The Faithful Real Estate Agent | Sell By Referral, Work Life Balance, Time Management, Productivity, Real Estate Systems, Realtor Dad, Lead Generation, Christian Realtor, Realtor of Faith
307 | How to Talk to a Seller Whose Home Isn't Selling (Handling Price Reductions as a Realtor)
Interested in generating more deals from referral relationships? Learn more here: https://proinsight.info/faithful Have questions or need help? Email Me - garrett@garrettmaroon.com ---------- It's not our job to appease them and not do the right thing. It's not our job to put Band-Aids on stuff." What if the most faithful thing you can do for a seller is tell them something they don't want to hear? Here's how to have the tough conversations with your seller when it's time for a price reduction. In this episode of The Faithful Agent Podcast , Garrett sits down with Cole for a tactical, in-the-trenches conversation every Christian real estate agent needs to hear: what do you do when your seller's home isn't selling? This isn't a theoretical discussion — it's a practical playbook for having honest, faith-rooted conversations with sellers who are stuck on price, terms, or expectations. Garrett and Cole dig into the reality that most listings that sit on the market don't have a marketing problem — they have a pricing problem, and it's the agent's job to lovingly and honestly say so. They walk through real scenarios, including a seller who insisted on listing $45,000 above the recommended price and ultimately left money on the table by waiting too long to adjust. From there, the conversation moves into concrete strategies: building a four-week marketing plan sellers sign off on up front, sending weekly video market updates so sellers are never left wondering what's happening, and using pre-signed price reduction agreements — especially valuable with divorcing clients or anyone who struggles to revisit a hard conversation later. Cole introduces a fresh idea for slower markets: taking sellers to physically walk through 3-4 comparable homes so they can evaluate their own home's positioning as a buyer would, rather than just hearing it from their agent. Garrett and Cole also unpack the "four reasons a home doesn't sell" — price, location, marketability, and the often-overlooked fourth reason: terms — and why open houses are frequently used by agents to avoid the tough conversation a seller actually needs. Throughout, the episode returns to a core biblical business principle: as a faith-based realtor , your job isn't to keep the client happy at all costs — it's to give faithful, honest counsel and trust that the Lord is sovereign over the outcome. This episode is a masterclass in referral-based real estate relationship management, realtor tips for handling price objections, and the confidence it takes to deliver hard truths with grace. Whether you're serving buyers and sellers in Hampton Roads, Richmond VA, or any market nationwide, this conversation will equip you to stop putting Band-Aids on stalled listings and start having the conversations that actually move homes. Key Takeaways Your job is to tell the truth, not keep the client. As a Christian agent, lovingly and honestly telling a seller the truth — even when it risks the relationship — is the biblically faithful approach. Trust the outcome to God. Price the home right the first time, or pay for it later. A seller who refuses to price correctly often ends up selling for less after 60+ days on market than they would have if they'd listened early. Build a four-week marketing plan sellers sign onto upfront. This creates a pre-agreed structure for when a price adjustment conversation needs to happen, removing the surprise factor. Send weekly video market updates. Consistent communication (Garrett does this every Friday) builds trust and ensures sellers never feel out of the loop when a hard conversation comes. Use pre-signed price reductions for high-friction situations. Especially useful with divorcing clients or anyone likely to resist revisiting pricing later — get agreement in writing at the start. Take sellers to walk comparable homes. Letting sellers evaluate 3-4 comps as a buyer would can be more persuasive than data alone, especially in a slower market. Remember the four reasons a home doesn't sell: price, location, marketability, and terms. Terms — personal circumstances, life events, national and local uncertainty — are the most overlooked but often the most powerful factor. Open houses are not a substitute for hard conversations. Less than 1% of sales come from open houses; agents often use them to avoid telling sellers what they need to hear. Be consistent before, during, and after the listing. Say the same thing at every stage so sellers trust your counsel is steady, not reactive. Give confident counsel, not lengthy justification. Speak with the clarity of an expert — state your recommendation and your reasoning briefly, without over-explaining or pandering. This is a skill market, not a speed market. Success today depends on agents being skilled communicators who can guide sellers through pricing realities with confidence and compassion. Need help winning at work without losing at life? I'm here for you! Get the FREE E-Book — The Faithful Agent ebook is my gift to you; it's full of biblical truths about your calling, reflection questions, and practical steps to win at work without losing at life. Download it here: https://www.garrettmaroon.com/faithfulagentebook Want to talk business? Shoot me an email: garrett@garrettmaroon.com
