The Blog

You’ve got the call, you’ve met the clients, and you’ve officially made it “listing official.” Congratulations! But before you start imagining the walk down the aisle to the closing table, ask yourself: Is this property actually “The One,” or is it just a summer fling that’s going to leave you ghosted?

If you’re already spending your commission in your head, it’s time for a reality check. The honeymoon phase ends quickly when a property sits on the market.

Here are 4 reasons your new listing might lead to a breakup instead of a closing:

1. The Price tag is “Playing Hard to Get”

Love might be priceless, but real estate certainly isn’t. Statistics show that sellers who overprice their homes decrease their “dating pool” of buyers by at least 50%. When a property lingers on the market, buyers start to wonder what’s wrong under the surface, is it a bad personality or a floor plan only a mother could love? Use market data to find that “sweet spot” price. If your sellers are still playing hard to get, suggest an objective third-party appraisal to act as the relationship counselor.

2. Location: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

We’ve all heard that “location is everything” in love and real estate. A gorgeous home loses its luster if its backyard neighbor is a noisy highway or a neon-lit strip mall. While water views are the “tall, dark, and handsome” of the industry, remember that there is a lid for every pot. If the home shows pride of ownership, there’s a buyer out there ready to fall head over heels, you just might have to work a little harder to play Cupid.

3. An Uncooperative Seller (The “It’s Complicated” Status)

A successful sale requires total commitment. If your seller is playing “hard to reach,” it’s going to be a rocky road. Sellers need to be flexible with showings, open to weekend dates (open houses), and willing to let buyers in via lockbox. If they only want to show the home every third Saturday when the moon is full, they aren’t ready for a serious relationship with a buyer. You can’t find a match if the door is always locked!

4. Property Condition: Needs a Makeover

First impressions are everything on a first date. If a listing has “bad hygiene”, think unmade beds, cluttered counters, or deferred maintenance, buyers will swipe left immediately. To get that “love at first sight” reaction, the home needs to be in tip-top shape. Remind your sellers that they are competing with “fresher” listings. A little bit of staging and cleaning is the real-estate equivalent of a bouquet of roses; it makes everything better.

Set Expectations for a “Happily Ever After”

The secret to a long-lasting professional relationship is getting everyone on the same page from the start. When sellers trust your expertise, you avoid the heartbreak of a stale listing and move straight to the honeymoon phase: Closing Day.

Don’t let the paperwork kill the mood! While you’re out playing Cupid and finding the perfect buyers, let our Transaction Management Team handle the nitty-gritty details. We’ll manage the files from “Contract to Closing” so you can keep your focus on what you love: growing your business.