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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

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Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

A seller not taking my advice?

A buyer not heeding my advice?

Perish the thought!

With all of the information available on HGTV and the Internet, they surely know more than I do. I have only be in this business 23 years...so why would my knowledge, experience and wisdom be of value?

Jan 17, 2020 07:45 AM
Rainmaker
5,217,098
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Had a seller insist he would be better off as a FSBO after an offer $3,000 off ask. Let him go FSBO. Got his asking price a little over a year later after paying taxes and utilities beyond $3,000. CD rates were around 12 at the time. Could not wait to tell me he was right. Could not help but laugh. Can't fix stupid

Jan 17, 2020 08:19 AM
Ambassador
3,125,954
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Wow! I'd tell good luck and be on my way. Some people just cannot help themselves Fred and think they know it all!

Jan 17, 2020 08:33 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,439
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Sellers are people(even when they are under a corporate veil) and people do all sorts of things for many reasons.  I haven't experienced this particular example but there is no limit on frustration in this or any business if you let that be a part of the picture.  

Jan 17, 2020 08:12 AM
Rainmaker
4,883,260
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Your last sentence made it all worth while.

Jan 17, 2020 07:57 AM
Ambassador
2,062,085
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Have I ever had a seller ignore my advice...

 

uh, yeah.

Jan 17, 2020 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

All the time this dynamic is about doing what it does. Remember: Real Estate is very opinionated. I have told people what should or should not be done based on what it needs, or takes or doesn't and still they want to do what they want to do. What most people tend to forget is the "negotiations" part in the transaction. That's where we do what we must or don't based on pricing and not emotions. Sellers have a fool for a client if they proceed and not heed a professionals been there and done that input

Jan 17, 2020 10:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Typically they listen to me, since I have a track record with remodeled homes.  When they do, they sell faster and for more money.  Sometimes they argue about a paint color, but in the end we're trying to appeal to a wider audience, not the the person who is selling the home.

 

I only give generic advice without a signed listing agreement though.  After that, they are taken under my wing and even get access to my army of contractors.

Jan 17, 2020 09:37 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Move on when they will not accept good advice.

Jan 17, 2020 09:05 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,833
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Sellers of a certain generation often do not listen to me,  others do and wow does the deal go better for them. There's a generation of "I know better because I read an article on the Internet" I'm starting to experience, but they tend to fall in a particular age bracket I've noticed in my experience since it became an issue in my business about 7 years ago. Coincidentally, and ironically, 7 straight years of market growth has contibuted.

Jan 17, 2020 08:50 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Yes. And I declined to work with said sellers.  Life is just too short Fred. 

Jan 17, 2020 07:43 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

Funny, but not surprising...

I am willing to bet that there are agents that would encourage him just to get the listing.

Eve

Jan 17, 2020 07:29 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I was referred to a guy that did basically the same thing your guy did but over 3 years.  I did get the house sold but as for working with him again I declined, not a chance.  He was weird in many ways. Very strange dude.

Jan 17, 2020 10:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Fred,

The only time a seller did not follow our advice was when we asked him to paint his pink building in a creme color.  He was so upset!  And we happily gave him the listing back.  A

Jan 17, 2020 09:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Yeah, no, there's no way I'm going to deal with someone that won't do what I advise.

And that's why I have a 7-day mutual kickout in my listings.

I had a guy w a bunch of stuff in his commercial building; I told him get that crap out of there.

In the listing: *Marketing to begin once building is cleared.*

He then moved more stuff in there to where we couldn't even walk through it.

I pulled the listing, you're not hamstringing me. It takes long enough to sell those to begin with.

Jan 17, 2020 08:53 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

We see this far too often.

Jan 17, 2020 07:45 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I haven't had a situation like this one, Fred... but I have had sellers not listen to me... I've been know to fire those or not take them on as a client. I don't need those headaches.

Jan 17, 2020 01:19 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Of course, but maybe not quite in that precise way. The better question might be - do they ever listen? Yes, sometimes and come out "on top".

Jan 17, 2020 12:26 PM
Rainer
461,083
Clay R. Seay
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage - Saint Augustine, FL

Welcome to the wonderful world of real estate. Most people ask for your opinion and some even pay for your opinion and then disregard it. Life moves on.

Jan 17, 2020 11:57 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Fred, why do sellers NOT listen???   It is very frustrating, especially when they come back and are angry at you.  How dumb! 

Jan 17, 2020 10:53 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

They ususally listen when we give advice such as yours - don't spend money. They don't always listen when they can get a good ROI but have to part with some money to do it. So they usually listen pretty good when I'm telling them to not spend money but only about 1/2 the time when I'm encouraging them to handle some situation. We are in a strong sellers market.

Jan 17, 2020 08:13 AM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

It happens from time to time, but for the most part sellers listen.  

Jan 17, 2020 07:45 AM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

Seller watched TV, shopped on Amazon and Home Depot, looked up kitchens on Pinterest, and got advice from 30 contractors who were happy to bid and replace. 

You are probably correct the time and money may have been wasted. 

Why do you think he went through all this stress? 

I don't know why you didn't clairvoyantly see he was a genius.

 

Jan 17, 2020 01:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes I have had this happen a few years ago with almost the same situation. Father passed away, kids had house. Brother says that the house will be worth $$$ more if we put in hardwood floors. 3 months later - hardwood floors not finished. They got a deal & it's hard to find wood to match. 2 more months go by before I see it. When the carpet was taken out, it hid (not the best word) the fact that some floors were uneven. Now with hardwood it sticks out like a sore thumb. No extra value .... 4 to 5 months down the road into the winter market. Just stupid.

Jan 17, 2020 01:49 PM
Rainmaker
901,861
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Yes, it happens. They hire you for your expertise but, they know it all. When their plan doesn't work, they blame you. I try not to take listings from people who are not going to listen to me.Sometimes you don't realize it until it is too late.

Jan 18, 2020 05:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

In my experience, it's far more common for my sellers to do LESS renovation and repair than I advise!

Jan 18, 2020 05:23 AM