Thoughts Ideas and Giggles

I received a call this morning from a prospective seller. I had already previewed her house, learned her situation and told her I would meet with her again to discuss value and marketing.  The home is truly unique...a beautiful small Victorian in an area where there are no other Victorians.  It has a separate rental unit.  To get to the additional bath and laundry room, you must go outside and back into the lower level.

In our discussion this morning I learned much of her expectations, agents reactions and follow-ups and where the two did not meet.  She had met with a minimum of 5 agents that I am aware of.  Here were some of her words:

"Some agents are so lazy...they didn't call me back."
"One agent set  price by asking me what I owed...then figured the value from there."
"Agents would not tell me what I should list it for and then what they thought it would sell for."
"One agent doesn't even know the area."
"Four of the agents came within $25,000 of the same value."
"I am not sure I am going to sell the house."
"The agent who sold the house next door sold it for way too little."

Now, all agents reading these comments, I am sure, are shaking their heads at a few of her comments.  Some were valid complaints and others were lack of knowledge of the market or unrealistic. During our conversation, it became very clear to me that I wasn't the right agent for her.  I had told her at our first meeting that I was not as familiar with Victorians as some other agents.  During our conversation, I learned how important this understanding was to her.  For this reason, I told her that while I could educate myself regarding Victorians, I felt I would not be the right Realtor for her and encouraged her to interview 2 agents that I thought would serve her needs well (one in our office and one in another brokerages office).

My point in this is that this seller is fairly typical in many respects.  She trusts neighbors opinions of value more than her Realtor, she was looking for some absolutes in an uncertain market and she is looking for a Realtor who will tell her what she wants to hear rather than what she needs to hear.  

She will need an intricate conversation regarding expectations and the present market.  A Realtor worth hiring is not going to promise an ultimate sales price.  She will need to see comparables that are realistic comparisons to her property.  She will need to believe that the Realtor knows the area and how to market such a unique property. Finally, she will need a Realtor who she feels she can truly trust...the ultimate goal of any relationship between client and Realtor.