Talking without action is just empty talk! The point is, don’t just talk about it; actually do it and produce results, no more nonsense! For real estate agents, especially those whose primary business is selling properties, the ability to fight tough battles and sell properties quickly at or above market price is the real skill!
When it comes to selling houses, our slogan “Michael, Sold” isn’t just empty talk. In my seven years in the business, I’ve tackled countless tough challenges: a house next to the railway in Richmond Hill sold in 10 days with a bidding offer sales strategy in a buyer’s market; a Yong/Finch condo unit sold at market price without showing, three days before the forced auction by the creditor; an Oshawa industrial plant listed by another agent before – sold at an ideal price with my bidding offer sales strategy, a month after I took over; a bungalow in the small town of Kawatha Lkaes, which had been shoddily renovated (with floors that sloped like a roller skating rink between rooms, with a height difference of 5-10 cm) – sold in 3 weeks with my bidding offer sales strategy, exceeding the buyer’s expectations by $20,000.
If a similar and neighboring unit is listed at the same time and sells quickly with a higher price, wouldn’t the sales level be immediately apparent? I actually encountered such an opportunity in January 2025! 151 UPPER Duke Cres 402, Markham (Downtown).
A sophisticated bidding strategy + excellent negotiation skills = “beating” a strong competitor and securing a satisfactory sale price in a short time – a classic battle!
In January 2025, during the trough period for condo sales, Michael led the Lesold team, used a sophisticated bidding strategy to list the unit once, and the unit was sold within two weeks at a price the owner was satisfied with. Meanwhile, the neighbor, Unit 407, which is a larger unit, has a balcony with a natural view, a newly upgraded kitchen, and fresh paint throughout. Unit 407’s agent, despite listing it three times using traditional methods and bidding strategies, it still sold three months later, and still didn’t reach our sold price.
At the end of December 2024, the owner of Unit 402, who had originally planned to rent it out, decided to sell due to cash flow pressure. Michael quickly arranged the necessary interior repairs, cleaning, and staging, conducted a market analysis, and researched nearby competitors. He took the owner to view the neighboring Unit 407, which had been on the market for over a month. Upon entering, the seller was stunned: the competitor, Unit 407, on the same floor and across the street, was 40 square feet larger, with a newly renovated kitchen and bathroom (while Unit 402 still had a 20-year-old model). The master bedroom in Unit 407 had a walk-in closet, was freshly painted white throughout, and had a balcony with views of the surrounding nature (while Unit 402’s balcony faced buildings within the complex). The client asked, “Is it impossible to sell? Should we wait until unit 407 is sold before listing?” I responded, “How do you know when they’ll sell?” Ultimately, the seller decided to list the unit anyway, to compete! Before Unit 402 was listed, its agent had already listed it at a bidding price of $699,900, but after the offer date, it failed to sell. Using Unit 407 as a reference, Michael decided to lower the price to $599,000 to attract more potential buyers.
In a particularly slow market, the listing agent’s hunter-gatherer patience is tested. The listing price was already very low, and not a single offer came in on the offer date! Sometimes, time is a valuable tool: using silence to wear down the opponent during negotiations. In this case, the buyer’s agent didn’t make an offer on the offer date, but called the next day at noon to inquire about the situation. In this situation, the listing agent’s negotiating skills are put to the test. Every word, tone, and pause in the conversation is crucial. Did not let the buyer agent have a chance to know the real situation and provided them with a vague result. (Actually, I should be thankful for the agent in Unit 407, who held a rigid price for his client. And what was the outcome? Truly, the most dangerous place is the safest.) Like the fisherman waiting patiently on the shore for a bite, finally, the big one took hold!
Hard work pays off, and a spirit of never giving up will bring good results. After several rounds of negotiations, Michael finally secured a clean offer of $790,000. However, he still wanted to push for a closer closing date than April 10th to help the owner’s cash flow. Michael’s excellent negotiation skills and perseverance successfully moved the closing date up to March 18th and increased the price by $5,000. The client praised Michael’s ability and professionalism with promises of “looking to buy a house soon.”
Later, the buyer’s agent contacted Michael, saying they needed more time due to loan issues. After communicating with the seller, they negotiated an additional $5,000, ultimately selling unit 402 for $800,000.
After the unit sold, I checked Unit 407’s listing several times, only to see it was still listed. Three months later, on April 8th, I noticed it had been changed to SOLD – $788,000. As of the evening of May 20th, when I’m writing this case study, listing 407 still hasn’t closed. The MLS listing shows it closed on May 21st, but it still says “SOLD CONDITION”. It’s not uncommon for conditional offers to fail to close smoothly. I’m really worried about the other agent!
I’m very happy to have this opportunity to compete head-to-head and sell it quickly and at a high price – my boast is real!