Burned by lifelong friends
Short story, my family friends for over 25 years used another random realtor to sell their home last year. Did not get a single offer, no staging, amateur photos, no marketing and no open houses.
Did not even mention it to me until I figured it out, not butthurt but if you sit at my dinner table and I ask what’s new and you don’t mention that you are selling your house.. well that’s weird..
Fast forward to a month ago, they call when they see that I’ve had 4 record sales in the area so they decide to sell their house and calls me. I take a smaller commission because we know each other, I ask what’s their bare minimum is and what they are hoping for. We agree, sign the paperwork. I stage their house, marketing material, professional photos. The house looks like a dream.. no real movement after 2 weeks just a bunch of tire kickers except one couple. I take it off the market to see reactions, and to drop the price by 60k.. it worked, buyer realtor calls and says they are ready to offer. It’s not a bad offer but it can be better.. it’s 40k higher than the sellers bare minimum… I call and tell them we should counter offer to get them up a bit. To my surprise they say no to counteroffer and to take it off market completely because they forgot that it would cost them 35-40k in expenses to sell and then another 15k when they buy (land transfer tax).. I don’t even get an apology,
I’m out 2000$ out of my own money, I feel like I’ve been used because they don’t have their financials in place. Worked for 2 weeks to stage their place and hold open houses etc.. I’m done and I want my money back