The House That Wouldn't Sell

They say you want to be their first love, their second wife, and their third Realtor. By the third time, sellers listen. The market marinates them. Makes them tender.

There is a house in Shalimar. Poquito Bayou. Four Realtors have tried to sell it. Four have failed.

I was supposed to be the first.

The Call That Went Wrong

The old man died. Then his wife. Good people. I had sold them houses before. They told their children to call me when the time came.

The children called.

I brought my analysis. Comparable sales. Real numbers. Adjustments for condition, location, the things that matter.

They did not like what I told them.

Voices were raised. There was disbelief.

"I can't understand why your number is so different than what's online," one of them said.

I explained about comparables. About adjustments. How I work like an appraiser works. Square footage matters. Condition matters. Location matters.

They preferred Zillow.

Another agent came. She would do the estate sale, she said. But only if she got the listing too. The children said yes. They did not call me back.

The house went on the market. Then off. Then on again. Then off again.

Three more agents. Three more failures.

Then they called again.

What Zillow Doesn't Know

They have not called again. Three more failures later. Still no call.

If they did call, I would not take the listing. They have a history now. Unrealistic expectations. They chose Zillow over experience once. They would do it again.

Zillow once bought houses. Used their own estimates. Lost millions. Sold everything at a loss. Admitted their numbers were wrong.

But people still believe in Zillow.

What Zillow Doesn't Know

Zillow sees data. It does not see the leak in the roof. The crack in the foundation. The smell in the carpet. The house next door with six cars in the yard.

Zillow does not see the buyer walking through, shaking his head, walking away.

Price is not what you want. Price is what someone will pay.

They are different things.

The Sellers You Don't Want

Eighteen years in this business. I have learned who to work with.

Some sellers want to sell. Some want to hold their house hostage. Wait for ransom.

The ransom never comes.

Would I work with these sellers if they called again? No. They have a history now. Unrealistic expectations. They chose Zillow over experience. Chose hope over reality.

Life is too short. Business is too hard. There are sellers who listen. Who understand markets. Who want to sell their house, not prove a point.

I work with them now.

The Market Doesn't Care

Here is the truth no one tells you. The valuation. Even from an experienced agent. It is an estimate of value.

The market will determine the price. Supply and demand. That is all.

The market does not care what you paid. What you need. What Zillow says. What your neighbor thinks it's worth.

The market cares what buyers will pay. Today. In this condition. In this location.

That is all.

The house in Poquito Bayou is still for sale. Maybe it will sell someday. Maybe the market will marinate the sellers long enough. Make them tender enough to accept reality.

Maybe not.

The Real Estate Business

In Shalimar, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, houses sell. Good houses. Priced right. Marketed well.

Military families need homes. Retirees want waterfront. Young couples look for starter homes.

They all have budgets. They all have choices. They will buy the best house for their money.

Your house can be that house. If you price it right.

If you don't, someone else will.

What I Learned

The joke is wrong. Sometimes being the first Realtor means telling the truth they don't want to hear. Sometimes the sellers never learn. Never get marinated enough.

Sometimes you tell them the truth and they walk away. Choose comfortable lies instead.

Sometimes you don't chase them.

Sometimes that is the smart thing to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do some houses in Shalimar and Poquito Bayou fail to sell after multiple listings? A: Most unsold houses fail due to unrealistic pricing expectations. Sellers often rely on online estimates instead of actual comparable sales data and refuse to adjust to market reality.

Q: How accurate are Zillow estimates for Fort Walton Beach area homes? A: Zillow's Zestimates are automated estimates that don't account for local conditions, recent updates, or property-specific factors. Zillow themselves admitted their estimates were inaccurate when they lost millions in their house-flipping business.

Q: What's the difference between an agent's valuation and actual market price? A: An agent's valuation is an educated estimate based on comparable sales and market conditions. The actual market price is determined by what buyers are willing to pay based on supply and demand.

Q: Should I work with a realtor who's already tried to sell my house before? A: It depends on why the previous attempt failed. If it was due to unrealistic pricing expectations that you've now adjusted, it could work. However, if fundamental disagreements about market value persist, it may be better to work with someone new.

Q: How long should a house typically stay on the market in the Shalimar area? A: Well-priced homes in Shalimar typically sell within 30-60 days. Houses that sit on the market for months or require multiple listings are usually overpriced for current market conditions.

Q: What factors affect home values in Poquito Bayou specifically? A: Location relative to water access, proximity to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, home condition, lot size, and recent comparable sales in the immediate area all impact value.

Q: When should I consider changing realtors? A: Consider changing if your current agent won't provide honest market feedback, refuses to adjust pricing strategy based on market response, or if you have fundamental disagreements about realistic expectations.

Q: How do inherited properties typically perform in the local market? A: Inherited properties often face challenges because heirs may have emotional attachments to pricing or unrealistic expectations about value. Success depends on the family's willingness to accept current market conditions.