Friday, October 26, 2007

A Friday Real Estate Rambling

Written by Loreena Yeo Copyright 2007.

Sometimes after all you have done and you know you did your best, the people who loves and cares for you will tell you that That's All You Can Do. But it never fails to dampen my spirits about this listing I didnt get. Or should I say, I wished I was able to give my best to.

I am not sad because I didnt have the opportunity to list. I am truly disappointed to know that the Seller whom I went out to try to assist (in her horrible need-to-sell basis) while I was given orders from my doctor to stay on bed rest (a risk I took from my precious baby). I had to go out there to at least see if I could be of help. I took the risk and it didnt turn out the way I wanted - at least for the Seller.

Long story short, this Seller needs to sell Yesterday. She openly told me she's interviewing other agents (and I only think it's fair. I wouldnt want it otherwise). But I lost this listing to an agent who listed $60,000 more than I think it should sell for (given her situation). And with the condition that it is (it truly looks dated with wallpaper and throughout the house) with no pool while her entire neighborhood has a swimming pool. Even with a pool, she would have been $40K overpriced at the price this listing agent took.


I truly wish I could go out to shake this agent or at least share this with the Seller but since there is an agency relationship, I think it's best I keep quiet.


I am sad because I didnt push hard enough.

I followed up with her a few days later and she told me she decided to go with another agent despite telling me that she thought I was very thorough in my presentation and expectation of what she MUST do in order to sell her property.But am I (thorough enough)??? I still failed to make it crystal clear to her about how listing it at any higher price that I suggested will not help her sale any faster.


Agents and my family will tell me that she would eventually find out but I hate for her to realize this 3 months into the wrong listing price.

I politely asked her, "What she thought I didnt do to earn this listing?"

She answered, that "The other agent's marketing was more aggresive......"


In my heart I asked, "Aggressive such as ??????. " Instantly, I knew I had lost because the other agent had promised her a higher listing price while mine really, really sucked in reality. The truth: The reality of this market sucks and for me to give my best was to price it realistically. I never doubt that I wouldnt work as hard as any other agent -if I knew what I had to do. If I could deliver the Moon, I darn would.

Guess, this is just another one of my stories to tell in my book. I do place this guilt and failure on me: not my potential client. I feel I have failed not to be aggresive to convince her that the listing (for the assistance I think I could give her, not for the paycheck at the end) needed to be where it needs. But I cannot tell her that now.