David Width Jr.

Here goes my third attempt of putting something on the marquee that sits in front of my office to get some phone activity or some people to stop in and inquire because of it. Here is a picture of what the marquee looks like with the current "slogan" to get the phones ringing. Can you find the play on word.

Let me kinow what you guys or gals think of my marquee marketing part 2.

Here is what part 1 looked like: http://activerain.com/blogsview/873940/Get-the-phones-ringing

Here is what part 2 looked like: http://activerain.com/blogsview/926801/Get-the-phones-ringing-part-2

This is just following my other post about open houses.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/945962/Open-Houses-A-waste-of-time-or-are-they-worth-the-possiblity-your-opinion

I was thinking that maybe mastercard could turn this into a commercial that all Realtors could relate to.

A spot for advertising a home fore an open house in your local paper: $30.00

6 Balloons to tie to your open house directional signs: $6.75

Hoagie platter for open house guests: $25.00

Spending 3 hours of your time at an open house and nobody attens: *priceless*

"There are some things in life money can't buy, for everything else ..............."

I think this would be a commercial that would relate to about 1.2 million people.

What do you think?

I don't know about everyone else, but I use check lists daily. I think it is a great way to keep track of all the big and small things that I need to get done, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly, etc. By making these list, you won't feel the same stress you would by trying to hold all your tasks in memory. Generally before I call it a day, or before I go to bed at night, I sit down and right up a checklist for the items that I know I will have to handle the next day. Not only can keeping a checklist help you stay in order, but when you look at it at the end of the day and everything is crossed off and complete, it gives you a sense of self satisfaction.

How do you keep yourself organized?

Do you use checklists yourself?

So many of times have I shown homes when the seller is at the property while I'm showing it. Some are completely fine, they stay quiet and don't bother us, and some try to act as if they are the listing agent and sell every little "amenity" the house has to offer. I always inform my sellers that when you know there is a scheduled showing, make it a point to leave the home and let the buyers and the buyer's agent have their time in the home. Many of the time the buyer will not discuss things in the home that appeal or do not appeal to them with their agent because they are afraid the homeowner will over hear them and get offended.

In addition to that, the other main reason I tell sellers to leave the house is this; Sometimes you don't realize what your saying is negotiating ammo for the buyer and their agent. I know you are just trying to have a everyday conversation about your life and where you are moving and why, but to the buyer's agents ears esepcially, he is loading up he negotiating gun while he he is listening.

To use an example of what I am talking about, I was showing a home to my buyers the other day. After we have toured the home, the seller came over and was having a conversation with my buyer. Now I don't know if my buyer knew to ask the right questions or it was just happening by luck, but in that conversation we learned that both the husband and wife, the sellers, we relocating for job reasons. The wife has to be out there by February 16th (today) and the husband has to be out there by April. So now my buyer and myself both know the urgency that this seller will have come mid-March beginning of April. They just shot themeselves in the foot.

My point is sellers, somtimes you don't realize what your saying to the buyer is slashing down your asking price as each sentence comes out. My best advice to the seller would be, if they house is getting shown, go run errands, go for a walk, take a ride in the car, grab a bite to eat, but just don't stay home, it will work in your favor.

Do you agree?

When people make the comment " It is a buyer's market" I understand the gist as to what they are saying. Yes there are some good deals out there right now and buyers have an edge with negotiating power because of the abundance of homes. So I understand the "buyer's market" to that degree. But many people interpret a buyer's market as if you can go out and offer $50,000 less on any home and get that property.

However to me a buyer's market is also a seller's market. If you have buyers out there ready, willing, and able and are buying homes, than how can it not be a seller's market. I would correct this saying and say Yes it is a buyer's makret and a REALISTIC seller's market. Basically if you haven't bought your home in the last 4 years or so and haven't refinanced your home so you now owe more than you paid for it, it is a pretty good time to sell. If you can afford to price your property realistically and with or slightly under your competition, then it is a good time to sell.

What are your thoughts on this, let me know.