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I encounter unprepared property sellers quite often, but they’re only a few minutes away. That’s because I don’t list properties more than 10 minutes away from my office anymore. Lazy? No, not really, I’ve never been lazy. I’m just tired of so many unprepared property sellers who are an hour’s drive or more from my office. And I’m not willing to drive 30 minutes to get there and another 30 to get back to list a property that the seller thinks is worth millions, but looks like Sh!t … excuse the French.
Do you know why some agents first ask all kinds of info on a property before making a listing appointment? Especially agents outside the Central Valley who cover a lot of territory do this. Well-trained agents always first ask for all legal documents, a few photos, and a short description before making a listing appointment.
The necessary documents
Often, after the agent asks to supply more information before a visit, the seller won’t send anything. They think the agent is not interested, lazy, or they are another unprepared property seller. Many don’t have the required ownership documents or even a survey map of the property. And that’s a pity because they’ll end up with the most unprepared and clueless real estate agents in the market.
A messy house
I have seen my share of unmade beds, messy offices, bathrooms with dirty towels and underwear, kitchen counters full of dirty dishes and other “stuff”, and backyards that look like a dump. Throughout this article, I will show photos from homes owned by unprepared homeowners.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the story of this listing appointment one of our agents had with one of the most unprepared property sellers that I have even heard of. The seller contacted us because he wanted assistance to sell one of the two houses he owns in Sabanilla, San Jose.
Setting up a meeting
Some sellers don’t get down to the point when it’s needed. This is an example of a phone conversation to set up a listing appointment between one of our affiliate agents and a seller:
Seller: I want to sell my house in Paso Real, Sabanilla.
Agent: OK, I know Paso Real. I can meet you at the house…or, at least, at the entrance to Paso Real.
Seller: No, let’s meet at Friday’s restaurant, and you can follow me from there.
Agent: No, we’re coming from the other direction, and traffic’s terrible at that hour. How about the new McDonalds in Sabanilla Centro?
Seller: OK.
Agent: What kind of car will you be in?
Seller: Ummm…it’s a rental. I’m not sure what kind it is.
Agent: Well, let me know tomorrow.
The listing appointment
Agent: OK, here we are. Let’s see the house in Paso Real.
Seller: No, I want to sell the house in Malaga [the subdivision next door] first.
Agent: Ok. You’re the boss.
Seller: Ummm…I don’t speak Spanish. Can you tell the guard we’re going to see my house?
Agent: Sure, a pleasure.
Seller: Ummm…none of these 10 keys seems to work. Wait here while I get some other keys at my house in Paso Real.
Agent: Ok, I’ll wait.
Seller: Ummm…none of these keys work, either. Maybe we can try again next week.
Agent: Fine. Cool.
Seller: Hey, let me show you the Paso Real house.
Agent: OK, back to square one. So you’re prepared to sell that house now?
Seller: No, I still want to sell the Malaga house first.
Agent: Well, then it’s not worth wasting time looking at the house in Paso Real now.
Seller: OK. Hey, before you go, can you ask those painters across the street if they do another kind of work? I need some work done in my backyard.
Agent: Oh yes, love to help out when needed. Let me know when you’d like me to start selling.
Are you ready?
I know, it’s hard to keep your cool when you have unprepared property owners like this. If you’re a selling homeowner, I’m sure you will never treat an agent like this. Few people do. But lots of unprepared property sellers don’t get their property documents and the house in order for a listing appointment. Or the keys.
By the way, the seller never called the agent again to list either one of the houses. So it was all a waste of time.
Are you a well-organized, motivated, and well-prepared property owner? Are you looking for the assistance of a professional real estate agent to sell your property in Costa Rica? Then please don’t hesitate to contact us to list your property now.
