Sometimes, it’s just best to just observe a pool for a while before presenting your fly.  If you introduce the right fly properly, those milling trout will often rise to it and make a solid hit.  But, introduce a fly too large, too small, or the wrong shape or color, or one that’s ragged, and the fish will be turned off, sometimes for the rest of your day.

     When you list a house for sale, take some time before putting it on the market.  Try and get the price right for the type of buyers you are trying to attract.  Make sure the owners make the house look as sharp as they can.

     Then put the house on the market with some finesse or flair – don’t just lay it out there.  When a house first hits the market, those buyers that are the most qualified (those who have looked over all the other homes and rejected them for one reason or another) will rise to your properly priced and presented listing.  And, if they strike, they’ll strike with a firm offer in order to beat the others.

     Overprice it or introduce it with faults uncorrected and it’s likely to settle to the bottom after a time and become, “Oh, that house!”

     The statements “Your first offer will probably be your best offer” and “Offers come in pairs” are explained by this analogy.

     When a fish sees a new fly properly presented, it will hit hard and clean (make a high and firm offer).  When one fish starts to move towards the new fly, another is likely to see the action and start moving in for a strike as well (two offers).

     But, walk up to the pool and flog it with your number 4 June Bug, and you will spoil your water.  Put your shabby bungalow on the Multiple Listing Service at 15% over the market, and you will have spoiled your buyer’s pool as well.