As a relatively new agent I'm not sure where to draw the line between butt kissing and telling the entire truth to sellers and risk loosing the listing.

I have a couple that has had their home on the market for 6 months with another Realtor before they switched to me it's getting close to eight months. The home is in a very desirable location but the home itself is almost a tear down.

I have sat open houses every Saturday for the last six months and show this unit to over 60 potential buyers. I have also brought them numerous offers.

One potential buyer had a home inspection done that brought dozens of issues to light. The home owners told us the inspector did not have a clue of what he was doing and denied anything was wrong with the house.

Here is his reply to the most recent offer:

"Coastal,

You stated the potential buyers are not the type to offer/counter offer but I'm supposed to make a final/firm counter offer. I feel like I am being boxed in.
I want to sell the unit but I also want to get what I consider fair value.
Do you happen to know, or can you find out, what the unit next door,
XXXX Main Street, was sold for in the spring of 2001? Ours was a duplicate of it
before we renovated. I believe it sold for $xxx,xxxx to $xxx,xxxx, if that is the case
ours is worth substantially more, in my opinion.

I would like to walk away, when all is said and done, with $xxx,xxx. That's
$xx,xxx below what I believe is a reasonable original price. If you can make
that happen, it would be good.
Sincerely,
Joe Home Buyer

I'm getting close to dropping this listing.

__________________
Coastal Delaware Real Estate Sales
REHOBOTH BEACH CONDOS | REHOBOTH BEACH REAL ESTATE | REHOBOTH BEACH MOBILE HOMES
* Results not typical. Individual results may vary.

Coastal,

Isn't it funny how everyone's home is the best to the sellers? The problem this seller has is a lack of education in how the entire process of buying and selling works. At some point beating around the bush with a client becomes futile. I have had to, and I'm sure others have had to as well, be brutally honest about a realistic scenario.

1.) NOT 1 PERSON BESIDES HIM involved in the process cares or is concerned about what happened in 2001. It is 100% irrelevant. Sales back 6 months and at most 1 year is all a bank will consider. PERIOD.

2.) When a person uses a houses and all of its parts (systems at the end of their useful life) are bad, they are not worth as much. They are used, like a car. Would you pay full price for a house with a 15 year olD HVAC?

3.) What he considers fair market value is irrelevant. Unless of course, he is the lender.

4.) A good rule of thumb (at least in my market) is that if 20 buyers view the house and you don't get an offer, it means one thing. It is overpriced!

His opinion does not matter. You are the RE pro and it is your job to educate him in the process. Being a true pro means you owe a responsibilty to your client to inform him when he is wrong. This is what sets some agents above the rest. It also helps get price reductions or sellers to change their tune. If everything fails, FIRE HIM! If you can afford to.

__________________
Ryan Ward, REALTOR® - Keller Williams Realty Consultants. (404) 630-3187
Atlanta Real Estate - My featured area is Alpharetta Real Estate and it is where I call home. Read my Atlanta Real Estate blog.

I've learned something, and I also hear it from many other agents. If you think sellers are unreasonable about price, etc. walk away and don't take the listing. The time you'll waste on open houses and playing phone tag with potential buyers will not be worth the potential commission you make. Sometimes you have to recognize an idiot and cut your loss.

I agree. At the least I'd eagerly await the expiration date of this listing. You might suggest that the seller pays for their own appraisal to sell since they don't believe you or the many buyers that have come through their place. When you make this suggestion you should be firm about the fact that the buyers/offers are telling the seller what the property is worth in today's market & if this seller does not agree with all of these buyers (the ones that don't make an offer are also providing feedback that it wasn't desirable enough) then there isn't much you or any other agent can do for him in this market.

__________________
Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Next door you can find Tinley Park homes for sale and get Orland Park amenities at a more affordable price.

LOL - I once saw an expired listing and on it's remark said something like this
" seller must be crazy !!! good luck with the listing because you'll be stressed out "

Funny some sellers think property they have are worth a million all the time

Good Luck Coastal !

__________________
Bay Area Real Estate | Free MLS. Coming to CA and like to know Things to do in California.

Be completely honest - even if you insult them.... you will know you did your best!!!! A property is truly only worth what a buyer is willing to pay - if you brought several offers to them and this is where things tend to go.... it doesnt sound like they want to sell... it sounds like they are trying to do your job for you.

I do not think you need to worrying about being able to afford to fire them... I think you need to think about can you afford to keep them.

__________________
Thesa Chambers
Broker, RE/MAX Sunset Realty
Central Oregon Real Estate | Central Oregon Homes
Specializing in All of Central Oregon
First time homes to Resort Properties