Going Gets Tough, Seller Get… Stranger
We’ve seen some strange sales incentives in this down real estate market, including offering one’s self in marriage with successful close of escrow as well as putting one’s home on Ebay.
These strategies get points for creativity, but do they work? One Michigan owner auctioned off a home on Ebay, only to then receive a high bid of $1.75. The winner plans to try to sell the home herself now– hopefully not on Ebay.
Here are some more confusing strategies:
A seller offering a $2000 “finder’s fee” at close of escrow. So, if I find a buyer for this property, I get the money; the buyer gets no incentive. Um…
An investment/mulit-unit property offering a mystery incentive: tiny font print proves too small to read. Must follow nonending trail of links to uncover the prize. More video game than home-for-sale ad.
Builder incentives: with the slowdown on buying, new construction is growing cobwebs. Building companies offer now everything from a trip to Tahiti to a wide-screen TV. A price reduction might be more enticing, but then, what do I know. I’m just a potential buyer who likes to read more than watch TV. Tahiti would be nice though, I admit.
Okay, your turn: In this crazy buyer’s market, what’s the strangest incentive you’ve seen lately?
