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Just told homeowner I'm sorry for listing her house too high!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Carousel Realty of Dyer County Tn 248435000

About 5 months ago I listed a house for a lady. I did the market analysis and showed her the numbers. She chose to list it with me at about 10% above the current value. I normally will not take a listing overpriced but did get her to agree to automatic price reductions. We started out at $94,500 and are now down to $89,900.

We have had several lookers but no offers. One thing that the owner and I failed to take into account is the foreclosures that keep popping up. Every time we think we have a serious prospect, they end up buying a "new" foreclosure in the neighborhood.

I sent my seller an e-mail yesterday apologizing for not predicting all these foreclosures that keep popping up and for obviously listing her property too high. I also asked for a further price reduction and she just wants to hold tight for now.

If I could offer some advice for potential house sellers and their agents, do a market analysis for the neighborhood and if the owner really wants to sell the property, list  the house at what houses are currently selling for in the neighborhood. That's what these banks are doing; pricing their properties to sell! Forget what houses are currently listed for, price at what they are selling for.

I had a discussion with my number one agent in the office this morning. We both decided that we would not take any more over priced listings!

 

 

Comments (3)

Anonymous
Anonymous

It doesn't sound like you have been serving your clients' best interests.  Being honest with your clients is what they want - isn't that what you would want if you hired someone to sell YOUR house?  You emailed your client an apology?  That's some great customer service right there....  And, you're kidding me...of course you price your house against what other houses have sold for, keeping a sharp look at how the other homes in the market are priced - it's called a competitive edge in a competitive market!  "Buying" over-priced listings damages the public's perception of Realtors and actually ends up costing the seller more as the home sits on the market, being reduced and reduced.  If you price a house right, even in this market, you might find yourself in a multiple offer situation....

Jun 25, 2008 03:50 AM
#1
Toby & John T. Williams
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Medford, NY

Ah, the overpriced listing!

The headache of listing agents everywhere, at least, those who choose to take them. YOU knew it was overpriced when you took it.  YOU told the homeowner it was overpriced when you took it.

Why did you take it? In hopes they would drop the price later, of course. And they did, but not enough, especially in this changing market! 

How long has it been for sale? You didn't see prices continuing to drop? Really???

All the marketing in the world will not sell an overpriced listing. You are just wasting your time and money.  IF buyers aren't looking at the house, you are really overpriced. IF buyers are looking at the house, but you aren't getting any offers, you are close, but still a little overpriced.  In THIS market, a little overpriced yesterday is VERY overpriced tomorrow!  You NEVER want your homeowner chasing the market downward. They just never seem to catch up!  Pricing it right in the first place will get it sold for more in the long run! 

Jun 25, 2008 03:57 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

I did tell my client we were pricing it too high. The problem here is that I allowed this to happen!

Jun 25, 2008 04:20 AM