Do you still have buyers that don't have a down payment looking for home? I realize that owning a home is the American Dream but the reality is...,if a buyer can't save a few thousand dollars for a down payment, what makes you think they will be able to keep up with their mortgage payments? Just yesterday I told a buyer they should wait about a year so they can save a down payment. Yes..that was a difficult thing to do when sales are slow but I know that I will be rewarded in the future.
Agents....lets do the right thing and council our buyers. We don't have to make a commission off everyone that seeks our services. Sometimes it is better to have them wait until they can afford to purchase a home. We wouldn't be in the financial mess we are in if the lenders and agents had counceled more and sold less.
Why haven't you sold my home yet?
WOW! Have you heard that lately? If you have you might want to critique your client follow up system. After I list a home either my assistant or I call (email if they prefer) every week. If their home hasn't been shown that week we just talk about positive things in our market. Sometimes we talk about the beauty of our area. Maybe everything is in bloom or the leaves are starting to change. Just think of something that will make them feel good. They are so appreciative and usually tell us that their last agent never called them after listing their home.
You may not sell their home in the six month listing period but guess what? They are so happy that they heard from you on a regular basis that they will relist with you. I have had more referrals since I implemented this new follow up system. Let's face it! The seller wants to know what's going on. Even if their home hasn't been show in the last week they still need reassurance. Try it and see how your business grows!
A couple of months ago I had a potential seller call to make a listing appoinment with me. The day of the appoinment they called to cancel. I asked them why and they said they had interviewed with three other agents and decided to list with a large well known company here in Asheville.
My response.....I told the seller this..."I don't mean to sound arrogant but I think you would be doing yourself a favor if you let me come to your home and show you what my marketing plan is." After a VERY long pause , she said that would be fine.
When I left the listing appoinment they had listed their primary residence with me and also a spec home. She later told me that she was shocked I said that to her but told her husband that if I was that bold they should give me a chance.
Being bold does pay off. You don't have to be rude or pushy...just let them know that you are good at what you do and would like to market their home and get it sold. That was in January and since then they have sent me seven more listings and I am interviewing with another friend of theirs this Thursday.
Don't forget...BE BOLD!!
In January of this year, I received a call from a potential seller who had their home on the market for over a year! They made an appointment with me to view the home and when I stepped through the front door I was blasted with a purple & lavender dining room.
I let the seller know that if I listed the home I would expect them to paint those walls and also the lime green bathroom and hot pink bedroom :-) They were astonished that I told them that and said they had never been given any advice about changing the paint colors.
Bottom line...I had the home sold in 29 days!
By the way...it had previously been listed at $425,000 and I sold it at my full price of $499,900. Its amazing what a little paint will do for you :-)
I am considering taking the courses to get my GREEN designation. One of the main reasons is because I don't want to market a property as Green unless it qualifies to do so. I have seen some listings that were marketed as GREEN but only had a couple of things in the house that fit the bill! Isn't there a guideline that shows the criteria need to list as GREEN? Those of you who have it...Do you recommend the designation?
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Her unusual first name is not the only reason why Hazy Oberski makes a memorable impression. She has a laugh that is contagious and a warm and caring personality.
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