The Price Is Right!! (Finally!) - 03/30/12 06:00 AM

 
Last night we went to a listing appointment.  This home has been on the market for over a year with two different Realtors®.  Here's the story.  
Realtor® #1.  She came in with both guns a blazin!  She told the sellers what they wanted to hear, and promised to sell their home within two weeks.  She priced it at approximately 20% over true market value, and it sat for six months.  
Realtor® #2.  She came in and was also very confident she could sell this home quickly.  She was a little more realistic than the first Realtor®, but … (91 comments)

Do You HAVE To Present The Offer For Your Buyer? - 03/28/12 08:39 AM

 
We don't use buyer agreements.  I can't say that we never will, but we haven't felt the need for them yet.  That said, here's the situation:
A few years ago I had a set of buyers that was looking for a property in the country.  They assured me that they knew exactly what they were looking for, and that they would be very easy to work with.  Over the years I have learned that those who say they are going to be easy...  usually aren't.  :)  
I showed them a home here and there for about six months. … (110 comments)

Is It Possible To Sell My Home Without Lowering The Price At Lease Once? - 03/27/12 08:06 AM
This question was posted over on Trulia this morning.  My answer to the question...
ABSO-FRICKIN-LUTELY!  
If a home is priced right and presented well, it will sell, and most of the time it will sell quickly.  We just sold a cute little ranch in Waynedale (South/Southwest part of Fort Wayne) in 10 days.  Why did it sell so quickly?
1.  It was priced right.
2.  It was in a desirable area.
3.  It was presented well.  
Now, don't get me wrong.  We don't have this kind of success with all of our listings.  Some homes are a little tougher … (8 comments)

Are You Even Listening To Me? - 03/26/12 06:15 AM

 
Hi.  This is Jared.  How can I help you?
(Speaking very loud and fast) Hey Darren.  This is Scott with Super Duper Real Estate.  Listen, I have some kids that want to see your listing on 123 Main St right now.  Is it vacant?  
Sure is Scott.  Do you have a pen ready?  Oh, and It's (spoken slowly and loudly) Jared.  
Great Jerry.  So what price is this home?  
It's priced at $139,000.  My name is Jared.  J. A. R. E. D.  (I really did spell it out)
Okay great Gerald.  I'll give you a call … (25 comments)

Can We List Really High To See What We Get? - 03/23/12 09:12 AM

 
A few weeks ago Amanda and I went to meet some sellers in Fort Wayne to discuss listing and selling their home.  After we got the grand tour, we sat down at the dining room table to discuss the home selling process and what they should expect.  
After a half hour of discussion, it was time to talk price.  
The home was a nice ranch in Southwest Fort Wayne School District.  It appealed to the masses and in our opinion, would sell quickly for $130,000.  We recommended pricing it around $132-135,000 with the expectation of selling around … (15 comments)

It Is NOT My Job To Get You Off The Fence And Push You Into Buying A Home... - 03/21/12 06:24 AM

 
I was reading a thread in a real estate Facebook group the other day.  A handful of Realtors® were discussing different techiques of how they "get buyers off the fence." 
"I tell them that with interest rates as low as they are, NOW is the time to buy.  If they don't, they are really missing out!!" said Realtor® #1.  
"I tell them that buying a home is cheaper than renting!!" said Realtor® #2.  
"I tell them that with inventory being so high and prices being so low, they would be an idiot not to buy now!!"  said … (9 comments)

Fort Wayne Home For Sale... Wait. No. We Just Sold It. Under Contract In 10 Days! - 03/20/12 10:20 AM

2221 Fairoak Drive in Fort Wayne Indiana is under contract in just 10 days.
This 3 bedroom home in Waynedale is a complete remodel.  Its amazing what happens when you present a home well and price it right!
Congrats to the very happy home sellers!
For more info on this home and any other homes for sale in the Fort Wayne area, visit our website.  WeSellFortWayne.com.

… (4 comments)

If I'm Paying Cash For A Home In Fort Wayne, Do I Get A Discount On Price? - 03/19/12 06:41 AM

 
The short answer is simply NO.  Not really.  
But I thought CASH WAS KING?  MONEY TALKS??

Last year I was writing an offer for a brand new Lancia Home.  I received a call from the listing agent telling me that they just got another offer in, so bring our highest and best.  
I told my buyer that the home was priced well, and recommended writing a full price offer if they wanted it.  Now that is something I rarely do!  
He gave me a weird look and said "If I'm paying cash, I think I … (4 comments)

New Listing! Completely Remodeled 3 BR Ranch in Waynedale! - 03/16/12 05:41 AM
… (4 comments)

I Can't Remember Who My Realtor® Was... - 03/15/12 04:39 PM

I can't believe how many times I have heard this from a new client.  
"I bought my home a few years ago.  I used um...  uh...  wait..."
"We were going to call the guy that helped us sell our last home, but uh..."
"Who did I used to use?  Let's see...  his name started with a P.  Paul maybe?  Phil?  He worked with that one company over on W. Jefferson...  You know what..."
I can't remember who my Realtor® was.  
My competitive side wants to make a snide comment like "This is music to my ears!!"  Instead, my … (18 comments)

The Greatest Phone Call I Ever Received. - 03/13/12 06:15 AM

 
Yesterday my phone rang.  The conversation was legen...  (wait for it)

Ben:  Hey Jared!  It's Ben.  I'm one of your Facebook friends.  Do you have a minute?  
 
Me:  Sure Ben!  What's going on?  How can I help you?  
 
Ben:  Well, I'm in the market to buy a home.  I was wondering if you would like to be my Realtor?  
 
Me:  Absolutely!  Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?  
 
Ben:  No need.  I have been reading your blog and your little tips on Facebook.  I am not working … (18 comments)

If You Aren't Sure Of The Hood... Do A Drive By! - 03/12/12 11:12 AM
When a buyer asks us if the neighborhood is "good or bad", we always tell them to go online and check the crime stats, or to go ahead a do a drive-by.  (Pun intended.)  
 
Amanda has been working with a younger couple that is struggling to find the right home on their budget.  They sent Amanda a list of five houses that they wanted to see today.  One of them is in a very well known high crime area.  The buyers were aware of this, so they drove by it...  
 
As they pulled in the alley they … (7 comments)

Fun Things We Get To Say As Realtors In Fort Wayne... - 03/12/12 07:02 AM

 To our Fort Wayne buyers:

Yes!  They accepted our offer!
Yes!  They accepted our counter!
Yes!  They will fix the repairs we asked for! 
Yes!  The appraisal came in okay!
Yes!  We are closing on time!
 
To our Fort Wayne sellers:  

Yes!  We think that we CAN sell it for that much!
Yes!  We have 3 showings scheduled during the first week!
Yes!  We are getting an offer!
Yes!  It's a full price offer!
Yes!  The inspection went well!
Yes!  The appraisal came in okay!  (Can you tell we have had a few appraisal issues lately??)
… (6 comments)

Did The Listing Agent Just Hurt Seller #1? - 03/11/12 07:05 AM

 
There is a local agent that does the same thing every time we show one of his listings.  (And usually within MINUTES of setting up the showing.)

Agent XYZ:  "Hey Jared.  Agent XYZ here.  Listen...  I saw that you are showing my listing over there on 123 Main St.  Well here's the deal.  I have another listing over at 127 Main St. that is similar in size and just a few houses down.  I really think that you should go ahead and show that one as well.  What do you say??"
 
Me:  "Well Agent XYZ...  I'm very … (73 comments)

Knock Knock. Who's There? NOT ME! - 03/06/12 07:12 AM

 
I just read a blog over on Trulia where a Realtor was excited to start door knocking for business again.  He said he hadn't done it in over five years, but was anxious to get out there and get to work!  
I cringed.  
If I'm sitting in my dining room having dinner with my lovely bride, and I see somebody approaching my door...  I know this person is either:
1.  Selling something.  
2.  Selling something.  
Nobody has ever knocked on my front door to say hi, to introduce themselves, or to give me money.  I … (24 comments)

2011 Market Report For Bridgewater Subdivision In Southwest Fort Wayne. - 03/05/12 12:03 PM

 
Fort Wayne Homes Sold in Bridgewater Subdivision in 2011
Homes Sold:  29
Highest Price:  $418,143.  This was a 4 BR 3,082 SQ FT home.
Lowest Price:  $184,200.  This was a 3 BR 1,729 SQ FT home.
Average List Price:  $322,690
Average Sales Price:  $311,248
Median Sales Price:  $312,000
Average Days on Market:  149

Fort Wayne Homes Actively For Sale In Bridgewater Subdivision
Number of Active Homes Listed:  14
Number of Pending Homes:  3
Highest Price:  $439,900.  This is a 4 BR 2,536 SQ FT home with a daylight finished basement.
Lowest Price:  $254,900.  This is a 4 BR … (3 comments)

Where Has The Fort Wayne Area Real Estate Market Been And Where Is It Heading? - 03/02/12 09:29 AM
A big thank you to our local Fort Wayne area Board of Realtors® for putting this video out for us.  
As you can see, pending 2011 fourth quarter sales in the Fort Wayne MLS are up a whopping 19.2% from the same time in 2010.  At the same time last year, sales were down a whopping 30.7% from 2009.  OUCH.  
In the 2011 fourth quarter, the number of Fort Wayne homes for sale is down 1.6% from 2010.  
The bad news for sellers...  home prices in Fort Wayne are down 4.9% overall.   
The most shocking part of this video … (5 comments)

 
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Amanda and Jared Christiansen Fort Wayne Real Estate

Amanda and Jared Christiansen

Fort Wayne, IN

More about me…

Century 21 Bradley

Address: 2928 E. Dupont Rd, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825

Office Phone: (260) 704-0843

Cell Phone: (260) 704-0842

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