AJ Fischer, CRS ABR GRI PMN ASP,CREA,SFR

Ok so here it is, I made it...Don't know how but I managed to write 100 postings. AS I reviewed my postings today I still haven't had a feature. I just read a post from someone who also just made 100 postings and she too is struggling.

Good News though, I learned from her post on how others are doing better and how they accomplishe it.

So here I go getting ready to do another 100. Thank you to those who have commneted on my blogs and I hope to do a better job on my next 100

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OMG Yesterday as I searched for properties to send to a buyer prospect . I couldn't believe what I was looking at. Most of the pictures agents took and put on MLS were horrible, no wonder agents aren't showing your listings.

Picture taking 101 teaches us to take a look at what you are posting. I can't tell you how many kitchens were so cluttered I could hardly distinquish what room it was. Refrigerator after refrigerator were coverd in magnets and rooms had so many fake plastic flowers, fireplaces mantels were hard to see.

Agents need to learn that.....you just don't go in, price it, get a contract and walk out hoping someone will want to buy it.

Our job is to tell the seller what they need to do to help get their home SOLD....Most sellers have no idea that they way they are living in their home is not the way we need to get it ready to sell in.

I am always am honest about what I see. After taking a photo, I share it with them., When the kitchen counter is so cluttered I then ask them to remove the items and then reshoot, they are amazed at the difference it makes. It is our job to walk around with them and give them our professional opinion on what must be done. We know which homes sell....

Don't you select the homes on MLS that look good? I know you do. Take a look at this photo befeore and after. Pretty messy huh!

Ok, now look after they decluttered this room. Which one would you want to show?

You don't have to be a Home Stager to get them to do this. Pictures can say a thousand words. I always find the sellers are so excited with what they did they can't wait for me to come back and re shoot....

So here is my advice..Take a really good look at how the home is presenting itself. Don't be afraid to tell the seller what you see and what they need to do to sell. They do want to sell...right. Look at this home as a buyer, you will the difference you can make.

After all these years it still amazes me that there are agents out there who just don't know what the word "negotiate" means. No wonder they can get their homes SOLD........

SO here is the scenario...I write an offer, of course it is not full price, afterall the home has been on the market almost a year, needs updating and has a design flaw, but the buyers like it and this was their offer. Your buyers have a home to sell getting a lot of showings. They qualify to buy the new home without selling the one they are in now. They have been fully approved. They want a 120 "First Right of Refusal" with a 48 hour kick out clause. They wanted to try and get their home under contract to make it easier on them. She is expecting a second child any day.

I called the agent prior to sending over contract to give him/her the explanantion for their offer. The agent didn't really seem to care one way or the other. I received the counter with no explanantion. The offer came back with all terms changed, full price, no contingency, early closing date and no explanation to the sellers reasons, after all , this is the first and only offer in a year, the sellers moved out 10 months ago and house is vacant.

Spoke to buyers and called agent to try and have a conversation to see what they are really looking at so we can make this work for both parties. I knew the buyers could and would go higher, but the First Right was most important to them. Once under contract the buyers would go ahead with mortgage if they thought they might lose home. We also discussed dropping the price again once under contract.

The agent never responded and I sent over the rejection addendum from buyers. Again no reesponse from the eother agent. SO why do agents work this way. Oh did I mention that agent is with our company!

I would like to hear what other agents think and if you have seen these same situations.

Today is a date I never forget, April 7th, the day my father died. I feel so very blessed to have had 51 years with my Dad.

Whenever my three brothers and I get together, we like to talk about growing up. Especially the spankings we endured.. If Mom is around she hates it and tells us she doesn't want to hear about those days. We laugh and keep on reminising. It was a fun time. we didn't have much, middle class family, dad was a teacher and Mom stayed home to raise the four of us. But to us ,we had everything a child could ever have or want.

I always remember that I wore a lot of hand me downs and I always got one pair of new shoes, a skirt and a blouse when school started. Course I get new undies too. But to me it was enough. I learned to sew at 10 years old a made many of my clothes especially in high school.

My dad grew up in Olive Hill Ky, got a full basketball scholarship to Auburn University where for many years his record was not broken. I was born there.. He served in the Airforce and moved to Florida to teach and he became a very respected history teacher and coach in Hialeah Florida where I grew up. He made young men into basket ball players. He worked them hard and he was strict. Sometimes even when they won the game they still had to run around the gym until he thought it was enough He had high standards. Most went on to having great lives and many came to his funeral from far away when he died.

He carried his strictness home. We were brought up to respect others, to have integrity and never never steal or lie...(as a kid it was tough sometimes)

Today I can smile and remember what a great childhood I had. I miss him but know I am who I am today because he never gave up on me. He was my coach too.

Anyone else have a loved one that will always be remebered for the difference they made in your life?