doesn't cut it today.

Seller's have to understand that the agent wants the home sold as bad as the seller. No sale, no pay is about as simple as I can put it. Plus the agent would like a business relationship with the seller for years to come. It's not just the money. Just know they aren't intentionally selling your home, we can all thank this economy were experiencing.

Seller's, please be understanding to your partner in the sale, they will put their best effort forward to make it a successful transaction for you.

Agent's be understanding on the frustration the seller may go through. The emotional roller coaster is one that you will have to help them be securely strapped in for the ride.

Team work starts with both parties.

Photo courtesy of www.92ee.com

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Prudential Preferred Realty Butler PA

Prudential Preferred Realty - Butler, PA

What a good post! I wish they would make this part of a standard listing contract!

I WANT to sell your home! I don't WANT to reduce the price! I don't want to advertise your home for months at a time! I want it sold yesterday! So do you! We're on the same team!!!

Jan 16, 2008 04:17 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Jayne, I love your comments. I figured that most agents would like to say this, but afraid of the recourse they might run into. It really is a Team approach when going into a selling transaction. And when I was dealing as a Broker, so true "I wanted them sold yesterday" myself. Thank you for being the first to comment.

Jan 16, 2008 04:22 AM

Ryan Hukill - Edmond

405home @ ERA Courtyard - Edmond, OK

Realtor, Team Lead

Boy is this ever true. I just had a heated week with one of my sellers and in the end we got the house sold, but things sure got nasty for a bit. We are expected, at times, to be miracle workers, and the thing I try to stress to all sellers right up front is that I don't control the market. I control my marketing and do everything possible to get these homes shown in their best light, but if there aren't any buyers in the market, there won't be any showings and certainly no offers. Good post.

Jan 16, 2008 04:31 AM

Jim Crawford

Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA

Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Great post! It is like the phrase"Do not judge another...unless you have walked amile in their shoes!" Empathey and team work can pay off. Do not act out on each other the stress and dissapointments!

Jan 16, 2008 04:39 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Ryan, Thank you for stopping by. "Miracle Worker's" is an excellent term until it becomes Miracle Whip. The control they expect from you as an agent is completely out of your hands. I know I don't personally miss the selling side any more. The higher expectations being placed on the person with the sign in the front yard has become undaunted from what I've heard from some agents.

Glad you were able to get the seller's home sold, I hope they have a forgiving and understanding side, so you can continue a Team work relationship down the line with them.

Jan 16, 2008 04:42 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Jim, well said "Empathy and team work can pay off." So true in these trying days of an agent and seller.

Jan 16, 2008 04:44 AM

Roland Woodworth

Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN

Blue Cord Realty

Interesting... my partner and I had a listing on a house that was her past client. Long story short, he was leaving for a milutary school and the wife was already gone, so the sister had a POA. She made a point to tell us she was a pitbull and would be our worst client ever. Well a week later she took the listing away from us and listed with another agent in our company...... 11 days after it was re-listed..... Guess who had the buyer........ You guessed it.... I had the buyer..

Sellers don't always understand the marketing of their home.... In this case we were told that we didn't do enough to get the home sold ( keeping in mind this was only 3 months and in a Military market where wer just went through a major deployment ) The buyer resulted from the efforts of our marketing when we had the listing.

Jan 16, 2008 08:51 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Roland, sounds like a pleasant person to work with when they forewarn you that they will be your nightmare. I'm glad you got the last laugh on that one, sounds like you deserved it for the hassle she put you through. I have been hearing more weird stories of seller's and agent disputes with the slow market.

Jan 17, 2008 12:25 AM

Micheal St. Peter

The Bayshore Group - Traverse City, MI

I work very similar words into all my listing presentations. If you talk about the realty ahead of time it seems to lessen the blow.

Jan 17, 2008 12:28 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Michael, yes, today you have to include the disclaimers to the seller. New listing forms should include "WARNING YOUR HOME IS GUARANTEED TO BE ON THE MARKET FOR XX AMOUNT OF DAYS, WHICH IS NOT MY FAULT" don't we wish. :-)

Jan 17, 2008 02:21 AM

Deborah Romanoski

Remax Realty Team - Cape Coral, FL

Hi Everyone,

An informed seller is your best ally. I keep mine abreast with weekly stats.

Bottom line is, you can't argue with the numbers. They are what they are.

Any seller that has unreasonable expectations in this market, is a seller

I will walk away from. My time and money is as important to me, as theirs is to them.

Educate your sellers, trust me, an educated sellers are the listings that sell.

Jan 17, 2008 04:35 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Deborah, excellent input. Keeping them informed is the key to "trying" to keep a happy customer.

Many don't understand that time is money and an agent isn't going to take a listing with the hopes that someone else might sell it. Would they?

Jan 17, 2008 04:56 AM

Latonia Parks

Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC

Certified Military Relocation Expert

I totally agree that education is crucial for these buyers/sellers. Sometimes they still don't want to hear it because they were reading between the lines of your dialogue.

Jan 17, 2008 05:02 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Latonia, ahh, the reading between the lines theory. It's happening every day, sad but true. I guess that's why every thing has to be put in writing these days. Thanks for stopping by. Hope all is going well for you. Duane

Jan 17, 2008 05:54 AM