Casey Joiner Destin-Sandestin FL Real Estate

Inspired by others who have blogged "What you get for x in x city"...I decided to do a series of views and homes from the Sandestin/Destin Area.

The first is 747 Sq. Ft Condo in Sandestin's Harbour Point listed for $179,000. Sandestin is definitely a place you spend the majority of your time outside, and for this price the view is well worth it. Positioned 15 yards from the a Bay Front Fairway. The view in the distance is of the Marina and Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Short stroll to the Bay, watch the boats roll in, and views of tee shots all day long. I look forward to seeing views at this price from your area.

More than ever before it's time for the Realtor and prospective buyers to start shaking hands in prospective neighborhoods.

For Realtors it's becoming a must to introduce yourself to the neighborhood and let them know which house you are about to represent and price. This may seem like a no brainer because usually the Realtor will use a listing as a referral to pick up other listings in the neighborhood. But today there is a more important need which is to give confidence to the community that the listing/sale will be a good thing.

The common response everytime a sign goes in the yard in this current market is "well there goes another short sale, foreclosure, or bottom basement price that is going to ruin our value." This is not always the case and in some neighborhoods a healthy cleansing NOW can be the best thing for the growth and stability down the road. You also want to gain support for the sale and not an underlying wish of failure due to fear of value. More times than none, the neighbors are making their own interpretations and spreading rumors without an education on the situation.

For Buyers it's time to start showing up at the neighborhood picnics. For example: In my neighborhood there is a current short sale which is advertised on the market way below what the owner paid and way below any sale transaction in the last 10 months. The bank will probably not accept this offer, but the attractive price has caught the attention of about 10 prospective buyers.

The funny thing is that there is still a developer inventory home of the same size in the community. By the time the bank accepts the offer and you go through the process of all the many offers of prospective buyers...you could be sitting in the living room of the developer home for roughly the same price. I would tell the people that as a neighbor. Plus, any money in the developer's pocket right now maintains the consistancy of the amenities and look of the neighborhood.

So before you buy or sale in this market......we've got to start beating the streets with a smile on our face.

After receiving frequent calls from other agents asking "How are the open houses going? Getting any good leads?"....and also from visiting other open houses in the area....I have decided to post 5 things that can change the environment or assure you are maximizing the chance to gain a relationship with your guests.

1. Come Out With A Bang! What I mean by this is don't just roll out 1 open house on a new listing. Start the listing with 3 Open Houses in a row. This will let the standard traffic and the neighborhood know that you are serious and alive and well.

2. Meet the Neighbors. During this first 3 day blast you should be seen outside whether you are talking on the phone or just relaxing. Give the neighbors a chance to approach you. If you see them walking say hello or have a pertinant question to ask them. If you can't sale the neighbors on the excitement your chances on the sale decrease.

3. Let the People Look For Themselves! Trust me I have tried all the different scenerios and have seen many other's in action. I feel that the most negative response is when you literally walk step for step through the Open House with the guest. I tell them "take your time, the house is yours. I will come and find you for your questions in just a couple of minutes" or "don't miss the master closet, would love to hear if you've seen one better"...give them a field trip...they like it.

4. Get Email Addresses at Sign In. I know this sounds simple but this is a huge goal of mine when anyone approaches the home. But like anything else you cannot sale the feature without explaining the benefit. When I ask for email I explain the benefits they will be receiving...Gotta get it!

5. Let the World Know You Are There and What Time. This too should be elementary but it's not. Put a flyer in the neighborhood a couple of days out. Blog about it. Make your entire office aware and tell them you expect them to bring someone by. If the neighborhood is gated....tell the guards...they love to show service and it ensures that no one will have a bad experience at the gate.

There are so many other important things and tricks for the experience whether it be food, etc. But these 5 are a good place to start.

Today's Neighborhood introduction is to one of Sandestin's newer developments: Elation

Elation is positioned near the Village of Baytowne Wharf and contains some of Sandestin's most incredible views. Easy stroll to all activities in the village and views of both the Bay and golf Course. A great place to rent and for the owner, a great potential for rental revenue. Built in 2006, Elation offers beautiful and modern style.

For Sale stats:

Studio 445 sq. ft Starting @ $140,000

1 Bed 772 sq. ft Starting @ $209,000

2 Bed 1,302 sq. ft Starting @ $339,000

WHERE:

The Market Shops at Sandestin

WHEN:

Saturday, January 10, 2009
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Taste Gumbo from area greats and then vote for your favorite!

Here's the 2009 Lineup:

98 Bar-B-Q
Commander's Palace Destin
Frill Seekers
Hurricane Oyster Bar
Mitchell's Fish Market
Pompano Joe's
Rick's Crab Trap
Rum Runner's
The Southside Club at Hurlburt Field
Tops'l Beach and Racquet Resort
Zampieri's Harbor Grill

Enjoy and Don't Forget to Vote