Unmotivated Sellers (negotiation, agent, mortgage, mortgage)

[mrsengle]

I read and hear about this with some frequency, but I don't really understand it. Why would someone go through the time and effort to put their home on the market when they don't care if it sells or not?

I understand that some sellers might list their home for sale to 'test' the market. Beyond this reasoning, I just don't get it.

Can someone please explain a little psychology behind the unmotivated seller?

[PotterGeek]

Same reason there are unmotivated buyers that waste an agents time and never buy...


If they get a price they want, you'll see just how motivated they can get. If they get alot of lowball offers, you'll see how unmotivated they can get.

Just a stab in the dark....

[IntownHomes247]

Because they have no skin in the game. Their agent is the one putting all the time, money, and effort into selling their home.

[Gretchen B]

Possible reasons for unmotivated sellers:

1) "Nobody else's house will sell that high, but mine will - It's special!"
2) "I'm not going to just give my house away!"
3) "We'll start several $1,000's higher (as in $50k) so that we'll have room for negotiation."
4) "It never hurts to test the water first. We can always come down." (I actually have heard agents say this!)
5) Paid top dollar for the house 2 years ago.
6) Need a certain $ figure to pay off the mortgage and avoid a short sale.
7) Hoping to get a certain $ figure in order to purchase what they want somewhere else.
8) Poor pricing advice from an incompetent agent.
9) "The Buyers are all being greedy!"
10) Some sellers, though, are just TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!!!

Possible reasons for hesitant and lowball buyers:
1) "The Sellers are all being unreasonable!"
2) "If I wait another few months the prices will drop more."
3) They can't get their house sold where they're at, in order to make the move.
4) The media reports (whether accurate or not) really have them scared.
5) They want THE PERFECT home.
6) There's no rush - most of the homes will still be for sale a month from now, along with a few new ones.
7) They have loan constraints and are at the top of their pre-approval limit.
8) They're worried about the local/national economy and wonder if this is the time to be saddled with add'l debt.
9) On some offers, though, the buyer is just TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!!!

[prim2007]

Originally Posted by Gretchen B

Possible reasons for unmotivated sellers:

1) "Nobody else's house will sell that high, but mine will - It's special!"
2) "I'm not going to just give my house away!"
3) "We'll start several $1,000's higher (as in $50k) so that we'll have room for negotiation."
4) "It never hurts to test the water first. We can always come down." (I actually have heard agents say this!)
5) Paid top dollar for the house 2 years ago.
6) Need a certain $ figure to pay off the mortgage and avoid a short sale.
7) Hoping to get a certain $ figure in order to purchase what they want somewhere else.
8) Poor pricing advice from an incompetent agent.
9) Just TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!!!

Possible reasons for hesitant and lowball buyers:
1) "The Sellers are all being unreasonable!"
2) "If I wait another few months the prices will drop more."
3) They can't get their house sold where they're at, in order to make the move.
4) The media reports (whether accurate or not) really have them scared.
5) They want THE PERFECT home.
6) There's no rush - most of the homes will still be for sale a month from now, along with a few new ones.
7) On some offers, though, they're just TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!!!

Couldn't add any more..perfect sentiments for both sides!

[CouponJack]

Here's a couple more...

For unmotivated sellers....

"The market will turn around soon, it always does"......

"But the comps say $_____?!"

"I'll save a ton of money going FSBO"



And for buyers.....

I'll come up w/some when I think of them...


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