Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: Sellers Who May not Really Want to Sell

Sellers Who May not Really Want to Sell

For sale signHave you ever wondered if your client really wants to sell their home?  Does you client make unreal demands on the marketing of their home?

  • Showings only at extremely limited times.
  • The home is always messy.
  • Not respond on a timely basis to anything.
  • No open houses.

There is also the one who thinks their home is worth a lot more than anything else in the neighborhood.  I had one potential client explain to me that her home was worth $125,000 more than the remodeled home I was selling down the street.  Here reason was she had the original kitchen and appliances.  The home was 45 years old.  I decided not to work with her.  She went one to list with three other agents one after the other who overpriced the home.  No showings, no sale.

Did those agents do her a favor by taking the listing? 

Did they do themselves a favor? 

What did that do for their reputations? 

When interviewing a potential client, you need to determine among other things:

  • How motivated is my seller?
  • Do they have realistic expectations?
  • DO THEY REALLY WANT TO SELL?

 

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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR

Century 21 Liberty Homes

 

Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers.  His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.

Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors.  To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents. 

 

www.HawaiiRandy.com *  Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search  *  Hawaii Military Relocations

12 comments • Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645 • May 25 2007 10:26AM

Comments

I have had clien't not want to listen about market price etc.  but you know what?  At least I have managed to get them to commit to lower their price when it was 50k over.  Right when the market was starting to drop we all didn't know what to price anything at...then it went back up a little, then it stabilized.  So last year I had a home that was priced (I thought 20k above)...we ended up dropping about 70k...but at least they listened...
Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman, RA, CRS, HAWAII Real Estate & Relocations (Century 21 Liberty Homes) almost 5 years ago
If they don't want to sell, move on. There will always be an agent around who will take the listing. Having a great listing inventory is impressive, right? Not if they will not sell!
Posted by Gary L Waters PLLC- Broker Associate Realtor® Melbourne Viera Rockledge FL (Century 21 Baytree Realty, 1211 Admiralty Blvd, Rockledge) almost 5 years ago
Randy - did you look in the garage?  My guess is they were car buffs where original is always worth more - sadly they do not realize that houses need updating and we spend money on that - where project cars we try to restore to original condition.... sadly until they figure that out or price the home correctly they will continue to have the same results - unless of course an uneducated car buff happens upon the "original kitchen" this made me smile -
Posted by Thesa Chambers, Principal Broker Licensed in Oregon, with (Prudential NW Properties Sunriver) almost 5 years ago
All the time I wonder this!  I'm picky though.
Posted by Stephanie Edwards-Musa knitwit at thredUP (thredUP.com) almost 5 years ago

Amazing. Thesa's explanation makes a sense, if in fact she was a car buff, or watches too much of the Antiques Road Show.

Posted by Lysa Napolitano almost 5 years ago
Welcome to the wonderful world of overpriced Real estate.
Posted by Neal Bloom-Realtor ®CRS-Weston FL Real Estate (Keller Williams Properties, Weston FL) almost 5 years ago

Sally - Pricing is tough when the client sees the numbers and just don't seem to care or believe them.

Gary - I am with you.  I am in the business of selling homes, not sitting on listings.  I always push for the highest price possible, but have to be real.

Thesa - The one I am talking about finally sold but for less than I recommended a year and a half before.  That was after she had already had the first listing expire.

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645 (Century 21 Liberty Homes ) almost 5 years ago

Stephanie - Not all the time for me, but there are times.

Lysa - I am not sure that that seller was a car buff.  She was probably getting her advice from the neighbor who is a mechanic.  LOL

Neal - I guess that ensures there will always be inventory.  Bad inventory, but inventory.

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645 (Century 21 Liberty Homes ) almost 5 years ago
One of the first things I do is ask the potential seller what their motivation is. In this market, if their motivation does not meet my expectations then I end the interview.
Posted by Greg Cremia (Shore Realty of the Outer Banks) almost 5 years ago
Randy, My rule is simple. If they listen to me I will list their house, if not, I won't. They have to be motivated or it's just a big waste of time and money. They won't "get lucky". At least not in my market at this time.
Posted by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc almost 5 years ago
Randy, lets not forget the shag carpeting.  Now that has to be worth something, you can't just find that anywhere you know. So $125,000 more for her house shouldn't of been a problem :)
Posted by George Souto NMLS# 65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages Connecticut almost 5 years ago

Greg - Our market is not as tough as your's but even in a little better market, the seller need to be motivated.

Bryant - If they want to get lucky they need to play craps, not sell their house.  :)

George - She did have avocado appliances.  You can not replace them easily.

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645 (Century 21 Liberty Homes ) almost 5 years ago

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