Favorite seller rationalizations

"Building comps for same apt line make my asking price very fair." Ignore that comps are from 2007-and first 1/2 of 2008.

"It's the first offer we received...let's wait because surely we can get more."

"I spent $3000 "updating" the kitchen with crappy cheap stuff and suburban low-end finishes. That makes my place worth more than the one that sold with the old kitchen."

"Because I chopped up my junior-four and made a ridiculously small 2nd "bedroom," I now have a 2 bedroom apt that's worth more than it was as a junior four."

"I don't HAVE to sell"

"We think it's well priced considering the spring buying season is just around the corner!"

"Similar apartments in the building have recently sold for higher." (when pressed on when that was... "in the summer of 2008.")

oh, and here's the best... "We're not going to give it away!"

Almost forgot

"If he doesn't get the price he wants he'll just rent it out."

"Manhattan is an island....there's nowhere left to build."

"the foreigners will keep the market strong"

"New York is the greatest city in the world"

"this isn't like the 80s, they added much more inventory then"

I just remembered this one. It's ridiculous:

"If you don't buy this apartment now I'll kill my wife and children!"