Choosing a Realtor to List your Property

A potential client phoned me to day to ask about listing his Sand Section property.  We discussed his goals at length, and agreed to meet on the weekend.  Later in the day I learned he had phoned an entire army of Realtors to set up appointments with them on the weekend in hopes of grinding them on commissions (and unknowingly securing for himself the least valuable, most desperate listing agent).

With that information in hand, and knowing that the value of his property is considerably less than his hoped-for price, I sent the communication which follows.  - David


"Dear [Potential Client],

As you can see, we are well networked and we do our homework.  Based upon our discussion and an analysis of your property, I would be happy to provide you with the best, most professional service you are going to find. Your motivation to sell is strong, so your representative in this transaction should be as well.

Our goal would be to bring you the maximum net proceeds for your property within the timeframe you have defined. That means neither the maximum listing price (promising you something that is unrealistic, otherwise known as “buying your listing” and then begging for price reductions after the listing has gone stale), nor the maximum selling price (regardless of whether it will appraise), nor the minimum commission percentage (meaning the lowest service or the least valuable, most desperate agent), nor the quickest sale (to a buyer who ultimately backs out when the numbers don’t work).

It means the maximum net proceeds within your time constraints after all is said and done. As you mentioned today, it takes a professional to do a professional’s job. And in your situation, it takes a Realtor with serious development experience [the property has building potential] and contacts. Speaking freely, it also requires straight talk and strong negotiation skills, as evidenced by working only on a full service basis.

We offer you all of those resources, because professionalism matters if your goal is maximum net proceeds and a transaction that doesn’t come back to bite you.

If that makes sense, then I’d love to be of service. By the way, the right full-service Realtor will also enable a smooth transition to your next home.  It's not to early to start envisioning that goal.

Please let me know how you would like to proceed."