I went on a listing presentation this week and I didn’t get the job. I am a competitive person and I don’t really like to loose out to another agent. However, character and integrity are all I really have. I will not lie to people. I will not tell them what they want to hear just so they like me and I get their business. It is a tough market out there and we all need to be realistic on pricing.
Going in, I knew that they paid more for the home than it is currently worth. I presented 3 comparable properties; all were of similar size, age, construction and location. They all closed within the last 6 months. The comparable homes sold for $480,000, $495,000 and $545,000. The one that sold for $480,000 was the closest in terms of condition and updates. The home that sold for $495,000 had an updated kitchen and updated appliances. The larger home for $545,000 had a top of the line gourmet kitchen and updated baths. I told the sellers that they needed to price their home closer to the first two, maybe starting out at $499,900 or $509,000. If they want to sell in a reasonable amount of time, they need to get the pricing right the first time, or they will linger on the market. There is about 14 months of inventory on the market in their price range.
The next day I received and email from the seller asking: “Do you have any other comps that you considered in addition to the 3 presented?”
This was my reply: “I could pull other listings and make the numbers say anything you would like, numbers are easily manipulated. However, a higher listing price will limit the number of showings and prolong the listing time. Even if we do get a buyer to write a contract, the banks will use these three sales to determine the assessed value. If that number is less than what the buyer said they will pay, there is a good chance the buyer won't get the mortgage anyway.”
Well, the other agent they called in pulled three “comparable” properties and somehow came up with a list price of $650,000. Wow, that means one of us is off by more $150,000. That is a lot of money. Needless to say, they went with the agent who told them their house was worth way more than it actually is.
Am I upset I didn’t get the listing? No. I can’t sell a house that in my opinion is listed so far above what other homes in the neighborhood have sold for. I wish these sellers and their agent all the best. Who knows, maybe I will get to be their second agent.
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