How Do You Tell A Homeowner? "You Made a Big Mistake!"

Real estate is a tough job, but someone has to do it!  As a full time Atlanta real estate agent it is just part of the job to go out on listing appoinments land tell persons the truth wheter you like to or not.  It is part of being a professional.  We are armed adn loaded with information on a home and neighborhood and area price points and trends.  Once the property has been assessed for condition everyone is anxious to sit down to the kitchen table ans listen to the needs and objectives of the seller, and then discuss pricing and sales strategies.  I do it differently.  If I get a chance before I go to the home, I ask the seller do they have a price in mind?  Sometimes they ball park the number or do not give any at all.  It allows me to get an idea of their price expectations are they realistic? 

When we sit down to the table I customarily ask why are they selling, and what are the sellers trying to accomplish!  After listening, and before I give out any Atlanta FREE CMA, I ask the seller again..."What price did you have in mind?"  If the home price is off the charts and way to high... I close my presentation book and get up to leave, and say "Sorry, wrong price!"  The sellers at first do not know how to take this, but I do this with some humor, and it is meant to create a dialouge.  This is where we get to ask some questions on real reasons for sale, job loss, divorce, illness, and yes pending forclosure.  It is a time where we can sit down and crunch numbers, and market statistics. 

It is also the time where you have to tell the seller the truth. 

You made a big mistake:

• You overpaid!
• You  you knew everything about real estate!
• You assumed if you had no representation you'd save the commission!  You're wrong - you overpaid! 
• You did not realise you purchased a bad product (one that had sat on the market for years!)
• You did not have buyer representation.
• You purchased from a For Sale By Owner and overpaid.
• You purchased the wrong product (EIFS, on the road, under power lines etc...)
• You Purchased Directly from the builder without representation and did not negotiate.
• You bought the Amityville House of Horrors!