Lisa Gaiche

As a Mom of a 5th grade football player (Go Falcons!) I am discovering something new about myself. I really love football and surprisingly enough I like to watch it even if my son isn't playing!

Did any of you get the chance to see the Olath South vs. Olathe Northwest game on 9/5th? We did - sort of.....

Now my hubbie isn't exactly the sportsy, outdoorsy type so I pretty much had to drag him to the game and bribe him with hot chocolate! Anyway, we show up a little late and the score was Falcons 10 - ONW 0.

Well as the game progressed, darn if the ONW team didn't catch up and then blow past us for a score of 22-16. Now being the practical person that I am, I looked at my husband (with 3 minutes left on the clock) and said, "Are you ready to go? I think the game is pretty much over."

Barely hiding his joy, he quickly replied "Absolutely!"

As we drove away, I glanced up at the scoreboard and noted the time on the clock was 1:35 remaining in the game - score the same. I texted my friend whose son goes to Olathe East to say we lost and in a few minutes she texted me saying another Olathe South mom had told her that South won! What?? South won??

Well, my curiousity was really up but I couldn't access any sports reports until the next morning when I found out that in the last minute of the game South did indeed score a "Miracle" touchdown and extra point thereby giving us the victory 23-22!

My point .... Never give up. It was a good reminder to me that no matter how difficult that "one" listing is or how crazy the market swings are we should never give up because you just don't know what might happen in the last minute of the game!

Lisa Gaiche ~ RE/MAX Real Estate Group ~ Olathe, KS ~ 913-486-3764 ~ heartandhomekc@yahoo.com

We've all heard the adage, "It takes a village to raise a child", but do you know how many people it takes to sell a house?

Well, I don't exactly how many people it takes to effectively sell a house, but I do know that it takes more than just a lone Realtor crying in the wilderness! The reality is that Sellers who actively team up with their Realtor will likely experience a speedier and less stressful transaction. Too many times I see sellers who are simply sitting back and totally relying on the Realtor to work magic on a listing that is not ready to compete in the market place and sellers, like it or not, selling your home is a competition!

Sellers: Here are a few tips to help you build a winning team with your realtor.

1. Choose a realtor who is professional, creative, and will work well with your family.

2. Listen to the suggestions your realtor gives you. We are in the market place everyday and we know a) what the current competition is and b) what turns buyers off! We don't just tell you things because we like to hear ourselves talk.

3. Clean your house and keep it that way! A buyer is more likely to look over some out dated decor if the house is clean and well kept. Even a perfectly decorated home with dog hair on the floor, crumbs on the counter, and fingerprints on the walls will turn off a lot of buyers!

4. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money so go ahead, get that wallet out. A few hours and a hundred bucks worth of paint or landscape materials can really give your house an added edge which may help your house sell more quickly and for more money.

5. Be open minded and don't get defensive about feedback. If a realtor suggests a decor change or if a prospective buyer leaves feedback about a perceived negative feature on the house, try to take it in stride. It really isn't personal. Just like an athlete, use the small defeats and constructive criticisms to perfect your listing's showability.

6. Ask the right questions. It is certainly ok to ask the hard questions of your Realtor regarding their performance, but sellers don't forget to include your selves in that assessment. Have you really done everything in your power to enable your house to sell? If the answer is no, then maybe it's time to sit down with your team captain (Realtor) and put together a game plan that allows you to win!

If you are thinking about entering your home into competition, I'd love to help you put together a winning strategy. I promise to do my best to tell you what you "need" to hear and not just what you "want" to hear.

Lisa Gaiche ~ RE/MAX Real Estate Group ~ Olathe, KS ~ 913.486.3764 ~ heartandhomekc@yahoo.com

OK, It isn't Shakespeare but it is an age old question all Sellers ask themselves at some point or another. As a Realtor who definitely believes in the power of having a professional on your side and as an invidual homeowner who has successfully sold a home "By Owner" (and who really likes her equity!) I thought I'd blog about a few pros and cons on the whole FBSO issue.

Point One: Obviously one of the biggest benefits of selling FSBO is that you the homeowner get to keep all that lovely commission in your own hands - and who wouldn't like that! The down side to that is you also have to shoulder your own advertising & marketing expenses, bear all the liablity of potential lawsuits, and fight off a million and one realtors who are just dying to list your house!

Point Two: Some Sellers really love the idea of connecting with the family who is purchasing their beloved home. As a people person, I can really get into that myself. In a perfect and easy transaction it can be a real joy to build that relationship, but there are some potential risks here as well. The reality is we don't live in Mayberry anymore and not everyone is easy (or trustworthy) to work with. I had a good friend who sold her house by owner and initially had a great relationship with the buyer, but over time the buyer became rather needy and a bit demanding of their time.

Point Three: I once had a client who just loved the art of negotiating and thought he would prefer to sell "By Owner" so he could sit down and deal with the Buyers face to face. Again, in theory this sounds good but in reality it is very difficult to keep emotions out of the negotiations when a) you are dealing with your own property and b) most likely you have made some connection with the Buyers by this point. In the end my client lost the deal due to poorly handled negotiations and ended up with his property sitting a lot longer than it needed to.

So, am I saying FSBO is a bad option and should not even be considered? Absolutely not! Here is what I tell my clients who are considering a FSBO situation:

a) Get really objective about your own personality and skill level. Are you good with people? Can you handle stress well? Are you too trusting? Are you comfortable with contracts and legal jargon? If you don't feel you or your spouse can handle it then you are better off putting a professional on your team.

b) Get really objective about your property ! Too many FSBO Sellers get greedy and try to price their home as if they were paying a full commission. You need to give buyers an incentive to choose your house over one that is listed. Be competitive! Also think about your location & condition. Is your home super sharp? Are you in a prime location? If so then FSBO may be a good option for you.

c) What is the current market in your area? Is it a hot Sellers' market or is it lukewarm? The odds of moving a home in a lukewarm or cool market are much more difficult without the networking power of a Realtor on your side. Be realistic about your chances.

d) How much equity do you have? In this crazy economy we are in many times Sellers find themselves with no real equity to speak of. In essence they are "forced" into a FSBO situation by their current financial circumstance. If you find yourself in this position and don't really want to deal with selling by owner, you might find it encouraging to know that a Realtor may be able to work with your lender to negotiate a way for you to get your home sold with out you having to bring money to the table.

Bottom Line: Selling FSBO can be a viable option, but only under certain conditions. If you are thinking about selling FSBO, I recommend testing the market for a maximum of 6 weeks. If you don't get some serious interest by that point then it is time to call in the professionals. If you live in the Johnson County, KS area and would like an objective opinion of your property's condition, recommended pricing, and overall FSBO potential please feel free to give me a call. I'd be happy to help you get started on the right foot and I promise not to ask for your listing!

Lisa Gaiche ~ RE/MAX Real Estate Group ~ Olathe, KS ~ 913.486.3764 ~ lisag@remax.net