Playing Woodyatake Is Never Professional!
"Woodyatake, $147,500.00? Woodya? Woodya? Woodya? I said would you take $147,500.00?"
"NO! I'm asking $177,500.00 not a dollar less!"
Or: "Woodyatake, $747,500.00? Woodya? Woodya? Woodya?"
NO! I'm asking $777,500.00 not a dollar less!"
Or: "Woodyatake, $1,747,500.00? Woodya? Woodya? Woodya? I said would you take $1,747,500.00?"
"NO! I'm asking $1,777,500.00 not a dollar less!"
The would be buyer's agent is foolish and the listing agent is almost as wrong.
The would be buyer's agent is foolish and the listing agent is almost as wrong.
In a current parallel to my example see: Call Me Anytime, Mr. Buyers Agent...Agency Does Not Have To Be Adversarial
Yet, this is one of the most common exchanges in real estate, to understand just how down right foolish this is we need to remember an old joke and the movie it inspired.
The old codger approaches the young beauty and ask: "Woodya sleep with me for a $1,000,000.00?" She thinks quickly and says "Yes!" He then says "Woodyatake $20.00?" To which she indigently replies "What do you think I am?" He looks her in the eye and slowly says "We've already determined that!"
There is only one correct answer to the question "Woodyatake?" and that is "Are you offering...?" Had the young Lady ask if the codger was making an offer, she'd have reviled nothing about her virtue or lack there of. But, we'd have established that the codger was also a lech.
It's the same in real estate if you say yes to "Woodyatake" with out an offer the offer will come in lower, if you say "No" you may never get to see an offer that you could have accepted or negotiate to an acceptable compromise.
If a listing agent had answered a buyer's agent asking "Woodyatake?" with "Are you offering...?" Both clients would have been well served.
Many agents believe that the sale price is always the most important term on a sales agreement, well it's not always true. If you get suckered into playing the "Woodyatakes" you do your client a major disservice, and I don't care which side you're representing.
A "No!" answer makes negotiating almost as impossible as no offer!
Bill
William J Archambault Jr
The Real Estate Investment Institute
wja@reii.org 832-259-7078 or 702-516-1569
From my past: GRI 1975, FLI 1974, Catalyst from a client 1974 an agent that makes things happen, REII, The Real Estate Investment Institute 1995.
©William J Archambault Jr ©The Real Estate Investment Institute ©REII
Bill "Woodyatake" sounds like something you would hear at a Yard Sale. But come to think of it, maybe that is what some of the people in this business should be doing.
Wow!
George,
Now I don't have to worry about offending those people.
Truth is yard-salleing is a great way to prospect.
Bill
Mr. Agent, if you won't take the time to write up an offer, then please don't waste my time by asking me "woodyatake" over and over.
Ray,
Yup!
Bill
Woodatake my friendship and internet laughter at thinking of someone doing this to you over the phone? Because I can only imagine your reaction to someone saying this to you on the phone.
Todd,
I'll take it, laughter and all! >:)