Unrealistic sellers.   Saying "No" can be quite freeing.  NO = Next Opportunity.

• stubborn seller
• overpriced
• poor condition
• too far out of my convenient service area

All good reasons

Debbie,

When you are dealing with someone who is unrealistic, and you know it is going to be a major headache in the long run.  I love Michael Jacobs definition of NO!  A

Many times!  Usually over unrealistic pricing and occasionally when I know the Sellers and I will be incompatible with irreconcilable differences.   I'm very particular about my brand and there are some places that are simply not a good fit.

Absolutely... all for the same reasons noted by Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 And I don't work with sellers who tell me they just want to "test" the market.

When a Seller is not willing to compromise on either price or methods (i.e., Seller wants to be home for all showings and thinks they should do the tours..).  Not worth the time.

I've said NO a few times and it was because they were not listening and following my direction in that early stage before listing.... no thanks...

When it was not in the client's best interest to sell.  Or when the client is too difficult.  

When the seller is unrealistic about their price, that's the main reason.

I've said no when selelrs were stuck on a high list price that wasn't even anywhere close to reality. No sense wasting my time with a listing that no one in their right mind will even show.

Just recently I said no to a seller who wanted way too much money and didn't want to do any cleanup (it was still under construction and rooms were being used for storage from other properties). It was almost impossible to safely walk through the house with all the stuff in there. I wasn't interested.

You know, I will take listings other agents won't. Which means I'll take that stubborn seller, the seller who is unrealistic on price, and the seller who is high maintenance.

What I won't do is work with a seller who tries to tell me how to do my job. Those, I reject. I won't fight with them the entire time when we are supposed to be on the same side. Just not worth it. I'll reject them, for example, if they demand a 90-day listing and I offer to take 6-months with the right of immediate cancellation if they are unhappy. If they instead insist on 90 days, they are too stupid and disrespectful for me.

If they want more then I can sell it for I walk away.  Over price listings can drain your money.

Yeppers, price

I have.

The seller wanted to list the property for a lot higher price than the pricing in the area were the property was located.

When the price was too far off from where I thought it needed to be based on the market; or when there was too much work done without permits and seller was not willing to rectify it.

A neighbor across the street from one of my listings started visiting during open house and calling me.  He said he'd hired a realtor and admonished me not having seen his listing in the MLS.  It was not in the MLS.  The seller called me and said he reported his realtor to the board because according to the seller, he knows real estate law because he was a realtor in the 1970's.  I knew I didn't want to work with him.  His behavior was erratic and I avoided his calls.

When the property was finally listed, the realtor called me to congratulate me on selling the property across the street and she asked if I had a buyer for her listing.  I said I didn't have a buyer for her and asked how it was going over there.

She said the first time she went there and they discussed the market value, the seller didn't like her number.  She said the seller screamed "You're a lying, f***ing b!tch!  Get the he!! out of my house!"  

It didn't surprise me.  I'm glad I didn't sign up for that. 

Yes, for one or more reasons - Unrealistic on price; demanding high restrictions on showings; questionable disclosures and when I see the seller and I just will not see eye to eye.  Not worth the stress, time and money invested in promoting a listing.  Knowing  the potential battles, it's a relief to just say no.

The owner started spewing racial slurs.  Buh bye

I have walked away from unrealistic Sellers.  After their listing ends up expiring after being listed with another agent or two with their unrealistic expectations, they usually end up calling me.  I will then list it if the Seller has come to their senses.  Guess who ends up selling the property?  

Debbie Holmes - at times, I have. I just did not feel it right to take that listing! Price and condition were two main reasons.

Some homes can't be sold for the seller's expectations - and their script is better than mine! 

When the seller is:

1. Unreasonable
2. Won't make house presentable
3. Won't let it be shown
4. Is not salable due to condition

The sellers were drinking beer during the appointment he downed three in an hour  ....  Not my style to work with folks who lead with no self control. 

just today in fact.  I had my value and seller did not agree.  Wanted me to list at his price.  I declined.

Yes, I have told someone that I was not the agent for them when they had to get a certain amount that I felt was entirely overpriced for the area where they lived.

This just happened to me. The seller isn't in his right mind. I mean he's off his meds, and not looking at the real world. 

If the seller insists on overpricing the listing I'll now walk away.  The follow up pain is too tough for me.

I have several times. When the writing is on the wall that I know the seller is not on the same page with me I will pass. It is not the way I want to spend my time.

When the owner is not willing to be realistic about

1. Necessary repairs and preparation for sale.
2. Pricing.
3. Making the property available for easy showing.

Debbie Holmes Working with unrealistic sellers. Life is too short!

If I really don't want to deal with it, and that doesn't happen often. Mostly, if the seller, even after having it on the market for quite some time, still doesn't want to lower his price. The sad thing is, that probably the next agent can talk him into it. I've seen this with other properties too, some have been with several different agencies, each one lower than the next. But would he have lowered it for you, the initial agent? Not on your life.

Overpriced expectations, lack of seller motivation, terrible condition or unsafe neighborhood

I have said no to a listing. Reasons range from unrealistic price and expectations of price - seller does not want to have a lock box and limit times for showings - to just plain feeling creeped out knowing working together would not be a good fit. 

I had a bad feeling about 'them' (sellers).  If they fight you tooth & nail on every step of getting the house ready, etc.

Debbie Holmes I turn down a listing from a relative. The owner and property would cause me problems. 

Yes.  Seller want to list at a ridiculous price.

Yes, many time for many reasons.

Price

condition

attitude...ect

I have but only when they think they have a golden toilet or testing the waters.

Yes many times over the years.  Unrealistic sellers or sellers that just aren't a good match.

Mostly when they insist on an unreasonable price and/or are unreasonable in their expectations.

YES!  Reasons could be:

• Not in a community that I serve
• Unrealistic with regards to price
• Unrealistic with regards to staging, preparation for the market
• Unrealistic showing times - I've had some suggest 'no weekend showings' which is THE most toured time in our area and that is seriously limiting to procuring a buyer.  As well, it makes my phone ring off of the hook from agents wanting to SHOW over the weekend and it's impossible to explain your sellers' rationale for that...over and over again!
• Sellers who are not serious about selling - they just want to 'see if they get any interest' and may or may not sell 'even if we do get an Offer!'

Nope, nope and NOPE!

Of course will not take a listing if the seller has a totally unrealistic selling price in mind or unreasonably restrictive showing demands.

Especially like the question Debbie since there certainly are sellers with unrealistic expectations.

One thing that wiIl cause me not to take a listing is if a seller outright lies to me. I will not be their agent and I will tell them why!

Debbie,

I had an agent asked me to list their acre of land, I went to take pictures of the property. I sent the listing to review without a response. The agent called me couple of months later and ask if I would list. I told the agent that the property has wetlands and might not be build-able, she could not understand why. The agent told me that maybe someone had remove dirt from the property because when she bought it was high and dry.  I simply told her to go and take pictures herself and list it herself to eliminate paying commission. By the way, the agent did not disclose to me at the beginning that she was a license Realtor.

Seller unreasonable about any or all; Price, repairs, showing restrictions.  Also depending on my ability to do the job and marketing effectively.

Usually it is "Unrealistic sellers", especially when it comes to listing price and/or listing/buying agent commission.

Most sellers are selling usually because of a major life event, and that usually isn't a happy life event.  They are downsizing house size or financially downsizing or both; job relocation; divorce/death/poor health; etc.  These are not necessarily fun times for the seller, and they will express this by not wanting to list at a reasonable price, not motivated or willing to present the home, pushing their fears onto you as the agent with crazy requests, etc.  Sellers need extra care, no matter the market.  Before you say no, see if you can really uncover why they might be resisting what it takes to sell their home.

What more can be said then what Michael Jacobs has said?

Many times, many reasons, as long as demonstrate they are serious and we can work together to get the job done I'm good to go

Something totally out of the ordinary.  Prcing, no showing restrction, no mls.

The seller wanted the buyer's agent to win, seller to win and me so-so. I said NO-NO...

Have refused many projects, for a variety of reasons.