We interview for our jobs almost daily, in this business.
I was interviewing for my job this week, with a potential seller. I had sold them the property about a dozen years ago, so I already had a good rapport with them, and had stayed in touch... at least enough that they called me when they were ready to list.
They told me that I was competing for the listing.... they were interviewing at least one other agent. Probably a good idea, in my opinion, but... "damn the other agent to heck".
When I went back with my CMA, and we went through the whole dog and pony show I asked if they'd already met with the other agents. They confessed they'd only met with one other agent, and that he was a discount agent... so they were excited about the prospect of getting a rebate from the sale... and he was going to charge them a lower listing fee than I'd quoted.
"damning him to heck, silently in my head, again".
I asked what price point the other agent had recommended... and he was very forthright with me and told me that we were almost $100,000 apart. "Really?!" I asked "He's recommending $100K more than my suggested listing price?... I'm very careful, I use very local, very recent comps to build your price."
"No" he told me "he's $100K below your recommendation."
Well... now I know why he's discounting his prices and rebating commission... he doesn't know and doesn't understand our local market.
I told the client that I was VERY comfortable listing his property at the bottom of my price range, which was still $55,000 higher than the other agent's high range. And at that price, I truly believe we'll end up in a multiple offer situation.
Now, of course, it comes out that the other agent is new, and not local. He's a friend. damnit to heck!
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