Rhonda Littlefield's Blog

Begin With Common Ground/Where you start negotiations may determine where you end up.

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:39:48 -0700

"The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way in which we use them."
--Adriana Doyle

In a disagreement or negotiation, a great deal of energy is wasted focusing on where two parties disagree. Whether it's a tussle between a buyer and seller or husband and wife, our worst instinct is often to hold fast and point out where opinions and conditions differ. It makes resolution seem almost impossible at the outset.

Rather than beginning negotiations by pointing to conflict and difference, why not start by directing attention to common ground? If compromises have been made in the past, wouldn't it make sense to highlight where two parties have found mutually agreeable terms, and begin there?

It's a small shift, but an important one. By focusing on past successes and shared views, you set the stage for overcoming the present disagreement. Beginning with stories of resolution, rather than the bleak prospect of insurmountable differences, you set the tone for a favorable outcome. You help both parties visualize the time to come when both sides have put strife and tension behind them. As a real estate pro, you've ridden through the fires of negotiation before. Draw on the stories of past compromise to help reach the other side.

Though the attribution has been lost over time, there's a quote that says, "riding is the art of keeping a horse between you and the ground." Negotiating the terms of a deal successfully requires an intuitive and firm (but not too firm!) grip on where you're going. To keep things upright and moving forward, you and the horse must depend first on common ground.

by Scott of Oakley Signs and Graphics

BOLD is changing lives across the country... Be a part of it!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:38:45 -0800

Wednesday March 31st from 9 AM-1 PM lives will begin to change- and agents will be transformed... We'll be there.. WILL YOU?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIDyj7_yGdI

Contact me (rlittlefield@kw.com) or 217.239.7104 today to get signed up to attend. The event will be held at The I Hotel and Conference Center. Afterall - you want to have an amazing life right?!?

Time to ReEnergize in February 2010!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:17:34 -0800

How are you coming along with your goals for 2010? The month of January and the first week of February have flown by. Did you call all the Withdrawns and Expireds tha that you could? Are any of those FSBOs getting frustrated yet and closer to listing with you? Have you called the 1st 1/12 of your data base to remind them of the home buyer tax credit and see if they are in a position to take advantage of it? or do they know any first time home buyers that can? Interest Rates remain at an all time low for the longest period of time since I've been in Real Estatate. Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and other Social Media means are all available for free to help you widen your marketing net. Don't wait to get started, Restart your goals for 2010, it's not too late to get started tomorrow. Now go enjoy that Super Bowl Party for today with Family and Friends and be ready for a highly productive weed of February, 8, 2010!!! Go Saints!!!

It's time to build you listing inventory!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:32:13 -0700

While most Realtors are sitting back and taking a little time off, the ones that will be winning in 2010 are building their inventory of listings now! They are focused on their goals for 2010 and know how many listings they need to take to achieve a certain amount of GCI, how many appointments they'll need to go on to acquire those listings and how many calls they'll need to make each day to get those appointments. At a recent Business Planning Clinic with Gene Rivers of Keller Williams Realty we focused on the few necessary elements for having a success year in Real Estate. He pointed out that if you're not focusing now on 2010 you'll probably have the same or worse business as you did in 2009! Yikes, I don't think anyone wants to go backwards! So focus on what you want to achieve in 2010 and set your plan up. Daily, weekly, monthly! Just ask yourself, "What If?"

Price is more important than everything today!!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:52:47 -0700

When the market shifts, so should you. Sellers are looking for agents that are not afraid to price their properties to sell. Show them the numbers, don't be afraid to tell them the truth however much it might hurt. Show them what's selling and what isn't. Show them what their competition will be. Be a realist. Help them to understand what they need to do to price their home to BE IN the market and not "chase the market".

In a buyer's market, the buyers have control. Make sure your sellers understand that.

You will have the advantage over the other agents by having more properties priced correctly and selling. More buyers attracted to your listings. And more importantly, the more you sell, the more market share you will aquire, gaining name recognition, more buyers, and more listings!

Be optimistic about it! Sellers love listing and working with positive, optimistic people!! When you price properties right they sell, and they sell quicker than the competition. it's a great time for sellers because they have an excellent opportunity to move up and get the house of their dreams. Sellers who are relocating may be buying in a market where they are in a downturn as well, what they lose ont he sale, they can make up for in the purchase.

So...study your market!

Prequalify your sellers.

Update your listing presentation.

Get the right price!!

For more details on Pricing Your Listings to Sell go to www.kwconnect.com.

Mind over Market

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:34:52 -0700

In Gary Keller's latest book, SHIFT, How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times, mind set and attitude is the #1 and most impartant chapter in the book, in my opinion.

I like all the quotes included in this chapter.

Harvey Mackay, "Decide what your priorities are and how much time you'll spend. if you don't, someone else will." Wow!! What a wake up call. If agents in a shifting market don't set priorities and decide what's important, their banker will definitely tell them what is!

Andy Andrews, in the Traveler's Gift, "our lives are fashioned by choice. First we make choices. Then our choices make us." we are what we decide to be and decide to do!

Zig Ziglar, "they do a check up from the next up" Agents that stay optimistice about the market and reshape their attitudes to reflect it.

So get real, get right, get back to the basics that you've abandoned during the "good years". The top agents across the country become the top agents because they've mastered the basic fundamentals. The basics are never outdated!

Change something in your life?

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:36:04 -0700

When things aren't going the way we want them to go, we realize that we've got to change something to change something in our lives! This is never an easy thing to do. But do them we must!

1. First you must change your thinking. Are you thinking of your frustrations and what's going wrong all the time? Are you focusing on negative news and incidents in your business? Insead think about "How can I do better?" or "What can I do to increase the number of sales I'm having?"

2. Change your Perspective. Your perspective is YOUR reality, not everyone else's. There are 6 Billion people in the world, so there are 6 Billion realities! How do you know what your buyer's and seller's realities are. Are you calling them everyday and asking? Are you giving them the positive news about the market? Ask yourself the tough questions. "What part of my business is not being done and if it were being done, would it drastically change the the results I'm getting in my business? Ask it over and over again. You'll come up with ideas that sometime work, and sometimes don't. But at least you've tried them!

3. Change your habits! Most of us don't want to hear that. After all, habits are the hardest things to change and/or give up. Are you working out everyday? are you eating healthy? are you sticking to a work schedule that will give you results? do you have a plan to collect 10 business cars a day? call 5 people a day? write 15 notes a day? preview 5 homes a day? These are the basic success principles for a successful agent.

So...If you want to change something in your life, you've got to change something in your life!!!

Mega Camp Reviews

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:01:24 -0700

It was an exciting week in Austin at Keller William's Mega Camp 2008. Gary Keller has just released his new book "SHIFT". He shared the 12 tactics that top Real Estate Agents across the country are using to thrive in the shifting market. What I took away with it was the importance of Lead Generating vs. Lead Receiving. We've gotten lazy in a Seller's market and were able to just sit by the phones and wait for a lead to come in, to have our sphere and past clients call us to list their homes. Most of the time we'd have multiple offers on those homes with-in the week. Not in a shifting market. With more inventory than buyers available to purchase agents are pushing themselves to make those calls to find buyers and sellers, to be better educated on market statistics to price the home competitively and to know how to stage it in the best possible way to attract buyers and beat the competition. We've had to ask ourselves, " is this our sport and so we want to be an Olympians in it?" Some of the "Gifts" from the "Shift" include, flushing out of Real Estate Agents that are pretenders. Learning the steps in dealing with REO's and Short Sales. Many Keller Williams agents in certain markets are capitalizing on their abilities to help their costumers sell their homes with out harming their credit rating. Agents and companies that are willing to tighten their operating expenses and lead with revenue will survive when the next wave comes around. Real Estate has always been a cyclical business and the ones that survive are the ones that are willing to stay up with the trends be the best professionals they can be.

For more information on Gary Keller's "SHIFT" book and his tour, go to Millionairesystems.com. Gary will be visiting several areas across the country teaching the 12 tactics from his book. Agents and business professionals from all entities related to Real Estate will benefit from attending these tours.

It's always a great time to be in this business!!!!

Problem spotters

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:26:39 -0700

I find it interesting that so many people today are always looking for the problems in life. Everyone has problems, it's just what we do with them that determines our happiness. Are we responding to them or learning how to handle them? Be ready to anticipate them and treat them as opportunities to do something new and exciting to make them go away!!! Think of some of the greatest accomplishments that have made in your life. They normally follow the following 3 things; challenge, self doubt and commitment. For example, getting married, first you agonize over that first date, what to wear, what to say. then the self doubt kicks in, will they like me? am I picking the right movie or restaurant to take this person to? then, commitment, you get to know each other more and more everyday and maybe you don't like everything about that person but you decide that you want to spend the rest of your life with them. commit to marriage and even when things aren't going the right way, you still think of that commitment you made and recommit yourself. Take some time to think about what your greatest accomplishments and see if they were preceaded by challenge, self doubt and commitment. So when those problem arise, be a bouncer, bounce back, stand up and get on with life!!

Breaking through the shifting market!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:12:25 -0700

Good morning everyone,

Keller Williams has recently started "Power Hour" for their agents. It's a motiving, fun packed way to get your day started and do the basics of what we all need to do to be successful in Real Estate.

Today's sifting market will separate the pretenders from the contenders. It's all about Lead Generation, touching everyone in your data base in systematic way. Keller Williams along with Top Producer have made this so easy for their agents to do!!

Friday's awesome warm up included....

Calling your clients from your datat base is the cheapest most effecient way to build your business,
so pick up the phone and start smart
You are the leader of your Success!
Nothing will happen if you do nothing!!

Have a great holiday weekend and remember....

"I do....do you?"

It's never too late to make a new year's resolution!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:10:53 -0700

I recently came across this article by Dianna Kokoszka of Keller Williams Realty. Her words of wisdom are always right on track!

Enjoy.....

A Resolution for the New Year

Dianna Kokoszka

Vice President

Mega Achievement Productivity Systems Real Estate Coaching Program

As the New Year descends upon us, it is a time to reflect and make resolutions. Although many will come and go, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to the one thing that will make a difference in our lives; the pledge to discipline. Leaders, dreamers, inventors, aspiring professionals and all who desire achievement must understand, the first step is to make a binding commitment to invest their life, and talents, toward all pursuits deserving their best efforts.

Vince Lombardi, arguably the greatest coach in the history of professional sports,

expected, and even demanded, total commitment and discipline from his players. Every time a player takes the field, he has got to play with everything he has, from the ground up. You need to be smart, but the number one thing in anything you do is; you have to have heart. Heart is what gives a player the will to stay on that field, day after day; and the discipline to commit their lives to something bigger than themselves.

This year, more than ever, we all have to dedicate ourselves to maintain the heart necessary to reinvigorate the discipline within us. The market we live in is different; there is no denying or arguing that fact. This business is more difficult than it was in years past, and anyone who attempts to refute this fact does not understand the reality of this market. My advice: FORGET ABOUT IT.

The most productive perception you can have on the market, this year, is to realize that: it doesn't matter. Focus instead on the basics of generating leads, following up, converting leads, negotiating contracts and most of all; work hard to become more disciplined. Remember the words of Vince Lombardi, "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

Focusing on the market is an excuse for not getting the results that you want. Make this the year for results, not excuses. Seek out agents, friends, and business associates who steer clear of victim language and know how to make it happen; get a coach to help you remain focused and hold you accountable. As Tony DiCello emphasizes in his "Thriving in a Shifted Market: Dare to be Remarkable Tour," success in real estate is really just a matter of doing the same things over and over. It's ironic, but true, the more habitual your business becomes, the more money you are making.

For those of us who have studied, intently, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, the path is clear. We need to have the heart required to step up to the challenge of being repetitive - practicing and fine tuning the same scripts over and over, and lead generating every day. Big goals are important, but to power your career forward, what you need are good habits. In his best-selling book, Good to Great, Jim Collins emphasizes, "that all great companies have a culture of discipline."

The ability to remain unfaltering in our pursuits is not easy an task, by any means. We must understand and accept that with every commitment and every resolution comes with it, doubt and fear. It's the little voice in our head that nags at us and questions our direction and actions; it is the little child within ourselves that seeks affirmation and the comfort of having our path laid for us. If not for our heart and discipline, that child can paralyze us and keep us from stalwartly pursuing an unwavering course.

It is the questions we continually ask ourselves, which consume us: Do you have the discipline to tell your clients the truth about what their home is worth in the current market? Do you have the discipline to stick to a three-hour-a-day lead generation schedule? Do you have the discipline to sharpen your skills and commit to conveying to your clients and prospects that you are the strongest agent they know? Do you have the discipline to dream big?

Marianne Williamson, in her book, A Return to Love, gives us a powerful reminder.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

In 2008, be powerful beyond measure; stand resolved in the discipline necessary to rise above the circumstances that surround us by making a binding commitment. Remember in your reflections and prognostications for this New Year, in order to achieve something bigger than ourselves, "you gotta have heart."

Let's educate the media!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:42:07 -0700

I'd like to know why the media doesn't do all their homework. They keep talking about homeowners that are upside down on their houses, need to sell and owe more than what it will currently sell for. Did they ask the home owner how many mortgages have they taken out to get to that situation? What did they spend the money on that they refinanced for. Did they keep in mind the market price point of their neighborhood before putting that $100,000 addition on or added upgrades. Did they use a REALTOR to purchase their home and make sure that they haven't over paid? 9 times out of 10 I'm finding that if they bought a for sale by owner without an agent they have paid too much. And now when they call me to sell their home (with in 2 or 3 years) their house is not worth what they paid for it. Also, let's quit scaring the public and let them know that this is the BEST time to buy a home! Interest rates are low and inventory is higher than it's ever been. Let's do a little education to the public and teach them common sense money management. Seek out a professional to guide them in making inteligent descitions on the biggest investment in their life. Don't rely on the government to bail us out. The market will correct itself if we all just do our jobs and make smart descisions.

Is it spring yet?

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:50:20 -0700

Well, it certainly doesn't feel like it. I had wishful hopes yesterday on St. Patty's day. I wore my cute little green jacket and ankle pants with cute little pumps and no stockings. Bad planning!!! Needless to say I had to show houses all morning in spitting rain/sleet/wind. I guess that's just part of living and being a REALTOR in the good old midwest, midstate Illinois, corn country.....need I say more? I'd give anything to be in Florida right now, although I think their market is much tougher that ours. We had a fabulous meeting with one of our local banks today, talking about the strife of the current Real Estate market. We actually are quite sheltered here in Champaign County, Illinois. We haven't experienced the rapid rise and fall of average home prices. We did have a leveling of the average price from 2006 to 2007, however, it's the first time since about 1982 that this has happened. We've been lucky enough to experience a 4 - 6 % increase each year. This has given the home owner that owns their home for at least 5 years a very good return on their investment and an advantage with wanting to move up to a more expensive home. Especially in our newer neighborhoods.

Oops, it's time to move on to the next project. Dinner for the family. Oh the joys of being a Mom and a Realtor. I'm sure most of you can relate.

Have a great evening and if you live in Illinois or farther north, stay warm!!! and be "patient" with this market. It will turn around!!!!

Limited service brokerage warning!!!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:21:36 -0800

Beware of companies that promise to sell your home for a minimum flat fee.

Several points of ponder:

Are they listing it in the local Multiple Listing Service, where over 50 agents with 5+ buyers looking will find out about your house? If so a commission will be needed for the cooperating broker.

Are they giving you enough exposure in the market place. Do buyers from across the country know how to find out about it?

Do they have a way to return phone calls promptly, answer e-mail and internet inquiries about your house?

Do they know about the neighborhood, schools, shopping, all questions that most buyer's want counciling in?

Are they prepared to negotiate on your behalf or will you be doing that yourself? Many limited service broker's have not been taught effective negotiating skills?

Will they be coordinating the showings or will they require you to be available for then?

Are they current on Mortgage rates and programs? or will they rely on you to council the buyer on this?

Are they going to monitor the buyer's loan process after the offer is accepted?

Will they schedule any inspections required by the lender and guide you through the closing process. ie. contact attornies, title companies, send closing documents, etc?

Will they be honest with you at all times?

If you don't know how to answer just one of these questions about the limited service agent you're thinking about then please talk to a full service agent, first.

We have a 10+ Customer Service agreement that we take the time to educate all our seller's on before going to work for them.

You will know the answer's to each one of these questions when you work with the Littlefield Team at Keller Williams Realty!!!

Price it to sell!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:00:14 -0800

Many sellers want to test the market for 30 days and then lower their price if they don't receive any offers. I recommend against that. A house attracts the most interest in the real estate community and among potential buyers during the first 30 days it is listed. If your home is not priced right, it will remain on the market longer. So, if you were to wait four weeks before making the price adjustment, your showings activity would have already dropped off by about 75%.

For Example:

If your asking price is 15% below fair maket value, you will have 90% of the buyers view it. If it's 10% below, then 75% of the buyers will more than likely view it. At fair market value, 60%. But then, if you're 10% above the rest of the homes like yours you will only get 30% of the buyers to look at it. And, if you're even higher at 15% over, you'll only have approximately 10% of the buyers looking for a similar to your.

I don't know, when I go to Vegas I'd love to find a slot machine with a 90% chance of winnings, rather than a 10% chance of winning.

My 10+ Customer Service Commitment

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:37:42 -0800

When working with Buyer's these are my top ten customer service commitments.

1. Provide you with 10+ customer service during the entire buying process.

2. Organize and schedule your home search process.

3. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each home in relation to your specific needs.

$. Provide you with ongoing updates on available homes.

5. Help you to compare homes and make a decision.

6. Advise you on the terms and issues of the offer and fill out the purchase order contract.

7. Present your offer and negotiate on your behalf.

8. Coordinate and supervise the preparation of all closing documents and guide you through the closing process.

9. Help you resolve any closing issues.

10. Coordinate move-in and assist with any post-closing issues.

frustrations of the technical age!!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:28:09 -0800

Now, I can turn on a computor. Answer e-mails, get market up dates, read jokes (I know this is a big time waster) and look up properties on Mls. I even have a lap top that I can carry around my house and take on listing appts. Of course someone else had to set up the wireless link for me. Now I'm buying these domain names on GoDaddy.com to increase my exposure on the internet. After struggling for a day trying to link them to my current web sight, I finally called Go Daddy to seek help. Well after 10 minutes of answering security questions to get then to talk to me and not my husband/partner that set up the account, it took the young man on the other side of the line just a few minutes to get me set up. I know the computor, e-mail, cell phones, etc. have made our lives as Realtors easier, but I still get frustrated when something new comes along that I want to upgrade "to make my life easier". Oh, and it looks so easy then the sales rep demonstrates it. The new version of Top Producer, 8i, was recently added. Now we're all struggling to learn how to use it. My assistant and sales associates were just getting comfortable with the last version. What's next? Am I the only one that struggles with this?

TAXES!!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:19:10 -0800

I'm pretty new to this blogging world, so I'm struggling with what to say each day. My daughter send me this e-card today. She had to stay home from school with the flu, thus keeping me at home as well. I made good use of my time, though, and started working on my taxes. She was observing how "happy" I was to start this task so thought she'd find something on the internet to send me to help me with my taxes. I know, nothing like the last minute!!!

But anyway, here's what my 9 year old came up with, oh, how true!!!

http://ecards.myfuncards.com/myfuncards/RetrieveCard.jhtml?c=ftVZ6sk6FxZJT7B-jTLETvrZNake1F22

Tips for an exceptional, superb & powerful life!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:04:42 -0800

I received this e-mail mesage from my sister in law today. Not sure who the author is but these are excellent words to live by! Enjoy!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________ today.'

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class ... but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep t he energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides remember?!

34.) The best is yet to come. (in Heaven)

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.' Today I accomplished _________.

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

LIVE , LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends!

T.G.I.F. - TODAY GOD IS FIRST

Being competitive in the market is our number one priority!!

Rhonda Littlefield (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:52:29 -0800

Pricing your home right and staging it to sell are the 2 most important steps in selling a home. The inventory of homes for sale is at an all time high. With 1756 single family homes for sale in Champaign County, the buyers looking for a home have a much larger selection to choose from in all price categories. It's important that you price your home ahead of the market. For example, if there are 60 homes in the $250K - $300K range and you think your home is worth $300K but it is really comparable in size and condition to the homes at the $250K level it will not sell. It will actually help those sellers at the $250 price point sell their home. Buyers are looking for value in the home they purchase, not the Italian tile Kitchen, or the $40+K pool and club house in the lavishly landscaped back yard. Yes, they would enjoy the extra amenities, but if a similar home is priced lower in the same neighborhood, they'll put the imported tile of their choice in the home, and design the pool and back yard like they want it. Once it is priced right, then staging to show off the room sizes and special amenities of the home will help it sell even faster. Basically depersonalizing your home and accentuating it's positive aspects will attract the buyer as much as the competitive price.

And if you're thinking of going For Sale By Owner to "test out the market" or "save the commission" keep in mind that national statistics show that 79% of buyers purchase a home with a REALTOR vs 7% going directing with the for sale by owner seller. In 2007, the typical FSBO sold for $180,000, compared with $240,000 for an agent-assisted home sale. In 2006, FSBOs sold for $187,200 and agent-assisted sellers sold for $247,000. In 2007, 56% of FSBOs that sold didn't list with an agent because they didn't want to pay the commission. Up from 51% in 2006. So that commision you think you'll be saving just cut your chances in half to find a buyer for your home and the realtor that knows the market will price it sell. Most consumer's that are looking at For Sale by Owners are looking for the "deal". They haven't got the correct market statistics and will most likely offer a "low ball" offer for your home.

95% of the buyers are going to the internet first to seek out information to buy a home. This is why our team has kicked up our interenet exposure on all of our listings. Buyers around the world can go to over 20 web sights to find our listings. Google, The Wall Street Journal, Sympatico, Homegain, AT&T, RealtyTrac, Yahoo, Homescapes, Uniquehomes, Oodle, HouseLocator, Condo.com, TheNewYorkTimes, and Bobvilla.com.

By educating our team and staying current with market trends we know that the LittlefieldHomes team is your best choice in 2007.