To List or Not to List? That is the Question.

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Have you ever walked out of a listing appointment with doubts?

 

Doubts about the property? 

Perhaps those doubts are grounded in concerns about the property condition, location, or just general salability. Or maybe the property is outside your normal market and you're uncomfortable about your knowledge of the area. 

Doubts about the seller? 

Did you get the feeling from countless lengthy emails that this seller is going to be a real time-zapper? Or maybe you experienced bad vibes from the seller - and your instinct is to get out of there and never go back.

 

I experienced a little bit of both yesterday - a property in the midst of renovations that may or may not be completed and a time-zapping seller with an inflated view of his property value. "Im sorry, I'm not the right agent for you" just doesn't come naturally to me. 

 

In fact, I don't remember any time in my long career when I actually turned down a listing. How about you?  If you have walked away from a potential listing, what was your reason for doing so?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Ironically, I saved this blog to "draft" on Tuesday until I had time to upload an appropriate image. In the meantime, the seller emailed me to say they had chosen another agent. 

I have never been so relieved to NOT get a listing! 

 

But my time was not wasted... this experience did provide a blog topic and hopefully opened the door to some interesting stories about how YOU handled doubts about taking a listing.

 

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (10)

Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Image didn't upload, Bob Stewart. Is this a system-wide issue?

Jun 16, 2016 02:56 AM
Bob Stewart
ActiveRain - Mesa, AZ
ActiveRain

Just ran a few tests. Everything seems to be working properly. I just pulled in a photo for this blog post. And then did my own post as a test and that worked as well. At what point exactly did it fail?

Jun 16, 2016 03:00 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Surprise, the photo is showing now!  :)

Jun 16, 2016 07:30 AM
Peter den Boer
Atlanta Communities - Woodstock, GA
MBA,GRI, Associate Broker, Realtor

Margaret, I am still learning to say no. I have taken several listings in the past year that I regretted later.

Jun 16, 2016 11:08 PM
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

Hi Margaret.  I am trying to remember saying those exact words ("I'm afraid I'm not the right Realtor for you.") and I don't think I ever have.  I definitely remember times that I should have.  

Jun 17, 2016 10:18 PM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
Texas Pride Realty Group Brokered by HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

I've said it a time or two, but only after having the listing for several months. Got to learn to listen to instinct.

Jun 18, 2016 11:26 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I was looking for your current blogs. I hope all is going well for you.

Jul 19, 2016 01:10 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

July was my 40th anniversay - neither you nor I can fully explain how we know, but we "smell it"

Aug 21, 2016 07:28 AM
Carolyn Shipp
Source 1 Real Estate - Mineral Wells, TX
Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate

I have not run into a situation yet where I feel I should say no, but there have been a few instances within our office where our broker has decided to end a listing with a client.  Sometimes the seller becomes to unreasonable in his or her demands and a new agent can get lost in what to do.  When this happens, our broker is not afraid to call the seller in to have a little heart to heart.  If it appears that the seller isn't willing to look at things a little more clearly, then she will terminate the listing (of course she has spoken with the agent first and they are both in agreement.)  It is surprising how amazed the seller is when the broker ends the listing.  I sometimes think sellers think we are desperate as agents and are willing to put up with anything they demand.

Dec 09, 2016 10:10 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

It has been quite a while since you made this post, Margaret. I just came across it. Yet, it still rings true! Any house will sell for the right price. A house that is partially updated and a seller who is disconnected from reality will make it very difficult to get that seller to agree on a reasonable price.

Having not gotten the listing, I think you dodged a bullet.

Dec 12, 2021 09:23 AM