Showing Feedback & Real Estate "Glass Slippers"

"It's too, too . . . ."

After almost 9 years selling real estate, I've probably been on the receiving end, conservatively, of perhaps 10,000 showing feedback forms (and probably generated an equal number as a Buyer's agent).

So, what do they say?

Usually, not much.

However, on the relatively rare occasions when the agent includes a comment, here's a partial compendium of what they say:

"It's too . . .

--Big
--Small
--Expensive
--Not expensive enough (they can afford more home)
--Open
--Not open enough
--Pink/White/Yellow/Blue/Brown (pick a color)
--Soon (the Buyer just started looking)
--Dated
--Updated (the Buyer wants to do their own remodeling)
--Vertical (they don't like stairs)
--Horizontal (they don't like ramblers)
--Close (to the elementary school/busy street/ugly neighbor, etc.
--Far (from shopping, schools, etc.)
--Contemporary
--Traditional
--Plain
--Loud
--Dark
--Noisy
--Quiet (Buyers from Manhattan)

Suffice to say, this list could be quite a bit longer.

Which is why my listing clients know one of my favorite lines (and hear it often): 'the only feedback that really counts is a good offer from a well-qualified Buyer.'

Finding "The One"

So, what do I tell my Buyer clients?

That I seldom see -- or sell -- a home that's a "10" on a scale of 1-10 (and if it's a bona fide "10" -- you probably can't afford it!).

But I've sold lots of "7's" and "8's" that, over time, my clients have turned into "10's" . . . for them.

And that, for most Buyers, it's simply the case that there are usually at least a couple homes that conceivably would be very good choices -- vs. "the (elusive) one."

Is a Vacant Home "Poorly Staged?"

Adding (Feedback) Insult to Injury

[Editor's Note: thanks to fellow City Lakes agent Sheri Fine for serving as a sounding board on this post.]

Is a vacant home "poorly staged?"

Judging by how most Buyer's agents complete showing feedback forms, the answer would be "yes."

But they're wrong.

In fact, a vacant home isn't staged at all.

Saying otherwise is a sure way to annoy Listing Agents, because: a) they're already quite aware that the home isn't staged; 2) it almost certainly wasn't their druthers (unstaged homes typically don't show well, and homes that don't show well . . . are harder to sell).

Adding (feedback) insult to injury, assuming the homeowner is getting feedback directly: the listing agent must now explain to their client why other Realtors seem to be saying that they're doing a poor job.

Showing Feedback & "Minnesota Nice"

"Minnesota Nice" for Non-Minnesotans

For non-Minnesotans reading this blog, first a definition:

"Minnesota Nice" refers to the locals' custom of being preternaturally pleasant on the surface . . . and seeming to be chilly and unavailable just below.

Non-natives, especially from bigger cities (like New York) invariably find the practice off-putting if not outright annoying; the most common complaint I hear is, "you never know where you stand."

The runner-up? 'it's passive-aggressive.'

Meanwhile, natives like myself understand "Minnesota Nice" for what it is: a collective agreement to . . . be polite, at least on the surface.

How different in principle is that, really, than 100 strangers jammed into a subway car all tacitly agreeing not to make eye contact?

Ultimately, "Minnesota Nice" is really just a regional preference -- a "default mechanism" -- for managing social interaction on a mass scale.

As such, it's no better, no worse (and certainly much less confrontational) than social styles in other parts of the country . . . or world.

What would you expect from a couple million, *stoic Scandinavians?? (still the most dominant ethnic heritage locally).

Minnesota Nice & Showing Feedback

So how does "Minnesota Nice" play out between Realtors?

A good example is the showing feedback form that Buyer's agents are asked to complete after taking a client through a home.

I would say that some variation of the following easily represents 25% of the responses I get from Buyer's agents on homes that I'm listing (representing the Seller):

How did your Buyer like the home overall? "Good."

On a scale of 1-10, what was your opinion of the home's condition? "7"

Floor plan? "8"

What did you think of the home's price (pick one): Above market/at market/below market (this one always cracks me up) "at market"

Any future interest? "No"

Social Conventions

Obviously, anyone who had continuing interest in my client's home would be communicating that, in a variety of ways.

So, I don't take umbrage at the above, or email or call the other agent hostilely asking for more.

I understand it for what it is: a "no thank you" -- politely conveyed, to be sure.

*the joke about the long-time local Congressman (and quintessential Scandinavian) Martin Olav Sabo was that he once got so worked up over an issue that . . he almost spoke up about it!