Do You Know What Your Listing Agent is Saying About Your Home?

By Rosalin Smith-Carr

The statements in bold text below are actual written comments made by listing agents on the published listings on the Toronto MLS.

While most are innocent enough, other comments may influence buyers and other agents to take advantage of you, or dismiss your home altogether.

Must Be Sold! Motivated Seller.
Aren’t all sellers supposed to be motivated?

Bring an Offer, Seller Is Very Motivated.
Well, at least this seller is a bit more motivated that the previous one.

Super Motivated Vendor!
Wow! Now we’re really making some serious motivational headway!

Motivated Seller Would Like To See All Offers. Limited Showings b/t 10am and 4pm Mon-Fri. No Sign on Property.
The seller will look at your offer, but only as a favour. And don’t come a-knockin’ after four (if you can even find the place!).

Motivated Seller! Will Entertain Reasonable Offers!
Some buyers like “testing the waters” before they make their best final offer. If we dismiss them as unreasonable, we may lose them.

Listing Agent Must Be Present. Property Has Been Gutted. A Gem! – Ready to Build!
Why is your agent making it so difficult to show your home by insisting he must be present? Is he afraid someone might walk away with an old piece of 2-by-4?

Previous Deal Fell Through.
How is this going to persuade a buyer to make an offer? They may conclude there’s something wrong with the home or the seller is difficult to deal with.

Reduced $30K! Motivated Vendor! Price Reduced For Immediate Sale — Act Quickly!

Translation: Since the seller has reduced the price, put in a really low offer and see what happens!

The moral of this story is — the market has changed, and as a seller in today’s market you now need to be more involved in the selling process. Make sure you approve the text BEFORE your home gets listed. This is no time to place one of your most valuable assets in the hands of an inexperienced agent.

Rosalin Smith-Carr is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd., Johnston & Daniel Division.  Rosalin can be reached at rsmithcarr@sympatico.ca or visit www.primetorontoneighbourhoods.com