March to a Solution - Selling Homes from the Street Just DOESN'T Happen

March to a Solution - Selling Homes from the Street Just DOESN'T Happen

I thought of titling this, "Come to Jesus Meeting" or "Meeting of the Minds," but this was not really a meeting of the minds - it was 100% a come-to-Jesus meeting! I didn't want to offend anyone using that phrase - which I may, admittedly, use too often! LOL

Here is my last entry into March's challenge, hosted by Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist & Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP. What a wonderful challenge it has been and thank you both again for being such wonderful hostesses! 

In a not-so-busy market, I had some fabulous listings - one of which was in one of our local country club communities. The sellers were all about getting their home sold so that they could join their actress teen in LA to begin their exciting new jet-setter lifestyle. They had made some improvements on the home and spent a good deal of time decluttering and donating. After much planning and preparation, the stage was finally set - let the showings BEGIN!

The first few days were chock-full of great showings, a pleasant surprise since the market at that time was a bit slow. The number of showings was confirmation that we had done everything right to get the home prepared and it showed well online - the first impression for the vast majority of buyers. I let the sellers know what a great job they had done to get this level of interest.

Then came the agent calls and the email notifications from the showing service - "Showing Declined by Seller," "When can we get in to see this one? My buyers are very interested!" The pleas continued as I constantly reminded the sellers that I would be available to 'prep' the home for each showing if they were not home - they didn't need to decline showings. They would allow one or two, then start declining showings again.

I even tried managing the showing scheduling myself so that I could be the one to reach out to them to confirm the showings and get people in there. I did NOT want this listing to become stale and I felt it was more difficult to explain to me that they were declining a showing than pushing the showing service "No" button on their notifications!

Finally, I called a meeting of the minds with the husband & wife team of sellers.  When we met, I explained that I was there to sign a Termination Agreement with them.  They were totally shocked - the husband, a very busy businessman said, "You haven't even asked us about dropping our price yet!"  

I said, "Oh, no sir, it's not the price that's keeping your house from selling.  You see, I can't sell your home from the street and because you won't allow showings, I'm not getting many takers on your house."

The husband was stunned - he looked at his wife (who was a stay-at-home wife who approved [or disapproved] the showings) and she explained that, "Sorry, they always call during my soaps or when I'm napping and I'm just not going to allow people in my home during my 'me' time!"  

I KID YOU NOT!  I didn't even realize soap operas were still on TV!!

I had been dealing with only the wife for weekly reports and showing time issues - it was always a totally different excuse - NEVER pertaining to soap operas!

After a very uncomfortable few minutes sitting with them, listening to them argue about how he worked 80-hour weeks so she could stay home, I stood up and INSISTED that they sign the termination. The husband was not at all happy with his wife.  He later phoned me to apologize and wanted me to know that HE had nothing to do with the declined showings!!  Well, I had already gathered that!


In the end, I would not take the listing back but, I did hear through the grapevine that he sent her to LA, THEN sold the house!

I jokingly tell sellers that unless someone is extremely ill, approving showings is imperative to get their house sold.  There is truth in that because the longer it sits, the more difficult it is to sell...and the less it will sell for!

OH and you must know, I absolutely can't sell your house from the street!

© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | I Can't Sell Your House from the Street!

© Debe Maxwell | (704) 491-3310 | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | I Can't Sell Your House from the Street!