It's crazy how everything happens for a reason and how the hearts of people work are even crazier and a blessing too. I was happy to be a part of the blessing I am about to share.
A couple of Sunday's ago, I had to head to go to the store. The normal corner store I go to didn't have what I needed so I went to another one that I had never been to. While at the counter waiting to pay for my things, I couldn't help but overhear a young man speaking with another man about his troubles with finding a job. He sounded a little down because his first born daughter was on the way due to be delivered in February. As I am typing this, the sound of his voice saying, "Something has to give. I have to find something because she's coming" comes to my mind. I normally mind my business and I tried hard to this time as well. I looked at him, smiled, and walked to my car. As I was turning the key to start my engine, the man that he was speaking to walks out of the store. I had to say something to him. This young man's trouble was weighing heavy on my heart. I asked how well he knew the young man and he said he knew him very well and that he was nice and played with his children often. I gave him my card and told him to tell the young man to call me. I had to cut the conversation short because my phone rang. I answered and just as I was done having my conversation, the young man knocked on my car window wanting to thank me. I decided to speak with him right then and there. I told him that I wanted to help him because I didn't want him to turn to drastic measures to take care of his child. He was so nervous, it took me a minute to get out of him what he was actually good at. Finally I was able to find that he had experience with clean outs and home improvement. Well wasn't that an 'Ah Ha' moment. It was perfect. I am a Realtor and of course I know contractors. I told him that I knew some contractors and for him to call me. We exchanged numbers and before leaving, I let him know that I would help if I could and not to worry because we were gonna find him a way to take care of his baby.
Now, a while back I wrote a blog about my wonderful contractor and I felt to give him a call to see if he needed any extra help. I called his wife to see if this was a good idea and she must've agreed because my contractor gave me a call the next day and asked to have the young man contact him. To make a long story short, the young man called back with a happiness I can't put into words thanking me for helping him out. My contractor gave him a job just on a word of this man needing help without knowing anything else besides that. When I thanked him for helping this man out which in turns helps our community, he replied "Truth is if we don't give support for our youth, who will? That's one of my goals, to get large enough that I can start programs to teach them trades like this." Well aside from doing my best to make AVM Solutions grow because I am a huge fan of their work, I will do my best to make them grow because their growth means a better community. So I say to Monica and Antonio Adams, the owners of AVM Solutions, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made not minding my business prove to be a good choice....
"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past are certain to miss the future.."
-John F. Kennedy
Now, Mr. Kennedy was certainly before my time but as time repeats itself, the scene and mood of this picture isn't. Time DOES repeat itself in a bigger and better way sometimes. It looks as if the mood of the country is now what it was then from this view. We changed then and we will change now. We must be willing to adapt to it. Change is the only thing that is definite and inevitable. How will you change? How will you promote change where you see it needed? How will you adapt to change when it comes our way? Embrace it and your future will be bliss...
I chose this quote because it is so true. Doing something with any other motivation besides passion from your heart defeats your purpose. Buying a home, selling a home, buying a car, picking a career, deciding to go into business for yourself and on and on and on. If something is in your heart, you do it just because, without focusing on the profit or praise from your actions. In doing this, you will excel. If something is in your heart, you move effortlessly through the obstacles and challenges you will face on your journey. Yes, you will get stressed but what is in your heart stays and nothing and move you from that path. In a service related industry, choosing your path because of passion instead of profit will take you higher than you've ever known it because the service you deliver will be nothing short of world class.....
*I give you Monday Morning Realspiration on Sunday night so that you will have something to wake up with."
Ok. So I'm known to be blunt. Can't help it. It's just me. I'm as sweet as pie but I do make it my point to tell it like it is.
I've been trying to write this post since July but I've been trying to find a way to "put it lightly"
But I can't.... so I'll just say it.............
STOP PLAYING WITH THE MARKEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!
Whew! I'm glad I got that out. Now I can speak a little better. I'm a girl. I get emotional sometimes. Sue me,lol
Why am I in this mood you ask? Because I love what I do. I have a passion for it. It's part of me. I get upset when I see that is not as healthy as I know it can be.
In the last few months, I have been having buyers interested in moving to the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Now, while I'm happy that I didn't have to have the conversation with these buyers that they just can't afford to live there like I would've had a few years ago because this a place where everybody wants to live but can't afford to, the pickings are slim in the quality department. It's like shopping at one of those places where you get name brand prices for less. You have to search through the piles before you find that name brand outfit that you'd actually wear. I had to pep talk my buyers before going in. There are currently over 1300 homes for sale and I am ashamed to show a huge portion of them. I know, I know...short sales.....no! Short sales aren't dominating that area. There are some but they're not bullying the area. Yet, the decline in price has the sellers reluctant to do any updates and while I do understand their dilemma, I wish they would wait until the market stabilizes to decide to sell if they aren't in an immediate need at this time. It's a buyer's market. What they DON'T want is:
What they DO want is:
Bottom line, they want to feel like they're not buying a money pit. Most of my buyers don't mind putting work into a property BUT they won't put TOO much work into it. And guess what else, when they are looking for updates, they aren't looking for HGTV updates, they just want to know that when they move in, they will be comfortable. They want a kitchen that they can feel comfortable cooking in. They don't mind if you don't give them tons of recessed lighting and beautiful custom cabinets that kiss the ceiling. They want a bathroom to compliment their potpourri. And guess what else, if you're not going to give them these things, they wouldn't mind it if you didn't price your property at top market price. They just want to feel like they're getting what they paid for.
As a REALTOR, and a homeowner, I DO understand reasoning for not updating your home at this time BUT if you're not going to price it according to the way it shows and you're selling because you want to and not because you have to, please withdraw your listing. I promise you, you will thank me when home values skyrocket because there isn't an overflow of inventory on the market. SUPPLY AND DEMAND! SUPPLY AND DEMAND! If you're home is priced at top market price and is not delivering top market quality, what you're supplying isn't in demand and the current market condition will linger....
SELLER'S IF YOU'RE READING THIS, PLEASE DON'T GET OFFENDED. I AM GIVING YOU FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BUYER YOUR PROPERTY IN THE CONDITION YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL IT TO THEM IN FOR THE PRICE YOU'RE ASKING...
OH! One more little list. If you're listed and you've been sitting there for a while do two things, ask your REALTOR (you ARE using a REALTOR right?) for the recent solds, chances are you're priced too high. Also, take a look at your listing if:
Chances are you're going to be sitting on the market a little while longer. Buyer's can't 'use their vision' on a cluttered home with unflattering photography. Make sure your REALTOR gets you some quality pictures on that listing. You want to get them in the door. I've seen some pictures that don't do the actual home justice. A picture can't be worth thousands of dollars in or out of your pocket.
Trust me on this one guys. This is my baby I'm talking about here. Just a few little changes in your strategy can make a world of difference.
Disclaimer: My remarks are to heal, not to hurt. If you have any questions or need any pointers, ask away. I promise we'll have a wonderful conversation.
I wonder, do you have "THE TALK" with your buyers? If so, what are you saying?
I recently referred a buyer out to my partner. She has been calling me for about a year. I would hear from her every couple of months when she would have a question on real estate. She was back and forth with her decision to buy a home and decided a couple of months ago to take the dive. I was happy for her that she had finally made her choice. BUT, my plate was full. I was working with quite a few buyers at the time she called me and I knew I wouldn't be able to give her the attention and care she needed so I decided to refer her to my right hand man in real estate because I knew he would take good care of her.
My partner would call me on updates on what they were doing and I'd check in with her from time to time to see how she was doing. Her road has been an emotional one. She found a home pretty quickly, submitted an offer, and it was accepted. Problem: the listing was a short sale and shortly after the agreement was signed, the seller decided she wanted to keep her home and her bank granted her a loan modification.
A few days passed by and she found another home, an offer was submitted and rejected because the seller accepted a higher offer.
After a couple more disappointments, she calls me and tells me how discouraged she was getting with this process and how it was so emotionally draining. Then I had an "Ah haaaaaa" moment. I referred out but hadn't had "THE TALK" with her.
*I make sure to have "THE TALK" with all of my buyers.*
I told her that since we hadn't gone out together, I hadn't had the chance to have "THE TALK" with her like I have with all of my other client's on our first outing. She says to me, "Well what's that?" Then I began to give her the talk:
"Ok, I'm just going to give it to you real here. This is not meant to scare you but to prepare you. This process can be a bitch at times and at times it can be your best friend. I tell this to everyone so when these ups and downs come, you're well prepared and you're expecting it. This search can get on your nerves. What you're going through is typical and honey, you ain't seen NOTHIN' yet. I've seen worse. I sometimes like to liken this process to labor. It can suck and take you through all types of pain and the best part about it is the birth at the closing table. You get anxious. You get emotional. No matter how thorough and proactive we are, a wrench can come from any direction and knock you off your square. You can have your eyes set on a house and your offer can get rejected. You can have your eyes set on a house and be in contract and then the inspection comes and unveils a bunch of issues that you never expected. And while we can simply ask the seller to make repairs, they can and sometimes will give us hell about them. There can be issues with the title. And let's not talk about the bank who can wait until the last minute to drop a bomb that that you may or may not be able to recover from which is why I always give the advice to always have more money than is expected for closing costs for those little "just in case moments". Now once, again, I don't mean to scare you but I need to make sure to prepare you."
Her reply, "Wow, I never knew. So what I am going through is typical?" "Yes ma'am," I said to her.
A couple weeks later when she started to get discouraged because she hadn't found anything else to her liking yet, she called me and thanked me for "THE TALK" because had she hadn't heard my brutally honest talk, she would've thrown in the towel in her search.
What I find is that my talk, though brutal, is effective. Every time a buyer faces a challenge, I get the same response, "You told me to be prepared for these things. I'm glad you did."
So, back to my original question, do you have "THE TALK" with your buyers?
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