Remember practicing for those dreaded SAT analogy questions? You know, the ones where they give you a set of words and ask you to pick out a pair that have a similar relationship. Teaching us to find the correct answer was not only meant to help us score better on standardized tests, but was also meant to sharpen our thinking skills. Here's an example: (note: I cheated a bit and used phrases as well as single words)
Choose a lettered pair that best matches the relationship of the original pair.
JOB APPLICATION : EMPLOYER
a) real estate agent : homeowner
b) listing : buyer
c) house for sale : sales price
d) buyer : real estate ad
The correct answer is b. When you fill out and submit a job application, you are hoping the prospective employer will select it, giving you a chance to compete for the job. Similarly, when a listing is presented to a prospective buyer, you are hoping they will consider your home, as one they might purchase.
Taking it to the next step, perhaps the skill set employed in the job interview, can also be applied to getting your listing sold. There are three basic steps recommended in most job interview guides.
First, do your homework. This includes finding out everything about the company and its competitors, thinking of questions that may be asked and knowing the answers, and checking the salary ranges for similar jobs, in the same city.
Second, do the paperwork. Prepare a complete and professional looking resume. If applicable, compile a portfolio of your work, as an example of why you are the best candidate for the job.
Third, make a great first impression. Put your best foot forward by presenting a neat appearance and dressing for success. Don't do all the talking. Listen before you respond. Be prepared to emphasize your assets and turn negatives into positives.
NOW, LET"S APPLY THESE STEPS TO SELLING YOUR LISTING.
First, do your homework. Start with a trip to town hall to review all the physical and financial information, concerning the property. You do not want to be surprised when a prospective buyer mentions there are current liens, on the property. You want to know, ahead of time, if a potential offer price would put the property in a short-sale situation. (In some locations, the initial search may be started online.) Think about questions, buyers may have, and be prepared with the answers. Does the property have wetlands? What are the zoning regulations for setbacks? Prepare a competitive market analysis (CMA), not only to establish the correct selling price, but also to familiarize you with prices at which similar properties have sold or are currently listed.
Second, do the paperwork. Have copies of the listing, as well as signed property disclosures, available for buyers to review. Prepare a listing booklet, with pictures, lists of property features and improvements, and town and local school information. Where available, have marketing materials for local amenities, such as theaters, library programs, continuing education curriculum and sporting events.
Third, make a great first impression. Make sure the property is in "company condition" when preparing for showings. Dirty dishes should be cleared away. Laundry belongs in the hamper, not on the floor. Have the hedges trimmed and the lawn mowed. Turn the lights on BEFORE the buyers arrive. If you are the one showing the house, don't do all the talking. Take your lead from the buyers. Be prepared to turn negatives around. For instance, if the house is on a main road, point out that it's one of the few streets with sidewalks.
Just substitute the components. The job application is your listing. The employer is the buyer. The prize is landing the job - closing the sale.
Copyright © 2008 Marilyn Katz, All Rights Reserved, Selling Your Listing: Treat it like a job interview
Looking to buy a new construction home, in Westport, CT? Now may be a great time to play "Let's Make A Deal" with the local builders.
Westport's new construction homes currently make up a disproportionate segment of the market. Of the active listings, on the MLS, 92 are identified as some form of new construction. These listings include proposed, under construction and completed properties, as well as torndown and rebuilt homes. This represents 28% of total active listings. Looking at 2008 sold properties, year-to-date, 19% of Westport's single family home sales, were new construction. In 2007, new construction accounted for only 17%.
If we annualize the year-to-date sales, we can project a twenty (20) month inventory of new construction homes, currently active, on the market. This compares with a fourteen (14) month inventory, overall.
Within the new construction segment, some price points are faring better than others.
So far, this year, approximately one third (32%) of new construction homes had sale prices under $2 million, another third (34%) sold between $2 million and $3 million, with the final third (34%) represented by the over $3 million sales. Some downward pressure on price is evidenced by a shift in those segments to 36%, 35% and 29%, respectively, for active listings.
Further analysis suggests that many of the homes currently listed between $2,500,000 and $2,999,000, will require price reductions, to be sold. This price point has not performed well, this year. There are 19 active listings, in this group, with only 3 sales, so far, this year.
Copyright © 2008 Marilyn Katz, All Rights Reserved, Westport, CT - New Construction Homes
The other day, I received instructions 
for using the new voting system being
used in Connecticut, for this year's presidential election. It was described as "An instructional pocket guide to using the New Optical AccuVote-OSTM Voting System." The title, itself, sounded daunting."
The mailer was a tri-fold. When opened up, it presented a wordy, five-step explanation of the process for casting your vote. The guide was sent from the Office of the Secretary of the State. The immediate knee-jerk reaction to anything requiring that amount of explanation, was that voting, this year, will be difficult.
In truth, the system is quite easy. For anyone checking it out online, The State of Connecticut Secretary of State posted a website, which offers a simple, single paragraph explanation of this year's voting process.
Voters will be given a paper ballot and a privacy folder. They will take both into a privacy booth, where they will fill in their choices. The ballot will then be fed into a scanner. Simple!
Unfortunately, the voters who are most likely to be put off by the printed voting guide, are the least likely to check out the instructions, online. Hopefully, the "helpful" guide won't scare off too many voters.
Is a new system being used in your state? How is it being presented to the voters?
Copyright © 2008 Marilyn Katz, All Rights Reserved, 2008 Voting Systems - Will Voters be Scared Off?
Mention the beach, in Westport, and everyone knows you're referring to Compo Beach. During the Revolutionary War, it was where the British landed, as they prepared to march on Danbury. In 1920, it was where F. Scott and Zelda chose to enjoy their summer. Today, it is where Westporter's go to enjoy the sand and surf of Long Island Sound, to picnic or explore the playground, to try out the skate park or the ballfields, to windsurf or launch their boats. But, Compo is not the only beach in Westport.
Just up the road, you will find Old Mill Beach. Old Mill Beach is open to the public, but, in-season parking is restricted to local residents. If you need a place to rest, after enjoying a walk along Hillspoint Road, there are benches, from which you can enjoy the scenery. However, swimming is at your own risk. There are no lifeguards, on this stretch of beach.
Just off of I-95, exit 18, you will find Connecticut's oldest state park, Sherwood Island State Park is open to the public, but charges a daily fee for parking, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park encompasses one and a half miles of beach. There are also fishing areas, picnic grounds and a concession stand.
Perhaps, the least known beach in Westport, is Burying Hill Beach.
The beach is in the Greens Farms section, of Westport. Access to the beach is down a narrow, inconspicuous road, situated along a salt marsh.
Burying Hill Beach offers a quiet spot, away from the hustle and bustle, usually associated with the beach. The beach is small, but there is a lifeguard, on duty, in season. 
Burying Hill offers a tranquil spot to picnic, observe the wildlife, and enjoy the scenery. Adjacent to the seawall, there is also a wonderful pebbly beach, to explore.
Who knows, you may even be able to catch a couple of the local crabs (crusteans, that is.)
Downtown Westport will be a hotbed of activity, this weekend. 
The Friends of the Westport Library will present the 15th Annual Westport Library Summer Book Sale. The sale will open on Saturday morning, at 9 A.M. and run through Tuesday afternoon. at 1 P.M.
Both new and used books, will be sold, including some special collections. Tables will be arranged by category and there will be a separate tent for children's books.
Another tent will feature audio-visual materials. Audio books will be available in CD and tape format.
For those of us who remember what a record is, there will be a collection of 78's.
In all, there will be over 70,000 books for sale, with prices starting at 50¢. Admission is free and there will be no sales tax. Visa and Master Card will be accepted. On Monday, everything will be marked half-price and Tuesday, items will be free, with cash contributions welcome. Proceeds will benefit the Library.
After you make your book selections, you can wander over to Parker Harding Plaza, where the Westport Downtown Merchant's Association will present the 35th Annual Westport Fine Arts Festival. In addition to displays of artwork by 140 artists from the United States and Canada, there will be live music and dance performances, throughout the day. The festival runs from 9 A.M. - 6 P.M., on Saturday and 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., on Sunday.
After you feed the mind and soul, you don't want to miss the opportunity to feed the tummy. This year, the Westport Farmer's Market has expanded its schedule to two days a week. In addition to Thursdays, the market is now open on Sundays, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., in the Imperial Parking Lot, at the Senior Center.
Local vendors offer organic fruits and vegetable, fresh eggs, cheese, flowers and herbs and fresh oysters from Long Island Sound.
Rest up!! It's going to be a busy weekend, in Westport
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Working with buyers and sellers, downsizers and upscalers, relos and renters: Whatever your real estate need, my goal is to make your transaction as smooth as possible.
I've been a Westport resident since the early 1970's. At the time, interest rates were more than twice as high as current levels. The lending environment was not dissimilar to today's, with banks insisting on stringent requirements before one could qualify for a mortgage. With the help of a dedicated, professional REALTOR®, my husband and I were able to purchase our Westport home.
I immediately fell in love with the town. As I often joke, within weeks of moving in, I told my husband, should he be transferred, I would write to him, wherever he goes. Today, I take great pleasure in "paying it forward", as I get to be the REALTOR® who helps others move to "my" town.
If you would like to learn more about Westport, please visit my website. I would love to be your Westport REALTOR®.
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