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How buying furniture and selling your home are similar

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

OK, I know you are asking, "Todd, you are joking right? Where are you taking this?"

Well, here it goes.

Have you ever heard that when you buy furniture you should always take it home with you right from the store and never have it delivered?
If you haven't you had better start doing it that way! The reason why is a lot of furniture stores go out of business all the time and did you know that if you order the furniture, pay for it and they file bankruptcy they have no obligation to deliver it, even though they have your money!

Now, let us look at selling your home. Most agents do all the work up front, then hope to get paid and the only way to do that is if your home sells. If they stop working, then they more than likely, won't get paid, even if they file for bankruptcy. But, recently I've seen agents asking for a retainer like lawyers do and they use that for their advertising and overhead and then get paid the remainder at close. In some cases, I've even seen the whole commission paid up front.

So, what does that do for you if they go bankrupt or leave the business? It leaves you without your furniture home sold and out a lot of money with no recourse. When I list a home, I spend a lot of money marketing it and I expect to get paid for a job well done. That is why I don't take every listing that is offered to me by
sellers, if I can't sell it, I won't list it! Why would I spend thousands of dollars to list your home, so I won't get paid?

So don't hire a furniture salesman, hire a professional that won't get paid unless you do!

Comments(12)

Greg Steffens
Mountain Country Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Amen Todd!  I agree that we shouldn't list homes that can't possibly sell.  If you factor advertising costs times the many, many months that it sits on the market, it is probably a net loss!  Great post....
Mar 29, 2008 03:38 AM
Jonelle Simons
Windermere Real Estate - Park City, UT
Great post, and interesting comparison!  So many agents just take overpriced listings 'just' to get the listing.... What a waste of time and $$!
Mar 29, 2008 03:41 AM
Matt Yogerst
RE/MAX Realty 100 - Menomonee Falls, WI
Metro Milwaukee Real Estate
Time is just as valuable as money as well. Not only is it a waste of money to take an overpriced listing, but lots of time too!
Mar 29, 2008 03:42 AM
Royal Goodman
Royalty Home Solutions - Madera, CA
"We Treat You Like a King"
Todd, that was a great post. I never looked at it that way. Thanks, Royal..
Mar 29, 2008 03:51 AM
Mark Organek
And the United States of America - Mesa, AZ
It's not a game, it's your life.

Todd, we suggest a 1% retainer on listings that have a pricing channel that is too small.  I doorknocked a neighborhood for an agent yesterday.  List price was $220,000 and last week it dropped to $185,000.  Just based on the feedback from doorknocking, I've recommended seriously thinking about dropping the price another $10,000 next week.

What happens to the agents on other homes in this area that put work into doing everything possible to move their clients' listing when we are bringing our price down to market based on a new market?  Those agents, if they gave the right pricing channel to their clients, will probably end up below the "lowest" acceptable offer and lose their listing.  Especially since I've picked up another potential lister at below $200,000.

I'm just asking and not forcing the issue.  Your insight has and will be appreciated.

Mar 29, 2008 04:22 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Todd - I saw your comment on my 'million dollar' blog - and wanted to thank you ...........What a cool idea........to do the RV and different campsite - think - that would be the trip of a lifetime for your family wouldn't it?  :-) I also checked out your website.......and was touched by its uniqueness and its pesonal quality.........very nice!  

Also a retainer?  Wow now isn't that a great concept......I was wondering how long it would take for us as realtors to work so extensively with no compensation, so much of the time........hmmmm.......thats something to think about!  

Mar 29, 2008 05:10 AM
Jimmy McCall
JimmyMcCall.com - Cunningham, TN
The Ex-Mortgage Consultant
Todd, next to buying a car I hate buying furniture.  I will make sure to not order it in the future.  Great tip.
Mar 29, 2008 06:17 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Todd, it somehow never occurred to me to collect a retainer up front.  I'm wondering what happens when an agent moves from one brokerage firm to another in that situation.  
Mar 29, 2008 09:56 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Greg - I have yet to find someone who hasn't shown me it wasn't a net loss on the sale itself, yet they say they pick up buyers to make it up... Not sure if that is a great business model.

Jonelle - They think it isn't, but I would rather have my good name than take an overpriced listing!

Apr 21, 2009 07:05 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Matt - I agree 100%

Royal -
I'm glad I could change your way of thinking about it.

Apr 21, 2009 07:07 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Mark - Lowering the price based on door knocking the nieghborhood, I love it! What a great way to show yourself as the neighborhood expert also.

Liz - If they want me to take the listing, I need to get paid something or I will be out of the business.

Apr 21, 2009 07:13 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Jimmy - Most people don't realize that if you don't get it and they go out of business, you will lose all your money you put toward it.

Patricia - I think the previous brokerage keeps the money unless it has already been given out.

Apr 21, 2009 07:17 AM