Beth Ganem

Students and new home owners have arrived! Our town is bustling as everyone starts settling in and classes start the last week of August at Ithaca College and Cornell. Be ready for long lines and empty shelves at the grocery stores and other retailers of basic home staples. Also be prepared for longer than normal waits to connect to services. There is going to be a delay to establish your cable, telephone and other services. This is what happens when the population of a small town nearly doubles during the last week of August. And it happens every year!

Despite the delays it is great to feel the boost of activity and energy as Ithaca is recharged. While many areas are still enjoying summer we have been fast forwarded into a new school season. Labor Day is now back to work as usual with Ithaca College and Cornell conducting normal class schedules. The new season of concerts, theater and special events has begun.

With so many newcomers it is important to stay alert. This is a peak time for inexperienced drivers to enter our area. Remember to be patient at least for the next few weeks, plan for some delays and expect the unexpected. Be sure your insurance for both your car and home are up to date.

Now is the time to remember there will be peak weekends throughout the year when it will be difficult to make restaurant and hotel reservations or get flights in and out of Ithaca. Big event weekends at both Cornell or Ithaca College campuses will make scheduling reservations difficult. Be sure to plan ahead. This is all part of living in Ithaca, NY a place many come to study and sometimes end up living here long term. I am happy to be one of them.

Sellers whose homes have not sold in the peak selling market of Spring and Summer are worried. Not enough showings, no offers and how are they going to get their homes sold. The biggest problem seems to be, as always lack of communication, between the listing agent and the sellers. Agents don't like to talk to sellers when they have no good news, no activity to report.

The sellers at today's listing appoiintment have had their home listed since February. They have made price reductions; both times they suggested the reduction to their agent. Other complaints were that the agent never made suggestions of what they could do to enhance their home through buyers' eyes. They were of course concerned that their home will not sell if they do not get buyers in to even look at the house.

The solution is simple but not simply executed. Honest, prompt and on-going communication. We can't change the market but we can try to make the selling process as "pleasant" as possible. First, sellers need reassurance. They are "hurt" that no one likes their home. They need a reality check....honest pricing and suggestons about what needs to be done to get their house sold. They even accept some of the responsibility. Perhaps they priced the house too high to start. Mostly it sounds like they were not educated about the process or the market. Education needs to be on-going.

Many sellers are ready to move on. Not just to their new life in a new community but until that happens, to a new agent. Someone who can help them move the process forward. They don't want false promises. They are more saavy about the professionals they choose. This is a great opportunity for agents to prove they are professionals and despite a soft market work with these motivated sellers to markeet the home, bring in new buyers and hopefully put up that red SOLD sign.

Beth Carlson Ganem

Lic. Real Estate Associate Broker

Audrey Edelman Realty USA

www.BethGanem.com