How buying furniture and selling your home are similar

OK, I know you are asking, "Todd, you are joking right? Where are you taking this?"

Well, here it goes.

Have you ever heard that when you buy furniture you should always take it home with you right from the store
and never have it delivered? If you haven't you had better start doing it that way! The reason why is a lot of
furniture stores go out of business all the time and did you know that if you order the furniture, pay for it and
they file bankruptcy they have no obligation to deliver it, even though they have your money!

Now, let us look at selling your home. Most agents do all the work up front, then hope to get paid and the only
way to do that is if your home sells. If they stop working, then they more than likely, won't get paid, even if they
file for bankruptcy. But, recently I've seen agents asking for a retainer like lawyers do and they use that for their
advertising and overhead and then get paid the remainder at close. In some cases, I've even seen the whole
commission paid up front.

So, what does that do for you if they go bankrupt or leave the business? It leaves you without your furniture
home sold and out a lot of money with no recourse. When I list a home, I spend a lot of money marketing it
and I expect to get paid for a job well done. That is why I don't take every listing that is offered to me by
sellers, if I can't sell it, I won't list it! Why would I spend thousands of dollars to list your home, so I won't get
paid?

So don't hire a furniture salesman, hire a professional that won't get paid unless you do!

For more information on selling your home in Washington County, Oregon please contact me anytime.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739