dallas area realtor: Buyers Still Settle for SubStandard Service
- 06/17/08 12:45 AM
Why are Buyers still settling for substandard services when they don't have to? I'm all about educating and letting people know how things could and should be done. I got a lead in on my website a couple of days ago. He marked that he already had a realtor, so I sent back a message asking what kind of services his Realtor offers if he's needing to use another Realtor's site for information. Part of his response was, "Your updates have been more help than any Realtor in the Dallas area. Thanks again!" He went on to tell me exactly what … (9 comments)
dallas area realtor: Texas Longhorns #2??
- 07/20/06 11:57 AM
What?? Can this be right?? The latest poll that was conducted shows Texas rated as #2 with Oklahoma as #1... no way! I mean, sure Texas lost some big players this year, but they're on a 20 game winning streak! OK was 8-4 overall last year. How could a team with a record like that edge out Texas?! It's a conspiracy I tell ya, a conspiracy!! Courtesy of www.Dallasnews.com. … (2 comments)
dallas area realtor: A New Kind of Tooth Fairy
- 07/20/06 11:52 AM
There was an article published on www.dallasnews.com today about a new company in Austin that will store a child's baby teeth for future use to potentially cure diseases. This is supposed to replace embryonic stem cell research. They aren't sure whether this will work or not, but it's $595 for the processing fee and then $89 a year. So, if a child loses a tooth at age 6 and needs the tooth cells at age 50, that's $4600... but you probably wouldn't know if it worked or not until you spent that $4600!! I'm not so sure this is a good idea … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate- Increase in Foreclosure
- 07/14/06 07:48 AM
This is the latest information posted on Dallasnews.com about foreclosures in the Dallas area. Residential properties scheduled for foreclosure auction in August and the change from last year. Dallas County 1,412 +30% Collin County 342 +34% Tarrant County 897 +17% Denton County 310 +30% Rockwall County 43 +23% D-FW area 2,961 +26% SOURCE: Foreclosure Listing Service With the increase of interest rates as well as the cost of listing increasing is causing people who were just on the bubble last year, to throw in the towel this year. Due to the lack of appreciation in the Dallas market, foreclosures are on the rise. According … (2 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate- How Many Homes to View
- 07/14/06 07:29 AM
How many homes is too many to view at a time?I've asked several Realtors this question and most like to show only 3 or 4 houses at a time. 3 or 4?? I can understand viewing that few homes when you're in a market that doesn't have many listings, but there is so much available in my area, and buyers want to see every single thing out there to make sure they're getting the best deal.I like to show 7-9 houses at a time. This is because there will be several where the buyer goes in and out and on to the … (7 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate- Another Reason for Loan Approval
- 07/13/06 05:54 AM
There are still no good leads for the killing of the builder's rep in McKinney. I just wanted to take this time to point out, again, why I get my buyers pre-approved for their loans. Many people think this is just so I don't waste my time showing buyers who don't qualify for loans, but that's just part of the reason. When I have a buyer talk with my lender, that lender is gather lots of information that I wouldn't be able to gather. He would get multiple phone numbers, social security number, current and previous addresses, and work history. The lender is … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate -What Makes you a Negotiations Specialist?
- 07/12/06 09:41 AM
Recently, I've noticed some agents putting an alphabet of real estate classes after their name, CNS. This CNS stands for Certified Negotiations Specialist. They are receiving this designation after taking a class on negotiations. Does that make you a specialist? I would have to scream out the answer as NO! I would really hope that Mr. & Mrs. Buyer and Seller would ask the agent what kind of actual experience they have negotiating and not just looking at the words and thinking they must be a great agent. Anyone can sit through a class and sleep. I personally know an agent who … (2 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate -How Do You de-Personalize Your Home?
- 07/10/06 06:53 AM
Look around your house. Now, take another look and count how many times your eyes move to all the photos of your family sitting on the shelves and hanging on the walls. Did you notice your college degree? I've had buyers not buy houses because they were Longhorns and they saw the Aggie diplomas on the walls, and vice verse. Sounds silly, but it's very true!You want buyers to be as comfortable in your home as possible. Not everyone shares the same religious beliefs so remove some of the non denominational things that might cause discomfort. Please, don't be offended by … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Builder Rep Murdered in Model Home
- 07/10/06 06:52 AM
This is crazy!! I'm sitting home on a Saturday evening and I refresh my homepage of www.dallasnews.com and there's a story that catches my eye: "Sales Agent Found Dead in McKinney Model Home."It draws my attention immediately as I'm a Realtor and I go to model homes all the time. I knew immediately who it was within the first couple of sentences. I had talked with Sarah Walker just 3-4 weeks earlier about her community for a potential client referral I received.I just sat here and said, WOW, what a small world.Here is the link to the article. You might need … (1 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate -Making a First Impression
- 07/08/06 09:12 AM
The most important thing you need to keep in mind when putting your house on the market is that you only have one chance to make a first impression. Many people think the first impression is the drive- up appeal in order to get the people from the car into the house. WRONG! The very first impression for over 80% of buyers is the way the house is presented on the internet. If the pictures do not look good, the buyers are going to eliminate the house so quickly, you won't get a chance to retake the photos! As a Real Estate professional, … (2 comments)
dallas area realtor: Another Non-Qualified Buyer won't Learn...
- 07/07/06 06:25 AM
As I've said many times within and outside this blog, a buyer must be, at minimum, pre-approved for a loan before looking at houses. I got a call from one of my online ads to look at a house. I asked the questions I ask all prospects that call. The difference is, this buyer got irate that I was asking questions. I calmly told her that if she was a serious buyer wanting to actually buy a house and not just look at houses, that she should have no problem getting approved for a loan to make sure we're in the … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate -Do I need a Realtor when I buy a Brand NEW home?
- 07/06/06 07:25 AM
Of Course You Do!!!Think of it this way... when you walk into a Builder's model home and you're greeted by the nice lady or man, he or she works for the Builder and works for the Builder's best interests, not yours! You are the buyer wanting to buy one of their products. They are there to get the highest possible price from you for the seller, the builder.Some people think they'll get a better deal if they don't have a Realtor in their corner with a Builder. It is against TREC rules (Texas Real Estate Commission) for a builder to charge … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Dallas Real Estate -What is Earnest Money and How much is acceptable?
- 07/05/06 03:37 AM
I get asked two questions a lot:1. What is Earnest Money?2. How much Earnest Money is acceptable for an offer?The easiest answer to what earnest money is, is that it's "good faith" money. When you put up earnest money with your offer, you're offering good faith to the seller that you will do everything possible to obtain financing or come up with the cash to buy their home. In Texas, earnest money is not necessary within a contract/offer, but it is definitely customary as I don't know a single agent that would advise their sellers to accept an offer written without … (1 comments)
dallas area realtor: Happy 4th of July!!
- 07/03/06 01:58 PM
For me, Real Estate is a 24/7 career, and I don't mind. But, around this time of year, I'll tend to take at least one personal day off to enjoy with my Husband and friends. This year, with the actual Holiday on a Tuesday, it seems as though the weekend is going to go on and on as no other Realtors are returning my calls... so I sit and wait for Wednesday.I love this Holiday for another reason also. Each year, it's a reminder that my own birthday is only a week away. This year, I will be celebrating my... hmmm, … (1 comments)
dallas area realtor: Experienced Agent verse Newer Agent
- 06/29/06 11:32 AM
When I first got into real estate, I had just turned 24 and I looked about 18. It was no wonder people always asked my age and how long I was in the business. I always had to prove myself as to why they should use me as a newer agent...Now that I'm past the five year mark, and at the end of my sixth year, I love this new study that came out. Researchers followed 55,000 properties in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. The averages of these properties showed an average days on the market at 90 days and an average … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Full Service Listing Verse Limited Service
- 06/29/06 11:14 AM
One of the things I have to explain to sellers when I'm on a listing appointment is why I can't take a reduced commission to sell their home. My first response is, weren't you paying attention to all the marketing I do for your house to get it sold and do you not understand how much time, energy, and money it costs to do that? Asking a Realtor to take a reduction is like asking you to work a full 8 hour day at the office, with your full duties, and then asking you to only work for 1/2 your salary … (1 comments)
dallas area realtor: Understanding Your Credit
- 06/28/06 06:35 AM
There are many myths when it comes to your credit. I'm not a mortgage person, so I don't know everything that goes into what can be ignored on a report and what can't, but I've learned quite a bit over the years and here are some of the important things to remember. If you have several credit cards, do NOT close your accounts, even if you're not using them. Keeping these accounts open show a longer length of credit history which increases your scores. Also, your credit score is based off what you're allowed to borrow verse what you are borrowing. If … (0 comments)
dallas area realtor: Shopping for a House before a Mortgage
- 06/27/06 03:11 AM
Are you trying to shop for a house before a mortgage? Do you find that you keep ending up in neighborhoods that are beyond your price range? How did you come up with your price range? And do you even know what your price range means? These are just some of the questions I ask people when they call to want to look at one of my listings, and I won't show them the house until they can answer these questions to my satisfactory, which my sellers love. Less unqualified people walking through their home. To start with, if you haven't talked … (1 comments)
This blog is to help educate Buyers, Sellers and even other Realtors across the country. Each market is different and the way Real Estate is done is different. Austin Real Estate is completely different than Dallas, California and Florida and everywhere else in between. Some times there will be other things besides real estate as I like to rant and rave as much as the next!! Come back often!
Why are Buyers still settling for substandard services when they don't have to? I'm all about educating and letting people know how things could and should be done. I got a lead in on my website a couple of days ago. He marked that he already had a realtor, so I sent back a message asking what kind of services his Realtor offers if he's needing to use another Realtor's site for information. 
;)
;)
;)
