There are ways to get sellers to do what you tell them to do - and I don't mean lecturing them or scolding them or anything disrespectful like that. I had a Realtor once give me a "to-do" list and waltz away... I didn't do anything on the list and I'm sure she later complained about it when the house didn't sell.
But if you approach a seller with the right attitude and inspire them to WANT to do what needs to be done to sell the house, they usually will do it. It's just like pricing right - if the agent can't persuade the seller to do what needs to be done (price, condition, accessibility, whatever)... it's the AGENT's fault, not the seller's.
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Jennifer Allan, GRI
RE/MAX Hall of Fame
Author of
Sell with Soul, Creating an Extraordinary Career in Real Estate without Losing Your Friends, Your Principles or Your Self-Respect