Real Estate Agent – or – Expert Advisor
Real Estate Agent – or – Expert Advisor
Spring is a great time to look at the business landscape. My business is Real Estate so naturally, I’m interested in what’s happening in my industry – and the real estate industry is changing. Anthony Robbins says, “Success leaves clues”. Well, I am determined to follow those clues and remain successful in this business I love – and navigate this changing environment!
Remember when you used a travel agent to book your vacation? Or walked into your neighborhood Hardware Store and said hello to the owner by name? How about your local coffee shop? Okay, I still have a local coffee shop but you see where I’m going. Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline are your “travel agents”! There are 2,248 Home Depot big-box format stores that have become your neighborhood Hardware Store. The same thing that happened in these industries is happening in the real estate industry and it requires all of us to look for the clues to remain successful. That is good for our industry, good for us and very good for our clients and customers.
A Real Estate sale is more than putting a sign in someone’s front lawn, loading the listing onto the MLS and running an ad. I was a very early adapter of using the internet to market myself and communicate with others and I continue to use these tools for the common good. Many traditional real estate agents don’t want to share their best practices, but as an “expert advisor” sharing knowledge and information helps everyone grow. Sharing best practices, leadership and standards helps build consistency in our industry. You can be committed to your own success and also to the success of others.
In addition to being committed to sharing and helping others as they help themselves, expert advisors are what their name implies – experts who give good counsel to clients and colleagues alike. Being an expert doesn’t come easily but being an expert in real estate – understanding people, business, marketing, sales and relationship building is the only true way to create rock-solid and long lasting success. Expert advisors are 100% committed to doing whatever it takes to get their sellers’ homes the exposure they need to drive up the demand on the home, which will ultimately result in a top-dollar offer.
Expert advisors look to foster strong personal and professional relationships with the agents in their area. Well-managed relationships help expert advisors collaborate and cooperate with other agents in such a way that they’re able to drive demand up on their listings. It makes sense that if agents like and want to work with you, more agents will show your listings to potential buyers.
So I encourage you to find someone who has grown beyond the “traditional” real estate agent role and has become the Expert Advisor. That person is open to sharing the best and brightest ideas – and has a network of others just like them – and that is good for selling or buying a home. I will leave you with one last thought:
Compare buying or selling a home with booking a hotel room in Boston. One decision can be made with a few key-strokes, and one is a significant life decision. Which one requires an Expert Advisor?
Until next time, Irene
Pricing your house to sell – The Basic Six!
Why does one house sell quickly for a stellar price while another has a “For Sale” sign in the yard for months? Is it luck? Probably not. The sales price and length of marketing time are determined by six basic factors. And you, as the seller, control four of them.
Location – Your neighborhood and your home’s location within the subdivision are important. Does your lot border a golf course or a busy street?
Condition of Property – Is your home updated and well-maintained or does it need redecorating and repair? Is it “staged” to show at its best?
Terms – Can you carry a second mortgage? Is your loan assumable? Can you be flexible with closing and occupancy dates?
Market Conditions – How does the number of available homes (new and resale) compare with the number of buyers? Interest rates always affect the number of qualified, motivated buyers.
Price – Is your property priced correctly? A new listing receives the most activity during the first 3-4 weeks, so be sure to price your home correctly right from the beginning. Price is a very important factor that can offset other deficiencies.
Your real estate professional – The agent you select will make a difference. As an experienced, knowledgeable real estate professional, I will price your home correctly, market it extensively, and negotiate effectively on your behalf. If you’re thinking of selling, please call me.
Invite Buyers Into Your South Central Vermont Home
Although the interior of your home may be lovely, you can’t use that fact to your advantage if potential buyers don’t come inside to see it. The majority of house shoppers are influenced by first impressions, and, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50% of them make their decision about your South Central Vermont home before stepping through the door. Ensuring that prospective buyers will want to see more doesn’t have to be time-consuming or cost-prohibitive; there are numerous ways to strengthen your home’s curb appeal, to capture the interest of buyers, and most likely increase the selling value.
When selling your South Central Vermont home, appearances are important. The exterior of the house should be attractive and in good condition, and the well-maintained grounds should be pleasing to the eye. The first thing to do is to look at the exterior objectively. Assess the color scheme (siding, trim, brick, roof) and determine if the architectural features of your house are in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.
Perhaps the easiest way to boost curb appeal is to clean.