Losing the listing because you tell the truth? Happens all the time and I'm fine with it. Over the years I have lost several listings to a competing agent because they agreed to list an overpriced home. When I arrive at my listing appointment, I am always fully prepared to "walk away" from a seller who is unwilling to budge from "their" price. It seems there is always an agent willing to take an overpriced listing either from lack of experience, desperation, or they have infinite supply of marketing dollars to waste. I do not have the time or the money to waste on an overpriced home. Marketing a home correctly is expensive and time consuming.
It's amazing to me that in this day in age of the internet and the statistics available to sellers, that they will still pick the agent who agrees to a high price rather than listen to an experienced agent with cold, hard market FACTS. I'm straight forward with sellers and tell them "like it is" rather than "what they want to hear". The current market determines the value of a home, not the agent or the seller.
I have turned down more listings in the past year than any other. My experienced sellers realize I'm watching out for their best interests and they appreciate my candid approach. You will demand more respect in the long run by turning down business today. Many times, the property is listed with another agent who agreed to the higher price and it sits on the market "unsold" and then I get a call from the seller later. I love listing properties on the second go around. Respect the experienced agent's advice and price the home correctly the first time.
