Here's an amusing article with "10 Realtor Success Secrets for a Falling Market" and my comments.

1) Stay ahead of the market when you price a listing.
I can't believe they actually say to list "very, very, cheap". This reminds me of what I put on my Bucky Buthman parody site. Yes, you have to price it right but you don't want to leave money on the table either.

2) Gear Everything to Financing
The author of this article jumps around between Short Sales and regular sales. Two different animals as in a Short Sale, all that matters is what the bank will accept.

3) Take 30 day listings
WOW. The average Days on Market right now is over 120 and this "secret" is to take 30 day (cheaply priced) listings. Anyone that does this is going to spend as little time as possible the marketing of a home. They'll probably put a yard sign up because the Listing Agent's Broker usually pays for this. Whipping out a pocket camera and taking a few quick photos and entering the listing in the MLS system doesn't take that long. Unfortunately, that's the level of marketing service a lot of sellers get already today. What the author fails to mention is that if the seller relists with someone else, the Days on Market won't start back on zero with the new listing. Plus, what are other Realtors going to think is wrong with the home if a Listing Agent only had it for 30 days?

4) In pricing, it's the solds that count, not what's offered for sale
Already covered in point #2. I'm beginning to think this author has never sold real estate before.

5) Nobody cares what the seller "needs to get"
Another basic statement about pricing. No secret here.

6) Pull out all the marketing stops
Hmmm...all this marketing for a 30-day listing? Now I know this author has never sold property. First, if you want to make other Realtors angry, send them SPAM email about a listing. Realtors get TONS of emails with listings from other agents from all over the country, not just the Central Coast. And...they are really bad emails too. I guess they do it because it's cheap and can put it on their listing presentation. It's got to a point where the Realtors that keep doing this are getting a real bad reputation. Also, as for placing signs throughout the neighborhood...there is something called city "sign ordinances" which prohibit this.

7) Follow up with every Realtor that shows the property
Another non-secret. Sure, the agent should follow up with everyone that shows the property. But, the good agents won't provide much feedback as it gives away what their client is thinking. You don't want your agent telling the Listing Agent what you're thinking about a property in case you end up making a bid on it!

8) Create an event out of selling a house
This is their biggest secret...hold an auction. This is a For Sale By Owner technique and has nothing to do with the MLS. With the foreclosures that are hitting the market these days, this idea is just a bit silly.

#9 )and #10) Specific to Short Sales

Bottom line, there are NO SECRETS to selling a home. You need to:
1) Price it right
2) Market it well
3) Get plenty of exposure

Do you want someone to spend 30 minutes on the marekting materials for your home or 10 hours, especially when you pay the same for both services?