I love it when Friday comes and most of my listings in Ann Arbor and Saline have a least one showing. This is a good weekend as I have at least one showing on some of my homes that have been moving rather slowly.
In Michigan, we have a very seasonal market, last year our spring market didn't really start until April or May. (I was wondering if it ever would). Finally, it kicked in and the market was steady. Then August was slow, as parents were taking last minute vacations school was starting and all the transferees were closing and getting settled in their new homes.
I have lots of free time to work "on" the business and not "in" the business in November and December. 
That's when I plan on catching up with all my Activerain bookmarks.
When I'm in a slower season, my family gets lots of home-cooked meals and it is a nice break. Over the years, I have learned to enjoy the time and not stress, "Will I ever have another sale."
However, as a new agent I didn't have that comfort level.
There are 971 Active Listings for sale in Ann Arbor, 53 are under contract, and we have closed 920 since January 2007. Three more months to go and lots of inventory to absorb.
There are 370 Active Listings for sale in Saline, MI, 8 are under contract and we have closed 229 this year.
The following homes are being shown this weekend.
If you are considering purchasing in Ann Arbor or Saline, Mi. this is an excellent home search site, with Google Maps, Google Satellite Images, and multiple photos.
Have a great weekend and let's all get some houses SOLD.
Whether you are buying or selling a home in Ann Arbor, or anywhere in Washtenaw County, our goal is to help you with the best resources available. TEAM approach with 6 Buyer Specialists 734-216-2822
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Nice job Missy - loved the links to great stuff. Glad to here the weekend looks promising for you! Relax some too!!
Best of luck Missy, have a wonderful weekend!
Well, so far I have no showings today on any of my listings. I am doing open houses this weekend, we'll see how that goes.
Hi Missy - Great listings! I'll take them all!! I really like how your website is layed out...really draws people in! I hope you get contracts on all of them.
Cyndee, I will relax after Saline beats Chelsea tonight and Wolverines beat Northwestern. Ha.
Jason, I'll be having tea with Chris, I think you'll be there too. LOL
Aurelia, I've had many weekends where I didn't have this many, so I am hopeful. Good Luck at your OPEN houses.
Linda, thanks it is my pay-per-click site and it is very sticky.
It's strange but not stressing about "the next one" and they seem to come when it needs to. It's been like that for this year and I have actually had the same income to this point. Hmmm...maybe letting go and it comes? Besides, the time spent with family has been nice since both my kids are back in Hawaii.
Sally, you got it !! I am actually 3 transactions ahead of where I was last year, no worries, no stress. Good for you !! And you have that cute hubby too.
Missy--This is exactly how I feel about the fall market. I know it does pick up again in October for some reason but Sept can be slow...Enjoy the slow times and get caught up. No more stressing...But showings for on listings for the weekend would be very nice indeed! :)
Please Ma'am....
May I have some of the leftovers from the leftovers from the leftovers...
Hey. At this point I'll settle for a hot dog or a PBJ :)
TLW...ROAR!
Missy, my mentor when I first got in to the business told me to enjoy the down time. I have to be honest though it has only been in the last few years that I have been able to take her advice.
Missy - You have a great attitude. I also try not to stress out too much in the winter months. Nice post.
Aww geez....now I wonder if I should have left that part out...it's something people remember for some reason hahaha!
Missy, Oh gosh! I do that "WILL I EVER SELL ANOTHER HOUSE?' thing all the time. I've been doing it since the early 80s and will probably do it into my own late 80s! Fun post!
Teri, it is great to have showings on some listings. I'm hoping October is a strong month.
TLW, I just ate a hotdog. LOL Are you reading my mind ?
Marchel, it is hard at first. But, now I know more will come so I just enjoy it.
Jason, does Austin have winter months ? I have friends there that grill in January when I've got snow.
Sally, nah LOL
Pat. you will, trust me. The longer you're in the biz the more calm you will become.
What....me??? Worry???? Constantly, but it always works out. I find year after year it gets less intense. I'm just at the point of having a full time assistant and worrying that I won't be able to pay her.
I had forgotten high school games were played on Friday nights. Go Saline! (I want Allyssas cheerleading to last as long as it can her senior year :-)
Good luck with those showings Missy, hopefully Monday you'll go into the office with agents calling you telling you they have contracts to present.
(Pretty post Missy. Loved the graphics)
I lost one ...taken off the market but with my luck got three more..dang it...:)
The only ones are my foreclosure or REO...short sales...none of my real listings get much action right now.
We are still suffering from September back to school lag. Showings are down considerably. Yuk. I'm usually a really strong Q4 finisher...I hope that holds true this year but who knows...truthfully, I'm at the "whatever" stage (in a good way). I'm just enjoying life. Good for you and enjoy your weekend!
Chris, yes you will, it will free you up to do more of the rainmaking. Go for it.
Kris, Wouldn't that me lovely to have at least one under contract.
Neal, dang, 3 more !!
Kelly, enjoying life is great. I'm sure you'll have a great 4th quarter.
Missy- Hope you enjoyed the games......and good luck with your showings.
nice job - I have some great showings this weekend - I hope yours and mine end up with contracts -
Sounds like a HAPPY FRIDAY in Ann Arbor for you and the family!! I'm thrilled to hear your market is still busy and home cooked meals on around the corner. I enjoy working IN the business and look forward to the days when working ON the business is caught up too!!
Nice post Missy and I understand how important those weekend showings are. You're numbers in Ann Arbor are tough, keep grinding....
Missy - Like you I love when I have showing appointments, this means the possibility of an offer. I too look forward to November and December to catch up on things because the market is slower. Here is hoping you will get an offer on one of your listings this weekend
Kathy, Thanks for stopping by, actually we're all a little bummed in Ann Arbor, Comcast and the Big Ten Network can't come to an agreement on showing the games. So if you don't have dish you can't watch. Guess we'll try to find a bar. yuk, I'd rather watch at home.
Thesa, I'll keep our fingers crossed for both of us.
Susie, that's a concept Joe Stumpf taught me that I still embrace.
Joe, yes they are.......the inventory is just unbelievable. The houses have to be the best of the best for condition, location and in the top 10 for price point.
Jennifer, thanks I hope so too. I need some pending for Nov and Dec.
Missy - Hope Monday brings you lots of contracts! :)
Missy, I haven't had a slow period yet in this business. I keep expecting one, but it hasn't happened yet. I enjoy the ebb and flow that comes with being in business for yourself. I couldn't go back to a job with regular hours. This business has the right rhythm for me. Have a great weekend.
Missy: You and Sally hit on something there. Winning in sales is about attraction, but worry and overwhelm have an energy that repels. When we're worried we're not focused on the action we need to take or open to ideas, plus people pick up on that self-focus and steer clear. People like to do business with people that are confident.
If you look year-to-date, this is the best year of my career. Yet, I've had a struggle to keep my head up after July and August saw more deals fall out than close. September ends well. Regardless: Today I'm a loan officer. Yesterday is gone and the future doesn't exist except in my imagination. What does a great real estate professional do today? That is all that matters.
Keep up the great work...and thanks for helping me stay in a conversation of sales excellence. You're awesome.
Missy, I love the link, so useful and handy. Good luck. I just need to blog less and get out into the actual world and interact with real people, real clients. That's my problem this year.
Paula, thanks are you staying busy ?
Gail, me to I love the ebb and flow of it.
Joey, thanks, I'm so thrilled you are having your best year yet !!
Mana, I know exactly what you mean, I am glued at he hip to activerain. LOL
Missy I can completely relate to seasonal sales! Here in Southern California, the Real Estate industry slows down due to buyers and sellers taking vacations. Most of the entertainment industry tends to take a hiatus over the summer months.
Oddly enough, most people in the world want to vacation in SoCal over the summer months....go figure! Needless to say, we have an amazing short-term lease boom during the summer months. I have leased Malibu beach homes for as much as $50k a month!! So there are ways to keep yourself busy during those "slow" season.
Dominic, 50K a month ??? Amazing ?
Missy your post is great. There are a lot "left over" dinners on my family table. I'm a little worried about this fall...however, it's going to be,what it's going to be.
Maria, I am going to use the slower time to incorporate all the wonderful things I've bookmarked here.
Missy, Good tips. I have been reading my bookmarks too. I hope because of google ranking and AR we will all have a great close to the year 2007.
Missy, I am the same way. When I have some down time I really have fun working on my marketing and taking a bit of time to enjoy life. I never panic because business seems to come in waves for me...I ride the crest when I need to but I enjoy the calm before the next wave hits! Thanks for the great post
Gita, I have so many bookmarked it will take all of Christmas to get through them.
Diane, good for you. Confident, I like that.
MISSY: This will be my first winter on Active Rain, but my guess is that there will be a bump up in blogging activity for those of us in the colder parts of the country.
Adam, LOL It is so beautiful here. I have lots of bookmarks to implement from AR.
My sister used to get worried in the slower times of the year and discuss her concerns with me--before I was a Realtor and had a regular paying job. I started to identify the seasonal nature of this conversation and got to the point where I told her that I have heard this complaint and always this time of year and not to worry as things ALWAYS picked up. However, I am the "newer" realtor and haven't experience these cycles. This week I have had a fair amount of showings (on the properties we just reduced) and I know I will put the slower time of year to good use starting a personal blog among other things.
Don't know how I missed this post-love the way you slid the market stats in after some pointedly positive thinking. =)
I FEEL YOUR PAIN! The market in Maryland really sux right now too! I had one showing on a property this weekend and was really happy about it! I am really trying to focus more on getting buyers right now because they are definitely the ones in the drivers seats when NEGOTIATING DEALS!
Michael, yes buyers are in the drivers seat and after many years of sellers being, it is good for them. But, as I mainly list, it is a little stressful.
Missy - I am sorry I missed this post. Your confidence shows years of experience and must be reassuring to your clients. Your words " Over the years, I have learned to enjoy the time and not stress, "Will I ever have another sale" have struck a cord with me.
Faina, we all think that in the beginning. After years in the business, we are not so nervous.