About Tacoma's North Tacoma

My neighbor, John, got X for his house, he told me so...

I had a listing appointment today and I decided to approach the price question in a different way. I often get shot down when I give my price opinion and I thought I would ask the seller what she thought her house was worth and then I would give my opinion and justify it with my data.

How refreshing it was to have the seller say, she had no idea what her house is worth and that is why I was sitting at her table. Most of the time, I am at loggerheads with the seller who has a predetermined price in mind. After all they know, or I should say, they think they know what the guy across the street got for his house or what he told them, he got. Many times they base their information on what the house was originally listed for. Not what it eventually sold for.

I have lost many a listing, when the client, I'm trying to help, tells me that the guy just next door, with a house, not as nice as his got $30,000 more than what the county records and MLS say he got. Of course that neighbor has moved on and can't be cross examined with the data. I have even called the neighbor's listing agent to verify the selling price. Most often, to my chagrin, the prospective selling client goes with another agent who buys the listing.

How do you handle, the know it all, next door neighbor that seems to have all the answers but no facts to back it up?

This post was authored by Paul Henderson ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

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This post was authored and photo taken by Paul Henderson ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.