Laura Sargent ~ Carolina One Real Estate

Are you helping your clients if you simply make choices using their needs and wants? I want chocolate for dinner but that's not a good decision and I would certainly pay in the long run.

While we can't make our client's decisions for them we have to provide as much data as possible for them to understand why you are "saying all that...to say this". I don't want to have anyone think I'm giving them my thoughts on the market. I can speak much less when I use stats, comps, and sales history to make my point. How many homes are on the market, how long it's taking them to sell, and what they are selling for is the writing on the wall.

When you bring all the data to the table you have something real to show and discuss and then you can have a meaningful conversation regarding buying and selling.

Sometimes the "all that" leads to a not so great "this" but being honest and forthcoming upfront will prove easier at the beginning than dealing with a painful awakening later in the relationship.

Alright all you GREAT Realtors...I have a few questions for you:

When going to get a listing - Do you sell yourself, to the potential client, with all the things you will do during the listing period?

All the magazine advertising you will provide?

All the newspaper advertising you will provide?

All the internet sites you will be posted on?

All the Open Houses you will host?

All the mailings you will send?

All the emailing, tweeting, facebooking, blogging, whatever, ...., that you will do?

Okay, great job, you get the listing and....

Do you then, weekly, prove all the things you are doing? I think one of the easiest mistakes an agent can make is providing fantastic service for a client and not telling or proving to that client that you are doing it. I've done it myself...after entering a listing in 20 sites online, I just want to get OFFLINE so sending one more email to the client...forget it, I will do it later and then I don't. What a mistake. You have to tell your clients that you've done what you said you planned to do and you will sell their house.

You will sell their house because they will have faith in you and they will see you worked to make the sale happen.

TOOT your HORN - keep your clients happy and show them how hard we work!

I just need to see other people....hahaha That's what Jeff Lewis just said to a client that was dominating his every moment.

I love my clients. I can't wait to help them buy, sell, invest, rent, and make great decisions that will make them smile today and benefit them in more ways than one in the future.

But...yep - there it is - the BUT

But, please understand I'm giving you advise and help that makes sense and works today and tomorrow so we don't need to rehash the same conversation over and over....we need to make some decisions.

Get the ball rolling. Not chase the market. Remember history helps us with the future and I'm not working with emotion I'm working with stats and facts and, ok, a bit of common sense and hope. Man I LOVE being my client's REALTOR. I can't wait to see what these interest rates do and I really hope as many of my buyers and sellers win, win, win.

Got any client's you need to break up with? Be strong and focus on your A game!

Ah - The time between the "my client wants to make an offer on your property...do you have anything yet" and the offer arriving can be torture! When should you get excited? When do you tell the client? Can you walk around the office without a smirk on your face? Yeah baby...offer coming, offer coming is singing in your head but then the clock ticking becomes louder than your happy little offer coming song. Hey maybe "offer coming" could be a top 10 hit? Alright that was me just trying to think about something other than my "offer coming" and it didn't help!

What have your list to offer percent differences been?

What have your list to sale percent differences been?

Asking questions isn't making the song in my head go away....help...where's the offer!

The next 2 months are going to be amazing and I'm belted in and ready for the ride...I want the first seat and I'm riding with my hands in the air!

Community Day: Spring into Color at the Gibbes Museum of Art

Saturday, March 14th, 10 am - 1 pm

Free Admissions and Free Activities

The day will include hands-on art activities for children, museum tours, and musical performances.

Gibbes Museum of Art

135 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-2706

http://www.gibbesmuseum.org

What a great way to start your Saturday morning! Head over to King Street afterwards for lunch and then walk the Market or go to Waterfront Park and swing!