Sellers Say the Darndest Things!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sellers say the darndest things!
A few decades ago Art Linkletter wrote a book entitled Kids say the darndest things. His television show had a similar section with children making foolish, but hilarious remarks.
In my opinion, there should be a modern remake of this book and program entitled, Sellers say the darndest things. It would give sellers the opportunity to share the specious sayings they confide to their real estate agents that undermine the goal of obtaining a sold sign.
For example, I recently listed a property in Mesa, Arizona that remained unsold with another agent. The accurate appraisal came in about 30k less than the list price. The seller said they would lower the price 10k after speaking with their daughter in New Jersey. Do you find that as amusing as I do?
Recently, I cancelled the listing of a family friend who was the executor of an estate.
He felt the 500k property was worth 1.8 million even after reviewing the appraisal.
This same seller found a discount broker to market the overpriced, functionally obsolete family abode, and has included the words 'as-is' in the MLS remarks. I decided to laugh, rather than feel frustrated.
The funniest thing I frequently hear from sellers is, "I don't have to sell". Imagine that, a seller suffering the slings and arrows of a buyers market with twice the normal inventory levels, half the usual sales, and 50% of those sales coming from vacant repo properties. Yet, they don't have to sell.
The second funniest thing I hear from seller is, "I'm not going to give my house away". Seasoned agents know this means the seller probably had problems during toilet training and is stingy, orderly, obstinate, and inflexible.
A copy of this article is being sent to Art Linkletter. Please email Art and tell him we need another book and show about The darndest things sellers say.
A few decades ago Art Linkletter wrote a book entitled Kids say the darndest things. His television show had a similar section with children making foolish, but hilarious remarks.
In my opinion, there should be a modern remake of this book and program entitled, Sellers say the darndest things. It would give sellers the opportunity to share the specious sayings they confide to their real estate agents that undermine the goal of obtaining a sold sign.
For example, I recently listed a property in Mesa, Arizona that remained unsold with another agent. The accurate appraisal came in about 30k less than the list price. The seller said they would lower the price 10k after speaking with their daughter in New Jersey. Do you find that as amusing as I do?
Recently, I cancelled the listing of a family friend who was the executor of an estate.
He felt the 500k property was worth 1.8 million even after reviewing the appraisal.
This same seller found a discount broker to market the overpriced, functionally obsolete family abode, and has included the words 'as-is' in the MLS remarks. I decided to laugh, rather than feel frustrated.
The funniest thing I frequently hear from sellers is, "I don't have to sell". Imagine that, a seller suffering the slings and arrows of a buyers market with twice the normal inventory levels, half the usual sales, and 50% of those sales coming from vacant repo properties. Yet, they don't have to sell.
The second funniest thing I hear from seller is, "I'm not going to give my house away". Seasoned agents know this means the seller probably had problems during toilet training and is stingy, orderly, obstinate, and inflexible.
A copy of this article is being sent to Art Linkletter. Please email Art and tell him we need another book and show about The darndest things sellers say.
