When I meet with the sellers, I ask what number they have in mind. 

yes- I do like to know whether we are going to have any meeting of the minds

Information is always important in any negotiation, the more information you have the better you do.

Yes I do and no it doesn't. But it lets me know I need to address a few things up front.

Absolutely, but sometimes I have to talk them into reality!

I stick by what I think, but I also like to know what the sellers are thinking. It lets me know what I need to discuss with them. 

Q1. YES and Q2. NO.

I always ask what they think their home is worth, I always run real comps.

Knowing just tells me if they are realistic or not. I always share what the market says their home is worth with honest knowledge & feedback. I'm in-line with most, convert some and "bye bye now" a few. I don't take all the listings I interview for.

Debbie Reynolds I like to know they are in the ball park. I think the facts in my valuations speak or itself so I don't get influenced.

I would love to know the number. 

The more I know in advance the better but the CMA is what it is.  We go from there. 

Good morning Debbie. Every seller is going to be different, some have an idea and share it, but those are the folks that have pretty much made up their minds that you will handle the sale of their property, the others will just be a little more work.

 Good Sunday morning Debbie. Yes, I think that it would be helpful to know what the folks are asking.

It doesn't hurt but the trainers that teach that you must grind and gouge it out of them or don't go are nuts.  I'm a salesperson and can think on my feet.  Handling objections is part of my life.  Getting to a reasonable list price is my profession.  It they won't be reasonable within limits, next!

I do Debbie, I give them my thoughts and then ask what their expectations are.

I agree with Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA ....I always ask what they have in mind.

Great question!

Am going through this with a seller right now. He thought his property was worth a lot more, and I told him it won't sell for anywhere near his price and proved it with some strong comps. I was not going to take the listing at the high price. He's now coming back to me with a realistic price.

I don't always know their number, but I know the number I wouldhope to get.

Yes, before I would take a listing I would need to know the motivation of the seller so I could see if they were being realistic. I might even at times tell them we can try for more.

I don't want to know their number until I give them my number.

if i am a seller, i ask you as an agent your number (a range) and then i give u my number.. and see if they match

This is definitely a number to know.  It doesn't influence what I suggest it can sell at, but if their need number is higher than what the house is worth, it definitely changes the conversation.

Not really.  I explain the comps to them and how they were chosen, differences, similarities, etc.  Then I ask them whether the "number" is a surprise or got close to what they had in mind.

It is nice to know just how realistic the sellers are before the meeting, but it is not always divulged.