Sometimes the seller volunteers that information. I don't ask the question as I know this is a moving target and can change. The bottom line figure may be purely aspirational and not reality. The market will determine it.

I don't want to know and tell them so.  I most likely will bring the Buyer and I do not want to be put in a situation better avoided.

I don't ask.  I'm more interested in wanting to know why they want to move, when they want to move and where are they going to go.

No, I think that sets up doubt in their mind to ask. I find most volunteer it when either 1) days on market go beyond 3 weeks and we're discussing price reduction or 2) offers come in, but lower than expected.

This may sound like propaganda, but I'm truly going for highest & best sales price, so their bottom-line matters not to me in the first 3 weeks. If they volunteer it, I take the cue though.

Through listening and asking other questions, I have often heard sellers reveal their bottom line sales price.   I am clear with them that once a listing price is established when this question is asked of me by others, my response to "room" in the listing price:   "I don't know but I do know they will take more".   

Jeff,

We always knew where the deal could be made at, and that was very helpful.  This was a confidence and did not tell anyone else.  A  

Depends on two things.

1. The plan they select.

2. If a 'DATE' requirement exists for the seller.

The only thing the seller 'volunteers' is the "I won't sell below this" line in the sand. That is seldom the number to which you refer to as the bottom line.

Absolutely discussed/shared & then some. I have those answers plus more

Yes, and I program them it is doable. The realistic ones I wish them the best-adios.

Jeff - like Susie Kay , I prefer to find out what they think their home should be listed for.  This gives me an idea of how realistic they are and how much work I have to do to get it listed correctly.

Yes we do talk about that and my normal strategy which comes from sellers always thinking there house is worth more money is to schedule up to 4 price reductions with two week changes and I have them sign off on that up front.

What Susan Emo said. Could create a conflict of interest.

Debbie Reynolds nailed this one!

I don't ask. I do a net sheet, and they usually volunteer their bottom line.

I don't want to know.  Even though I am rarely in a position where I would represent both sides of the transaction, I acknowlege that at the point of listing, the seller may feel differently than several months later when they receive an offer.  Circumstances change between listing and offer sometimes, so I don't want to have a number stuck in my head.

For me, most often my Seller will confidently divulge that information and convey to me whether is it ok or not ok to share to a serious party.

Sometimes the Seller will tell you, and sometimes you can get to it while going over their time frame, and motivating factors.

I don't ask about "bottom-line" because I don't want that to ever come back to haunt me.  Instead, I am very realistic with range of value based on current market, cost of extended time on market,  effects of over-pricing, and average sale price vs list price.  

I don't ask, but one seller told me after he accepted an offer on the house that I happened to sell to one of my buyers that decided on the offering price completly on their own that their offer was at his bottom line.

I don't ask. People change their minds all the time and I don't see a measureable advantage to knowing their bottom figure.  

I have always asked what their bottom-line sales price is.  It's part of the interview process when I take on a Listing, so that everyone is on the same page. 

Often don't have to ask. They tell me when I lay out the data for them, especially when we discuss net proceeds. 

No.

We have the price range discussion s.

I occasionally get a seller who tells me in advance exactly what his or her bottom line is, but I rarely ask. I believe that the true bottom line for a selling price evolves out of the changing circumstances of the seller, the listing, the market, etc. An absolute "must have" price will change dramatically if the market goes south during the listing period. If the seller encounters serious adverse circumstances that require a virtually instant sale, of course his or her bottom line price will change. And so on. No price is ever written in stone until you've closed the deal.

So I agree with some in not wanting to know because I want the highest price that is possible...market changes can always make the difference for them...

I ask because I need to know if the amount they need can be obtained through the sale of the home.  This was more of a concern in the "upside down" market, now that values are back up, it is not as much of an issue but it still exists.

That's an interesting question.  I haven't taken a listing in years, but I know when working with buyers they say they're looking at a certain price range, and then when they realize what that buys, they may expand their pocket book a little!

I would not ask. Bottom line numbers may be elusive.

I typically don't ask...  What they say at the listing appointment is often not consistent with their response when reality happens...

no because whatever they say is meaningless - their bottom line is defined by the offer on the table

I ask and then explain my findings!

Jeff Dowler - indirectly, I ask them, what if we don't get this price, are you willing to go down a bit? (And repeat until they really spell it out!)

Sometimes I'll ask the sellers if they have a number in mind.  They almost never volunteer.

No never. If they open up I listen but I am the messenger and give my advice when asked.

Absolutely but not until I am 100 % sure I have the listing! I need to know their bottom line to see if it even possible. How can you list a house without knowing that information?

Always a good question to start with as I meet with the current home owners of a home that I would like to buy. 

Most don't give an honest answer, but it is a good starting point.

  They usually volunteer. 

Never. Absolutely never, ever. It's none of my business.

I have had sellers tell me what they will accept as a low offer. 

I do not ask. Occasionally a seller will volunteer but honestly, I don't believe them much if they throw out a number. What someone tells you today could be very different tomorrow morning...or next week...or three months from now. Until they have an offer in hand, which you must present, their opinion of their bottom line at the time they sign their listing agreement is rather meaningless. If you ask them for their bottom line, you are affectively AFFIRMING that price in their minds. And they will compare every offer you present to them against that number. 

IMO, its a much more correct and honest approach to present offers as they arrive, discuss them openly with your seller/s and ask for their response to it. After I've exposed a property to the market for 15-30 days and received 3 offers, I can confidently tell my seller/s that the market is telling them the value of their property and if necessary, I can recommend a repositioning of their property. 

I honestly don't want to know.  Not knowing inspires me to fight for higher than their bottom line in negotiations and if you have a dual sale, it's better NOT to know!

When I first visit to view the home for a market analysis, I ask if the seller has a "magic number" in mind. Then when I go back to present the analysis, I know if I will deliver good news on the value of their home.

Jeff we typically will have the conversation about 'price range' so they know what to expect for the particular market.

That is part of the listing consultation upfront

I ask them not to tell me that , that way if I am in a duel agency I can never be told I knew the low price before i brought in a low offer.

Also, sellers low dollar changes from what I have seen.

Jeff I do not ask.  I do not want to know.  I want to work for them as best as possible and I feel knowing their bottom line may not help in that endeavor. And when a buyer asks I can answer honestly that I do not know.  Mark

No, need t specifically. I learn it through general conversation. 

Hi Jeff - We don't ask, because we want the seller to know that we don't know and won't unless we need to in the course of negotiation.

We don't want to know. This way when buyers or their agents ask,  we can honestly we don't know but make your Best offer! 

Very rarely do I know that number as I tell them what to expect off that list price for our area. Some people tell me & I tell them it's a good idea or it's not. 

Seller says they'll take $1K off the price to show they are negotiable - yeah right.

Sometimes but I always ask them not to share that with anyone else.

I don't ask their bottom line but I ask what they think the market price for their home is. In this case I'm more prepared on what to say when the discussion comes to the list price.

If the listing has been well taken no asking or volunteering is necessary.

Yes, I do ask, and sometimes they volunteer that information.  However, I assure them that I will not disclose it to anyone else.  It's just so that were all on the same page as far as pricing goes.

Jeff Dowler Sometimes they volunteer it, but I never ask. Why start off on a negative having to justify and rejustify your CMA.

We determine that together - break-even point, clear-costs point and realistic net before setting a price. And it is often a moving target. And if a buyer asks . . . that is what the offering price is for--come up with a figure that will make you, the lender, appraiser and UW happy. I avoid dual agency as a rule so as to avoid having to answer that question!

I have an idea when I do a seller net sheet. i like to know how much they are willing to estimate to spend on needed repairs if home inspection reveals things the seller should fix.

This is not typically done in my brokerage.  But the motivation of the seller often changes during the listing and what may have been their bottom line early on can adjust later.