I JUST RECEIVED AN OFFER BUT I REFUSE TO COUNTER - 08/30/10 10:32 PM
There are some very good points here: all offers are a positive sign. Consistent low offers are a message of what the market is willing to bear. The market is not always pretty, but (sometimes unfortunately), it is never wrong. My best advice: consider all offers, and counter rather than refuse!!
Via Dan Jasmer (RE/MAX Excellence):
Have you ever been involved in selling a home where an offer was made and you refused to counter the buyers offer? Here is some advice for sellers to consider, especially in today’s economic environment.
If a buyer has taken the time to put an offer on … (5 comments)

A Very Sad Last Tweet - 08/20/10 06:52 AM
So very sad... and all too easy to have happen. I'm glad Oprah has decided to highlight this issue, and I've signed her no text/hands-free phone pledge. Have you?
Via Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Reston,VA (Momentum Realty,LLC):
If you are a news scanner, like I am, you probably saw that Dr. Frank Ryan (Plastic Surgeon to the stars) was killed on Monday, August 16, 2010 when his car drove over a cliff near his home in Los Angeles. At the time of the first report, the article I read said that Dr. Ryan did not drink or use drugs.  It turns out now, however, … (5 comments)

What does the Class of 2014 have to do with Real Estate? - 08/18/10 03:43 PM
I'm the daughter of teachers, lived on a school campus growing up, and didn't even know there was actually a calendar year (as opposed to a school year) until someone brought it to my attention. (I admit, that last one was a stretch.) Having spent most of my working life in higher education administration until I entered the world of real estate in 1993, I still get goose bumps when I hear about "back-to-school" sales and "first-day-of-school" jitters! Think it's in my DNA.
Anyway, since 1998, Beloit College, a fine liberal arts institution in Wisconsin, has been publishing its Beloit College Mindset List. I'll … (8 comments)

Active Rain is nothing more than another costly marketing gimmick - 08/11/10 08:06 PM
What a great and enjoyable description of ActiveRain!
Via Nevin Williams, Conventional,jumbo & FHA (First Priority Financial,specialize in jumbo & conventional):
Active Rain is nothing more than another costly marketing gimmick.  When Craig Rutman tried to share with me the magic of Active Rain I just knew it was going to be another costly marketing gimmick.  It took several months and a small nudge from Craig to get me to take it a little more seriously. Once I did I realized how wrong my pre conceived notions were. Today I will tell you that Active Rain is the most productive marketing tool I … (2 comments)

Overpriced Homes-Sell Slower and For Less - 08/09/10 01:48 PM
So true - only well-priced homes in great condition are selling, and there are hardly enough buyers for these!!
Via Stephen Munson (Munson Realty):
Overpriced Homes-Sell Slower and For Less If there’s anything we can take away from the plethora of Bank Owned Foreclosures is they certainly know how to price a home to move!
I maintain that you almost always shoot yourself in the foot by overpricing your home. Your home will almost always sale at or above market value by pricing at or below market value.
So why is that? Well think back at when YOU were buying a home. Remember … (1 comments)

The Jerry Maguire Approach... - 08/08/10 05:29 AM
I loved this post - reminded me of the saying, "Be yourself - everyone else is taken...".
Via Monte Pratt (Jack Pratt Signs):
I know it's been a long time since this movie has come out, but I felt like it's time to sit down and write how I've found inspiration in Tom Cruise's character Jerry Maguire.  Remember the Mission Statement that got him canned from his firm?  Remember the last sentence that summed it all up?
"Fewer Clients - More Personal Attention"
Unfortunately, that Mission Statement was overshadowed by the infamous "show me the money" scene. I believe that this film, … (6 comments)

Keep losing the home to other offers? Maybe your offer needs curb appeal. - 08/02/10 01:02 PM
Wow! Curb appeal for offers - love this concept. You can be sure I'll be working on this with each and every buyer - and will look for it when other buyers make offers on my listings! Thanks so much for these well chosen comments!
Via Nevin Williams, Conventional,jumbo & FHA (First Priority Financial,specialize in jumbo & conventional):
Are you a first time home buyer that keeps losing your favorite home to other offers?  Something in your offer to purchase isn't looking very attractive to a seller.  Did you miss something? Is your offer too low? Maybe it's that your offer to purchase … (1 comments)