Real Estate…It’s a Gut Feel.

November 17th, 2007 Options Realty

Selling or buying real estate requires basic knowledge. A real estate agent can provide input, and both buyers and sellers can receive additional input online. The paperwork end of a transaction is NOT rocket science.

With that said, what CAN I contribute to your transaction, beyond a full understanding of the process?

The real kinks never seem to be about an uncrossed T.

The kinks often stem from the ability of the sellers and buyers, from a personality standpoint, to view the property from the same page. Much like it would be were you to enter your child in a beauty pageant (OK- I wouldn’t, but that’s another story) there is no possibility of a seller remaining DETACHED. It just isn’t possible. At least, it isn’t for me (and I’ve sold a few of my own houses). It is also unrealistic to expect that a buyer is fine with the house just as it is, at just that price, at this point in time.

Buyers, in this odd market, are looking at house pricing as the “starting point“. Rare is the buyer, anyway, who doesn’t make an offer, but offers today are often significantly under the asking price. This is tough stuff- especially in light of a market that is barely steady or has a decline. Newspapers are pounding the notion of a catastrophic price drop every other day; news shows do little to squelch the possibility.

I like to think, as a real estate agent with experience, that my input (depending on who I’m representing) will either make them money, or save them money.

SELLERS, for starters, one thing hasn’t changed: PROPERTIES THAT ARE PRICED RIGHT SELL. How to determine that, even while gazing at stats barely three months old? More important, what of your current competition? I want to know exactly what a buyer is thinking when they view the house down the street- what would I think? What do YOU think? If you don’t understand the market through the buyers eyes, you need another set of eyes. My fiduciary is yours first; that requires that your financial outcome is, in my estimation, the maximum that is realistic.

BUYERS, that home that looks overpriced? It isn’t, and here’s why: “There was an assessment indicated to the owners of the condominium association four months ago for $12,000. THIS seller paid it in full; the other homes on the market didn’t. That’s why they are $5,000.00 higher.” Or, “This house that you love is perfect, because it falls in line with all of the comps- however, as sellers are aware of the “offer” climate, let’s go under, and see what happens first. If you love it, we’ll get to full price if we HAVE to.” If you and I have signed a buyers agency, fiduciary comes before all else.

Clearly, as either a seller or a buyer, the home buying process is a task that you can accomplish without another opinion. My goal is to make my opinion WORTH IT.

If you are thinking about selling your home for top dollar permitted in the current market conditions, call us for our opinion- we’d be happy to provide it.

If you are thinking of buying a home, let’s go steal something. Or, locate something priced right, that you LOVE.