Montpelier, VT

Playing Fair When Selling?

One of the great parts of working in the Montpelier real estate market is that there are some great people in the field. Agents cooperate all the time, bringing buyers, keeping deals together, etc.

I've had a couple of people ask how that cooperation works with respect to the commission. While it may be different in different parts of the country, in the Montpelier real estate market, usually the commission is paid by the seller, and it's split evenly between the cooperating brokers. That means, for example, that if a house is listed by Heney Realtors, and someone from Ajax Realtors brings a buyer, the commission is split 50-50.

It sort of makes sense. I mean, both realtors are going to work their tails off keeping everything on track.

There are over 60 agents in Washington County alone, and, as a seller, you're also looking to attract buyers from all across the country.

One question to ask when you're selling your home in the Montpelier real estate market is how the commission is shared. If the listing agency splits it evenly with the buyer agency, then you're likely to get a lot more buyers' agents showing your house. You want that.

If you run into a listing agent who has a different split, make sure you find out why, and make sure it's done with your best interest in mind. Remember, you want everyone in the Montpelier real estate market working for you.

Become an expert in the Montpelier real estate market. Remember Ray.

The reports of a dead January in Montpelier and Barre are greatly exaggerated. Ok, it's maybe not as hectic as in June and July, but even so, Fred and Charlie in our office were out on appointments all day, as was Tim.

Me? I had a showing in the morning, ran out to meet with an appraiser, came back to the office to scarf down some bean soup (I made it myself, thank you very much), and then was out to another listing appointment in Montpelier.

Don't believe that things are picking up? Check out RayMikus.com to see the listings, and explore other local real estate lore

This isn't a dead time. What I'm seeing is that by keeping in touch with buyers and sellers throughout the year, even the typically slower times can still be busy...ish. And I'd sure rather be busy...ish than blame the calendar.

On a side note, we had a few inches of snow this morning in Middlesex. Somehow, my three year-old and I were on the same page. She sledded down the driveway (we live in the sticks, so she wasn't going into traffic) while I snowblowed the rest of it. I like to call it Parenting Synergy. We each got what we wanted, and we still made it to daycare on time.

After a perfectly reasonable period of due diligence, and with considerable input from fellow Active Rainers, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on getting my own website. Some agents here in Montpelier and Barre have their own sites, but most do not. I'm just trying to set myself apart a little more, and provide more exposure.

They weren't the cheapest, but I went with RealPro. The sites are very classy, and the customer service (I'm sorry, "Client Care") people have thus far been very responsive. Charlee was very patient with me as I asked a kazillion silly questions.

And, one of the best features is that I'll have an easy link to my Active Rain blog (which is seeing more and more readers!). So, I'll be able to continue blogging on AR, as well as on my own site.

I have registered the domain names that I wanted, and am tinkering with the photos for the site, but for me, the important part was making that decision, and jumping in.

I'll let everyone know when the official www.raymikus.com website is up and running. It's not now...just wait...

Soon I'll be able to better serve everyone in Barre, Montpelier, and Northfield!

See, here's the deal: I REALLY enjoy my job. Today I enjoyed it even more than usual. As some of you may know, I have a remote 100 acre camp listed for sale in Worcester, VT (just north of Montpelier). In the winter, the only way up to the camp is on snowshoes or on a snowmobile.

Last week, another agent in our office, Jane Eakin, went for the bucolic snowshoe approach.

My buyers today wanted to burn a little gas. So, up we went.

I haven't been on a snowmobile since I was in Junior High, and my friend's parents went to bed way too early to properly supervise us. But that was almost 25 years ago (Eesh? Really?). And I have to say, it was pretty darn fun. Plus, it was a heck of a lot easier getting up the "road" on the snowmobiles than in a car.

There are a couple of points I want to make. First, it's amazing how much variety and entertainment being a Realtor in Montpelier provides. Second, and I'm going to toot my own horn here, what other Realtors would snowmobile up to a listing for a showing?

I rediscovered one of Montpelier's best restaurants--Royal Thai Orchid. Didn't even have a menu, but as I talked to the owner about what sorts of flavors I was looking for, he hooked me right up. I'm still not even sure what it was that we ordered, but we just kept saying, "This is SO good!"

Years ago, someone nearly ruined Pad Thai for me by telling me that the "secret sauce" was ketchup. Yeah right, I thought...but it tastes a lot like ketchup! Haven't enjoyed Pad Thai since then.

Until yesterday.

Next, I'm going to have to try the family's second restaurant in Waterbury, although, truth be told, when I'm in Waterbury, I always make a point of going to The Alchemist...

Ok, as I said in the title, totally unrelated to real estate. Unless, of course, someone wanted to give their favorite Barre and Montpelier area Realtor a gift certificate...