It's code for:

"agent is desperate to sell".

"agent is catching flack from seller about days on market".

"agent needs to get paid".

Unless the seller approved the language, I feel it's a breach of the fiduciary duty we have with our clients.

  I have encountered some Sellers who were NOT motivated.  They turned down good offers, made unrealistic counters and demands.   But the agent didn't put that in the MLS remarks.

Yes, agree with answers. 

SOS. Need to sell, all offers will be presented ASAP.

For sure, it means 

Bring me an offer, sellers is about to fire me. :)

hmmmmmm. A better phrase than 'seller says bring offer'. It is stupid as why is the house on the market if the seller does not want to sell?

Breaching?  Maybe. The word is overused. It doesn't mean much to me. As far as clients their interpretation varies.

Not a fan of that term either. There's only 2 possible outcomes here; neither good. Either you get a Vulture looking to pick the bones of a desperate seller with a lowball offer that will make your milk curdle... or you get a Buyer who overlooks it because they only care about what matters to them- do they like it & is it priced right? So if your seller is "motivated" but overpriced or just ugly, the buyer doesn't care that he's motivated, they want a fair price for a good house.  

In cases where I have used it it was by request of the Seller Peter Mohylsky . It was their way to say "we are flexable".

"Seller motivated" is a given.That is why they are selling. Next!

The real estate profession seems to lack creativity. There is an abundance of copying what others do even when it makes no sense to do so. 

I don't think there is any breach in using this terminology.  I have it on one of my listings now.  The house has been on the market for about 6 weeks, and she is anxious to sell.  We just adjusted the price and she wants perspective buyers to know she is movtivated to sell and willing to negotiate in good faith and  invites any and all offers for considerataion.

Clients tell me all the time to pass along to other agents, "We're motivated!" I explain that the message sent is, "We're desperate!" and they quickly change their minds!

Ditto, Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, ePRO, CRS, RCS-D 

In addition to what Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, ePRO, CRS, RCS-D said, it's also code for "seller willing to accept less" and "low ball offers OK!"

Just a way to get more interested parties to the table, hopefully they have their clients permission to disclose a motive like this though.

I don't really believe it's breaching confidentiality... as I've often seen it used in the context of "Seller is very movitated (in every way but financially)".

Sorry I'm not 100% sure what you are asking?

I call these kinds of expressions "realtoreze." Hate them and they don't make us look good to the public. Unless the seller specifically tells you to say he/she is motivated and bring all offers, it is a breach of ethics to do so.

A poor choice of wording by those who do not know better.

Agree, it is redundant, theoretically, but I think the hidden agenda is that seller more than willing to negotiate. 

Could be a breach if seller does not approve. I suppose it ranks right up there with the often-used phrase "won't last." It doesn't work.

"Bring All Offers"
"All Offers Considered"
"Motivated Seller"
Isn't every seller 'motivated' and doesn't every listing want offers??

I do not use that phrase

the best advice is to price it right...then you never need to worry about which words to use....the only word you'll use is SOLD....

It's filler like "Be Happy Here. Hurry".  I have seen marketing where every single property has the same tired worn out lingo. "Dirty But Nice".  "Take This House And Love It". Describe the person who would be a perfect fit for this particular, individual real estate listing. Make each different because the properties are. That's matchmaking where the property sells itself because it works and the buyer knows why in your narrative, imagery, video, plat map and floor plan promotion.

Translation, seller is desperate. We've overpriced, limited showings, not presented or marketed well and now need to get an offer, any offer. 

Seller Motivated can mean so many things. It's on the market, so obviously seller is motivated to sell and get on with their plans. Coming Soon now means Coming in 3 days to 3 months. I think seller Motivated is used so often by agents who just realized the listing is going to expire in 30 days and senses the seller is going to go with another agent when it expires.

Agreed it is way overused, I would think most often with a lack of confidence in a weak or non-existent marketing plan...if a Seller is not motivated it is not really for sale, is it?  Have no way of knowing if a breach of confidentiality, but unless directed by owner would be difficult to assert fulfilling fiduciary duty.

Basically, it means that NO offers are coming in and that the L/A is about to lose the listing. Motivated Seller in no way, shape or form means that the price is negotiable. 

As Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, ePRO, CRS, RCS-D I have always interpreted it and seems to be valid that it means

All offers seriously considered and seller and or agent are getting desperate Peter Mohylsky 

If the seller is ok with that then yes, I would post it as seller is motivated.

You raise a good point...Is it marketing? Is it a message? Does it portray weakness? Another peculiar one...MUST SELL...well get to it! 

Lots of good responses - I agree with most of them but also have one of my own I prefer not to say in public LOL

Peter Mohylsky without seller consent, agent might breach confidentiality.

Seller will look at all offers is my favorite cliche on this.

I am not a fan of cliche real estate speak either. I've never liked (or used) seller motivated. I agree with Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, ePRO, CRS, RCS-D. -Kasey 

I hate it too & suspect it really means "Seller won't work WITH me and change the price".   I've heard many sellers say "they can just make an offer"...

We are not fond of any speak, and we make a point to avoid Jargon  A

It's code for "Come look. Bring offers. We promise not to get offended."

It is true, that some sellers are not motivated, but all agents are:) 

Yes, those words are often abused Peter. I once asked the agent what she meant and she answered, "Oh, he wants to sell!" Then asked, "Is he willing to lower the price?" (It was overpriced) She replied no.

Once - just for fun- we put " Movtivated Agent" on a flyer ( with the Sellers permission of course!) 

No, the seller likely has said, "why don't we have an offer"...or sellers' have found another home or the seller has said, "why doesnt someone at least make an offer, even if I am overpriced, just to get the ball rolling", or you as the agent have had slow traffic, we are hoping that will catch the eye of potential buyers to come through and make an offer...not brain surgery by any stretch...we are just trying to get the seller an offer...

Great question wish I had a great answer for you

Love it. But I suppose it's better than the alternative, "Testing the waters to see if I can get a full price offer on an over priced listing!"

I agree!  I dont use the term unless the seller gives the directive in writing.

Although it is true some Sellers get more motivated as the time goes by 

but I love the question!!

Better then bring sellers a offer!

That is a strange statement to put into MLS.   All Sellers must be motivated, or they would not be selling, for the most part.

In our brokerage, the phrase "seller motivated" has to have meaning. If the seller is really motivated to the point we put this in MLS, he/she has to mean it and authorize the verbiage.

I've only ever used it when A- requested by the seller and B- he's fully aware and has signed off on the ad before it runs.

I use this phrase when the seller says it is ok

I would wager a guess that 90% of all sellers are truly motivated. That is what selling is about. When I see this statement, it means nothing to me.

I have only used it when specifically instructed by the seller to make sure that it was noted in the remarks. I'm with you, I feel it is overused and basically non effective.  

Agent is a GRI - Great Reductions in Income 

Seller motivated but home has been listed since last March. I do love that one

Right, hidden code for write me a low offer and seller will probably take it. Not serving the best interest of the seller.

No, it is just like "puffing"  which is a lie that violates nothing.

I have had many "motivated" sellers only be movitated at full price.

Eve

Every industry has it's tired, overused jargon.  It is hard to change, especially since young agents learn from older, more experienced agents.  

Seems clear to me.

I don't know why the rest of the agents don't include, "Seller/Agent delusional" except for the reality we tend to shed only the dimmest of light on truth and pay Zillow to do the rest of the misrepresentation for agents.

Breaching confidentiality. Now that's stretch. 

The seller is MOVING.  The boxes in the garage say the same thing. The empty bedrooms and refrige confirm they are moving. The are MOTIVATED.

80% of buyers here in my area of FL do confer with FB and Big G to 'dig deeper and uncover hidden motive' such as the sellers 'gonna miss yo'all when I move' posts.

Now, let's talk about 'Won't Last!"  

The real truth in "SELLER MOTIVATED' is that agent is stating they are a better negotiator. Are you up to the challenge? Go ahead and put in an offer and call their bluff. 

So, you see, it really doesn't matter.