I had a listing that was on the market for a while. Here is what the Seller did so it wouldn't sell - but, with some luck, it ended up selling for the same reasons:
1) The Seller's mom lived in the house - and frequently called Realtors who showed the home to get feedback - saying things she probably shouldn't have.
2) The Seller said "NO REPAIRS" and stuck to it!
3) The Seller was stubborn, had a bottom line and wasn't too flexible because there was no urgency to sell and even less of a "need to sell".
4) The Seller did not accept nor work with the first two offers on the home. Instead, countering back with full price offers.
5) The Seller had a friend "check up" on me to make sure I was doing my job because she was baffled as to why the house hasn't sold!
6) Though it was on a lock box, and "guard dogs" were always in the backyard, the Seller did not let me know the locks were changed - "just to be on the safe side".
But the home did sell and closed a couple weeks ago.
1) For starters, the Seller and Buyer had really good Realtors working for them! And encourage your clients to check up on you!
2) If your Seller is simply not going to do repairs, at least encourage them to make concessions in other areas to make it seem like they are flexible. My Seller agreed to leave some closet doors and a pool table.
3) If your Sellers don't need to sell or aren't in a rush, either: a) invite them to take it off the market until the economy improves, or b) if they don't want to do that - have a frank discussion about their price and change it. After giving my Seller these options, she readjusted her bottom line.
4) If an offer comes in - this is some helpful advice for Seller - work with it. Why? If they are lucky, by the time offer #2 or #3 comes around - they will see that the difference between the first offer and third is not that much. In my Seller's case, it cost her four more mortgage payments (or $3,920.00) to make an extra $100.
5) Have a long discussion about the lockbox and what the Seller is agreeing to in the listing contract. Sometimes, Seller's do not understand that their home is guaranteed to be a "no show" if the keys in the box don't work. If they are lucky, the Buyer will come back when it's convenient for them.
6) Finally...Mom. Luckily, for the Buyer, my Seller's Mom told the Buyer's agent what her daughter would really sell the house for.
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