Brenda Skees

We are at the end of the year and most agents I talk with say they are slow. They say most buyers and sellers are slowing and looking forward to the holiday...

If this is true for you maybe you should think about a change of office. Our office is moving and shakin'. We have Sellers and Buyers that have not slowed and do not want the Agent they hired to slow!

Exit Realty Network has a great formula that is working for us. So, no matter where you live, or what office you work out of maybe you should look toward the EXIT! If you have not see the Formula in print then call me or contact me anyway you know how and see for yourself how you can make the right change to grow your business.

If you are an agent that works the Exit Formula now GREAT JOB, GODD CHOICE. I know you have to be on the upside of this market that the media continues to tell us about with their negative twist on it.

I love to hear what others think.

What we should do now is NOT what we did last year. We need to change our thinking. get out there and post blogs, increase our knowledge for the internet and understand our own individual markets.

Everyone must look at what we need to do to provide the best service in this market. I know I have ran into many customers that want to know what the market is really doing. Is it steady? Are there an outragous amount sellers in a world of hurt. Buyers are concerned that if they buy now and then home prices fall more they could be where lots of folks are now.

We all need to be informed of our market. Real Estate is a local deal. Remembering that we need to comp out the homes to the subdivision. Keeping buyers and sellers focused is a hard thing for agents.

What are other agents doing to grow in this time. I find talking with the top sellers in my area helps me to become more informed.

I recently went to the Exit Convention in Nashville TN. Over sixteen hundred Realtors attended. The guest spearkers and the breakout speakers were full of great knowledge and insight that could help a person grow and be more successful.

I walked away from this with many ideas and thoughts that will help me in my personal life as well as my business. When we look at ourselves are we happy with what we see? Think about how you look to others. Are you kind and thoughtful? Thoughtful in a way that you are thinking about what the other person wants or needs from you.

I want people to see me as a person that is interested and interesting. I hope I put this forward when I interact with people. I want all to know that I am RESPONSIBLE. That means a large amount of things. I am responsible for my mistakes but also for my success. I will not be successful in any aspect of my life if I don't take responsibility for what I do and DON'T do.

I know I must do something. Do something everyday to reach the goal you set for yourself. Maybe the first something everyone needs to do is write down the goals. Look at them everyday so you can stay on track. A wise person once said " You can't get where you are going if you don't know how your going to get there." Well, isn't that smart.

Make a plan on how your going to get there, where ever there is. I have found that I can us this in my daily life. I call them mini goals. It feels good to go to bed and be responsible for the day you just finished.

I share because I care. More on what I learnd from the awesome convention. A Big thanks to Steve and the gang!

It might seem as though once a sale agreement has been signed that the selling process is complete. Not only is it not over yet, but some of the most complex aspects of a real estate transaction now begin.

A sale agreement sets not only a purchase price for the home, but also a series of terms and conditions. For instance:

Contracts routinely depend on the ability of a buyer to obtain financing, which is why most sellers prefer buyers with preapproval letters from lenders.
A growing percentage of transactions involve a home inspection, or a physical review of the home by a trained and independent observer.
Lenders will establish numerous conditions before granting a loan. They will want a title exam, title insurance to protect against title errors, termite inspections, surveys and an appraisal to assure that the home has sufficient value to secure the loan.
The REALTOR® typically arranges required inspections and helps the owner prepare for closing.

When should you close?
With automation now available, closings can occur within a week in some areas -- at least in theory. In practice, it takes time to arrange financing, conduct inspections, obtain appraisals, locate replacement housing, contact movers, pack and actually move.

While instant closings are not practical, neither are closings too far in the future. The problem with closings much past 60 days is that loan rates are difficult to lock in. If mortgage rates go up, it's possible that the buyer will no longer be able to afford the home and thus the deal may fall through.

The result of these considerations is that most homes close 30 to 45 days after a sale agreement has been signed.

What happens?
Closing -- or "settlement" or "escrow" as it is known in some areas -- is essentially a meeting where the closing agent (the party who conducts settlement) takes in money from the buyers, pays out money to the owner and makes sure that the purchaser's title is properly recorded in local records along with any mortgage liens.

The closing agent reviews the sale agreement to determine what payments and credits the owner should receive and what amounts are due from the buyer. The closing agent also assures that certain transaction costs are paid (taxes and title searches).

Closing is also the time when "adjustments" will be made. For instance, suppose you've pre-paid taxes four months in advance. In this case, the closing agent will compensate you for the prepayment at closing by having the buyer pay you additional money.

It could also work in reverse. If you are behind on property taxes, the closing agent will reduce the money due to you at settlement by the amount of the unpaid taxes.

How do you prepare to sell?
It's important to look at the sale agreement and review your obligations. For instance, if you have agreed to paint a room or replace the dishwasher, such work must be completed before closing. Your REALTOR® can discuss your agreement and the steps which must be taken to complete the transaction.

The closing agent will handle both the settlement papers and related documents.

August 27, 2008 When a Seller asks me "How can I sell my home fast?" I tell them the home must smell good, look good and be priced right!
There really is no other way to put it. When a buyer walks in the home they want to be able to breathe in a fresh smell. Not a artifical smell or one of stuffy or musty smells.
The home needs to look like you have had pride of ownership. If they can look through the home and see that you have taken care to make sure the home has had the normal repairs done for them, they know that they will not find any surpises later on when it is time for the inspection.
Pricing is the most important. If the home is not priced right then you will not even get the buyer to come in to look at the home.
Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.
You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.
Do not do anything expensive, such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements - do not go charging up credit cards or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.
Want more ideas on how to sell your home, give me a call or send me an email. I have many ways to help you sell your home.