Have you ever taken one of those listings that you really had misgivings about...thinking it would never sell in your lifetime? I mean every home has at least one negative feature. There are power lines, homes backing to roads, below street grade lots, creeks in the back yard, homes with lots of wood rot, spiders, funky colors in every room, and yes more. Rarely do we find that one home that has all of these negatives, but when we thought we've seen it all... you get a call to list it!
These are the homes your head starts to spin and it would be great if you had a brown paper bag in case you start to hyperventilate or even if you started feeling sick. However, you speak candidly with the home sellers, and have them make lots of notes as you walk through the home. At the end of your presentation, even you are overwhelmed at the list that was compiled. When you return to the safety of your vehicle and close the door, and start to pull away...you cannot help but wonder if the home seller will ever call you back. You are not sure if you still want the listing. These are the homes that text books could be written, however this home was a personal referral by a friend of yours in real estate. They also depend on you to get the job done. So there is another component of this potential listing. Your reputation.
When you weigh all things our, a not so great home, a softening real estate market and a real estate friendship...I must admit your first thought could be letting go of the friendship! LOL! But the surprising thing about real estate is from the saying I learned many years ago from a real estate broker of mine in Southern Maryland! He used to say all the time "One persons dump is another person's castle!" There is a buyer for every home at a price, all you have to do is find that buyer.
Well this interesting thing is that most of these homes that I think I could never sell in my lifetime, sell. It is always a surprise! They also sell quickly at a good price without a lot of hassle if you work as a team with a seller that is willing to listen and work with you to overcome the objections. These all have to be addressed one at a time, and then the home has to be priced to overcome those issues you cannot change! It works!
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James Price is the key, appearance and cleanliness is a major help also!
Derrick you are correct! "The key is to price it right based on the conditions." A lot of agents are making the fatal mistake of pricing a home as though it were last year. It isn't. We are not talking wholesale discounting ... we are speaking about pricing it in lieu of current market conditions.
Steve Also in this market I am telling hte seller there is a gamble on their side. I am not gaureenting any sale. Markets are changing quickly. Also, they cannot pad the price with the changes!
Sharon you are so right! Price overcome all objections!
Hi Jim,
Yes, price is the universal solvent for all other woes... Just a tough medicine to get sellers to take, even when we know that the market demands it...
Patrick Great quote! "price is the universal solvent for all other woes... Just a tough medicine to get sellers to take, even when we know that the market demands it..."
Sally so true! "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
Margaret "some of them really surprise me when they sell." I think we all are surprized! Grace perhaps is key!
David Price is the ultimate, but I think there are a lot of areas in between we can get tehm to work on!
Randy Wish you had a few more of those dumps? LOL! had I only known homes...!
Jim,
Its funny how its always the ones I leave feeling this way about sell the fastest! LOL! :)
Kelly Thanks! I say "No" more thanI should! It gets realy perplexing when a good listing, priced right..doesn't sell! Go figure!!
Jason & Deanna I nver saw that in Atlanta! You are blessed!