THE ADVENTURES OF NET BRET

Silly Realtor, tricks are for kids!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:40:28 -0600

This blog is more of rant towards the practices of other Realtors in the Huntington and Charleston,WV Real Estate markets than it is for educational purpose. With that said, I'm going to rattle off a few practices that certain Realtors do that just get under my skin.(well, it used to get under my skin but the longer I have been in the business the more I get amused and just sit back and wait for karma to catch up. Then the book comes out with who got fined in WV for ethics violations and there are never any surprises)To keep from "Rambling On" like a Led Zepplin jam, I'll just make a list of the top 3 acts of knuckleheadedness that I see from time-to-time(feel free to use that word at your discretion).

1) Putting your cards or magnets at your listings.~ Are you serious? Perhaps I am missing the logic in this but the only reason I can see for an agent to do this is in hopes that another agent's client picks it up so they call you. Now what does that say about ones integrity? What's amusing is that I develop a strong relationship with my clients, aka friends, and they've been the one who pointed the cards out and noted it wasn't a good practice. One even tried to grab them all and throw them away but I convinced them not to for the agents actions speak for themselves. Another funny one is when agents show your listings and leave a magnet..Some will leave their cards to show who has been there but that's fine. Bottom line. How many agents would this offend and could this be a deterent from showing your listings? Remember your duty is to your cleint

2) Agents website address or phone numbers where they shouldn't on the MLS form~ Another deceptive tactic that is a disservice to the client. You are supposed to be selling that person's house not yourself. I wonder how many potential buyers the sellers may miss because an agent won't send the listing when another agent puts their contact info where it should not be. I just point it out to my clients and let them make their own judgement. Bottom line. How many agents would this offend and could this be a deterent from showing your listings? Remember your duty is to your cleint

3) WE WILL SALE YOUR HOUSE FOR $19.99***** or MY DAYS ON MARKET IS 45 DAYS***** ~ Anytime I see an asterisk, I get nervous. I think anytime you are not honest with people up front and need small print and asterisks to sell something, then that's a form of deception. Let's be real people**********

As I have mentioned before, the vast majority of Realtors are great people and practice ethically as expected. However, there are always a few bad apples in any profession that tend to give a stink more so than others so this blog is dedicated to the few to entertain the many!

***As Thomas Jefferson says, " Honesty, is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" and as Mr.T says, "I pity the fool!"

THE TIME TO SELL IS NOW!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:42:36 -0600

Selling your home in the Charleston, WV. real estate market or Huntington,WV. real estate market during the fall and winter months is a great idea! Conventional thinking from the average seller may think otherwise but let us analyze why listing now, rather then later, could ensure a quick and painless sale. For one, every Tom, Dick and Sharon wants to wait until spring to put their house on the market which means your competition is going to be flooded. Sure, the logic is that buyers are coming out of their winter slumber and ready for a change but keep in mind that in our area there is a constant stream of buyers so there is always a need for a place to live. With that in mind, should you decide to list in the fall or winter then your home is going to be very fresh. The average listing period is 6 months so by the time fall or winter comes around, buyers have seen a lot of the homes that have been on the market for awhile and are ready to pounce on something new. This could lead to a very quick sale and most likely more money. How is that you ask? The longer your house sits on the market (with all the competition you would have if you listed in the spring) the lower the offers you are going to get on your property. So, if your ready to sell but thinking of waiting until spring, you might want to think again!

GPS, and where in the world is Bret Nida?

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:46:22 -0500

GPS, and where in the world is Bret Nida?

As a Realtor who show's and sells houses from the city of Kenova, WV all the way to Ansted, WV it is imperative that I know where I am going at all times when setting up appointments. If I do not, I will sure act as if I do! Once I have been somewhere once, I will always remember how to get back there (98.9 percent of the time that is). However, there have been a few times where I have not the foggiest idea as to where I was going. Enter Mapquest.com. Granted, this site can be very useful but as we all have probably experienced, it is sometimes not accurate. After several outings of driving around like a chicken with my head cut off, I figured the most logical thing for me to do was to give up the old Mapquest.com and upgrade to the Garmin GPS.

The first few times I used my new magnificent contraptions I had no problems and knew exactly where I was. The lady in that little device told me where to turn and I kindly obliged. However, I started to notice that the further outside of town I went, the more I was being told to turn where there was not a place to turn. "Turn left in 500ft" the little lady in the device said. Looking left, I noticed there was no road at all but just a mere cow trail that led into the woods. I knew my clients might be looking for privacy but a cow path as a driveway and a house in some thickets most likely was not their "home sweet home"

I figured there would be a few glitches in the matrix so I overlooked this one. However, last week was the icing on the cake. I was showing a friend of mine a house with some acreage in Liberty, WV. I was doing business in Huntington that day so I plotted my route from there through Winfield, WV. I thought my route was good to go and I would be smooth sailing (or driving). All was good until the little lady in the contraption said, " turn right in 500 ft." Noticing the road was really narrow and most likely a wrong turn, the knot in my head decided that I should follow my blissful path over the hills and past grandma's house anyways. After crossing five creeks and being on a gravel road for several miles, I passed a nice fellow in a Jeep who flagged me down to ask if the road I was on led to a main road. I told him "This little lady in my Garmin says it does, so good luck brother." I then gave up on the contraption, started using the sky as my guide, and knew if I headed west I would eventually end up on a main road. After passing through a few sounds of dueling banjos, I did come back to a main road. Swallowing my pride, I eventually asked for directions and made it to my final destination unscathed and with a funny story to tell.

I guess instead of using the Garmin for my sense of direction it would have been best to "Use the Force" as Yoda had instructed me to before I left. From now on I think if I'm venturing outside of the city to show acreage for sale, I may use a combination of MapQuest, Garmin, and most importantly....THE DIRECTIONS THE LISTING REALTOR GAVE ME ON THE MLS PRINTOUT..

**PLEASE NOTE I DO USE THOSE DIRECTIONS BUT I WAS COMING FROM AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THAT'S MY EXCUSE AND I'M STICKING TO IT**

Top 5 myths when selling your house

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:43:41 -0500

Top 5 Myths When Selling Your Home.

When selling your home in the Huntington or Charleston Real Estate Market, it is always best to consult a wise and energetic Realtor (ME! ME! ME!) who is able to educate you as to what to expect when your house goes on the market. ***Enters Real Estate Extraordinaire, Bret Nida*** However my friends, I am going to go a different route and address the myths about selling your home and what you should not expect when your home hits the market.

Number Eins. "The listing Realtor will show your home the most and more than likely will be the one who sells it"

As I tell my clients, we help sell your property but very seldom do we sell it. As the listing agent, we are responsible for all the legwork in getting your house out there to potential buyers. Being that every Bob, Tom, and Tammy knows a Realtor, they see the home in an ad or online and call that Realtor up, who then calls to schedule a showing. From there, we handle the negotiation and help get your home sold at its utmost price.

Number Zwei. " My home will be in every magazine"

Before I became a Realtor, I too thought a lot of these myths when my house was on the market and actually asked my agent( who is now my broker , Jeff Maddox), why my house was not in the magazine one particular week. A good Real Estate company should have a large stock of listings so therefore your home will be rotated in and out of the magazines to make room for others. At least with Great American Realty we print our own monthly books so your home will always be in that. In addition, your home is always going to be on the internet.

Number Drei. "She cancelled the contract because of the inspection so I will get her earnest money"

As long as the buyer has written notice from the inspection as to why they are cancelling the contract and has provided it to the listing Realtor in a timely manner, and in accordance to the date in the contract, then they can cancel and have their earnest money returned to them. Everything needs to be within reason!

Number Vier. "It would be best if I stay for the showing in case they have any questions"

Never. Nope. Forget it! It is always a bad thing when the seller tries to show a house. Although you may be trying to help, this can cause pressure on the buyer and make them feel rushed. Let the professionals do the work.

Number Funf. "My house has been on the market for over 90 days and I'm not getting any offers. It must be the Realtor"

Yes, this could be the case for there are bad apples in any business. However, should your home not be getting any looks it could be time to rethink the strategy. The three biggest things that determine the sale of your home are location, condition, and price. Review your home and see what you can change to spark some interest.

Great Expectations

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:37:50 -0500

Great Expectations

Purchasing Real Estate is quite an investment and finding the right Real Estate agent who is going to work hard for you is imperative to making sure all goes smoothly. As a Realtor for home buyers and sellers in the Huntington and Charleston Real Estate Markets, I take pride in the long hours and time I set forth to adhere to my responsibilities in ensuring this smooth transition. What is expected of me is to be honest, prompt with any and all information that my buyer or seller should know, research homes and the list of my fiduciary responsibilities as your agent goes on and on( see http://www.naeba.org/naeba/codeofethics.htm ). These expectations are a giving. The agreement between a Realtor and buyer should also be reciprocal. I think it would be fair to say that should I be working really hard, spending lots of time looking for that right house for my buyer, sending emails, spending lots of hours in my car and money for gas, hours on the phone etc, that a buyer should also adhere to a certain guideline to their Realtor. For the list of reasons posted above, a buyer should remain loyal to their Realtor, regardless if a home is listed with another company, a builder or a home sold by an owner( for we can help and it's best to have protection). It should also be expected that the buyer be forthcoming in regards to being financed and as to how much they can really go shopping with. I really am not too concerned about losing clients based on my work ethic for as many of my previous clients will tell, I work hard and make your experience fun and entertaining(see http://www.netbret.com/think.html ). However, I do know that some buyers may be unaware of just how much time and money a Realtor spends with one buyer and may assume that any Realtor will do. My job is to educate, so this is why I am writing this blog. Working hard for you is to be expected from me and puts food on my table and gas in my tank. So, be serious about your expectations and be loyal. Check this link for more info: http://www.expertvillage.com/video/18293_home-buying-buyer-loyalty.html

Show me the money

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:33:00 -0500

Show me the money!

The notion of paying on a mortgage for a home in Charleston or Huntington WV for a 30-year period can be a little bit frightening and may distract some from the true value of owning their own Real Estate.

However, with the right financial planning one may be able to shrink this 30-year period to as little as 23 years and maybe more should you load up on payments. Enter the Bi-Weekly payment. We shall use the following example to show just how much savings you can attain through this method: $100,000 30-year mortgage at a 6.5% will accrue $127,544 in interest, plus the $100,000 principal. Therefore, you would pay a total of $227, 544. However, if you would pay one-half of your monthly mortgage every two weeks you would only accrue $97,215 in interest, a savings of $30,329! Obviously the more you would be able to pay, the more money you would save and the less the life on your loan would be.

Please keep in mind that there are such things as pre-payment penalties with some banks so it is best to check with your lender to see if this would apply to you. Typically, those most apt to incur such a fee would be those whose loan is bought out by a secondary market (this is usually those with questionable or high-risk credit... CHECK WITH YOUR LENDER!) In addition, it is also best that you make sure your lender will apply the first payment of the month at that exact time and not when the second one arrives. Otherwise, these efforts are futile and you will be getting nowhere. In other words, do your homework or ask me where to start!

Check these links for more info

http://www.allbusiness.com/personal-finance/real-estate-mortgage-loans/3395-2.html
http://financialplan.about.com/

It's the LAW!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:56:23 -0600

IT'S THE LAW!

While surfing the net on my ever quest to attain as much knowledge as possible, I came across some laws that we West Virginians have seemed to overlook and not adhere to. I scan the list and feel ashamed that I, the once law abiding citizen who never goes one mile over the speed limit(just two miles over) have broken some of these laws. I must admit, I feel like doing some community service to redeem myself. Perhaps I shall go to Joplin Park and clean up some rubbish! By now, you may be wondering what in the Sam Fritz I may be babbling about.... However my dear readers, you too may also be guilty. I encourage you to scan the list of laws below that our founding fathers(and mothers) have laid forth for us to abide by to ensure a better "Wild and Wonderful" West Virginia. For more crazy laws throughout the United States, check out this site: http://crazytopics.blogspot.com/2007/01/craziest-laws-in-america.html

Also, should you be completely abashed by your habitual law breaking and feel compelled rid your conscious of the times you walked a lion or tiger on a leash through Ritter Park in Huntington, WV or the times you've allowed your child to go to school with their breath smelling of wild onions, click the link below and write your Senator!

http://byrd.senate.gov/

West Virginia Laws You May Have Broken:

•· According to the state constitution, it is unlawful for anyone to own a red or a black flag.

•· Alderson: One may not walk a lion, tiger or leopard, even on a leash.

•· A person may not hold public office if they have ever taken part in a duel. A person may be jailed for up to six months for making fun of someone who does not accept a challenge.

•· Doctors and dentists may not place a woman under anesthesia unless a third person is present.

•· Huntington: Firemen may not whistle or flirt at any woman passing a firehouse.

•· If you wear a hat inside a theater, you may be fined.

•· In Nicholas County, W. Va., no member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service.

•· In West Virginia it is illegal to dig for ginseng on your neighbor's lawn without their permission.

•· In West Virginia, it is legal for one to take road kill home for dinner

•· It is against the law for men to have sex with any animal over 40 pounds in weight.

•· It is illegal to snooze on a train.

•· It is illegal to spit on any sidewalk which women may walk down.

•· Nicholas County: No member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service.

•· No children may attend school with their breath smelling of "wild onions."

•· When a railroad passes within 1 mile of a community of 100 or more people in it, they must build a station and stop there regularly to pick up and drop off passengers.

A leash less park in Huntington or Charleston,WV?

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:21:51 -0500

A leash less park in Huntington or Charleston?

I'm a man that likes to Travel and when I travel I like to take all my friends. Besides the wife, I like to take my other best friends Robert "Nesta" Nida and "Beastie" Boy Nida (two of Huntington Dog Shelters finest). These are my dogs! The oldest dog Nesta, has accompanied me on many trips and has more miles under his belt than your average Joe, or Fido in his case. I've taken this fine specimen (Chow and Collie mix) to festivals, camping trips, canoe rides and to the moon once (well that was a weird dream I had once but he was there J ) To the point..... When I've been to larger cities (Boulder, Colorado, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Maine), I've noticed that a lot of the parks are leash less parks. What a great idea?

I hate putting my dog on a leash. I've spent a lot of my time trying to train my dogs to be trained by my voice and they are well behaved. It seems that a leash less park would be a great idea for Huntington or Charleston, West Virginia. Any city that I've gone to that has some culture has a leash less park. I love West Virginia and would live nowhere else but that is one thing we lack, culture! Of course there are numerous other "cultural" things I could think before this but my dog is here nudging me to stick to my point. J

Of course Ritter Park in Huntington, WV has a great spot behind the Tennis courts that would be ideal for such a venture. The are already numerous people that bring "people and dog friendly" dogs the play in the evening and they are not on a leash. The dogs mingle with others and have just a ball! No pun intended. With a little of that "animal tax" money we could use that to make a large fence to around Ritter Park or Harvey Town Park and set out friends free. Of course there are other benefits from this as well. We could use the "dogs' land mines" they leave behind and recycle them as fertilizer for the city parks. Now there is a convenient truth!

Now I know everyone does not like dogs and to some this may be a laughable subject. I can respect that, so this is why I'm offering a leash less park where only folks with dogs mainly go already anyway to walk their dogs without a leash. Free Nesta and Beastie!

Methods to our "Adness"

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:25:48 -0500

In the days when I was in the market for a home, I always wondered why some Real Estate Ads never had a price or address. I must admit that this was very frustrating to me for I always wanted to just drive by first and check on the house before I committed to calling my agent at the time. I've noticed others feel the same way so I can completely understand. Due to the ability to have access to almost all the information we can think of, it should seem that this should be true as well with a house we want to buy. However, although most of us out there who are searching for a home genuinely want more info on a house so we can "just drive by", there are those sick people out there who have to ruin it for us all. There have been numerous cases of people who prey on folks who sell there home and like to drive by to see if a house is vacant or not. As a Realtor, we are the shield against such knot heads. It is our job to attempt and screen potential buyers from those who may have shady objectives to steal your copper or other possessions. Granted, I do get several calls for those just wanting addresses and I give it to them most of the time, for if someone was attempting to do more than just "drive by" I would at least have their number on my caller id. So always know that there is a method to our madness and the method is always in the best interest of everyone's safety.

Show and Sell!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:19:39 -0500

It is show and sell time!

As buyers search to find their dream home, some may not be aware that we Realtors all share the same information if the house is listed in the MLS. What in the world is the MLS? The Multiple Listing Service is a wonderful tool that we Realtors use to share our homes we have for sale to other Realtors. This is a wonderful tool! For if each Realtors has an average of 5 or 6 clients at one time, and there are about 400 Realtors in the area, then that means a home could possible be exposed to over 2000 clients at one time! This means we can show and sell any home regardless if it is Jane Doe Realty, New Village, or one of Great American Realty's Finest! So as you go to search for your dream home, don't be deterred if it doesn't happen to be one of my listings or Great American Realty's for I can show and sell regardless of who has their sign in the yard!

FSBO WIZBO

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:31:26 -0500

For Sale By Owner

As the summer season winds down and buyers scurry to find that "dream home" , my need to acquire more listings picks up to help fulfill that need. In order to work my hardest for my buyers, I have several outlets to find that special home. FOR SALE BY OWNER! I have found that For Sale By Owners are a unique type of person that seems to have an impenetrable wall to get through. Based on what I do day in and day out, I cannot imagine someone else trying to go at it alone. Besides all the hard ache and time spent on trying to screen calls and set up times to show the house, the worst part is the potential lawsuits and problems that can arise after one might have obtained a credulous buyer. Sure, there are a few smooth rides to the closing tables on ones own but all around it can be a nightmare! Trying to convey this to some is a challenge but I do understand their position and objections. Here is a few objections that we can all understand.

NUMBER ONE: "I just don't like salespeople" - I can agree with this one hundred percent, for nor do I. Like anyone, we have all had bad experiences with salespeople but it seems that the bad always seems to overshadow the good. It is human nature and I too am guilty for overshadowing. However, if it were not for this occupation MANY people would be out of work. Who would sale cars produced from the factory, jewelry, medicine? The list goes on. I am proud to be one the strongest catalyst for growth in our economy.

NUMBER TWO: "I don't want to pay commission" - This too is understandable for everyone wants to get the most out of their most prized possession. However, assuming the home is not overpriced (which seems to be the case most days), everyone has a bottom line and I can assure you that it pays to pay. Out of that commission, a lot is spent marketing the property to multitudes of potential buyers who WILL pay that bottom line plus the hard-earned commission. It is like the analogy of selling lemonade on the corner (FSBO) versus selling lemonade at the mall (Realtor), which way is most apt to sell faster and sell for more? Again, it pays to pay J

NUMBER THREE: "I've already used a Realtor and they couldn't get it sold"- Sadly, this might be another case where the bad overshadowed the good. Like any occupation, some people just do not do their job as it should be done. Numerous factors could explain why the home never was sold. One could be the fact that your Realtor always told you what you wanted to hear. Most of the time what they should have said is that your home is overpriced. I am not going to tell you what you want to hear I am going to tell you what it takes to get your house sold.

I have total respect for those that go at it alone and wish them all well. However, once that time arrives where they can bare it no longer, my phone will ring. J I guess I just have this notion in my head that I think everyone should use me to sell their house. Do not call it being cocky, call it confidence and proven results. As Isaac Newton says, "If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.

Nothing left to do but smile,smile,smile!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:57:05 -0500

Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!

Today's blog is going to be rather abstract, but yet reflective of my latest observation of being a Realtor, an epiphany perhaps. (Please note that this blog really has no absolute value except for a few laughs (which is priceless) or maybe for a Sociology discussion)

I've always been a people person and have just been one to sit back and observe people and how they interact with one another, amused by all the different players that make up this wonderful human race. My latest observation has to do with how similar Realtors are to politicians (except I think there are much more crooked politicians then there are Realtors). For now, I will just stick to the few bad apples. I find it amazing just how a few Realtors public persona in pictures, ads they run, and their online image is just one hundred percent different as to how they are in person or with how they interact with other Realtors. If some people only knew how disingenuous people's numbers were or how they make themselves out to be something they are really not, then I don't think they would remain in business at all. Sounds like a politician aye? Like politicians, there is also slandering of others as well but I guess you will have that. What goes around comes around!

I just let my actions speak for myself and know that my occupation as a Realtor in Huntington and Charleston, WV is a very helping and respected profession. When I look people in the eye they know they've met an honorable and genuine person. Doing business in the Charleston and Huntington real estate markets allows me to interact with many Realtors and for the most part, 94%(A Average) are very sincere and respectable. As to what to do with those other clowns, I'd say there's nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!***

***The last line was borrowed by a Grateful Dead song "He's Gone"

3 random tips to keep in mind when buying!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:26:53 -0500

3 Random Tidbits to keep in mind when buying.....

1) Don't believe the hype! Let it be known that what we hear on MSNBC, FOX NEWS or CNN in regards to the housing market ("It's a seller's market" or "It's a buyer's market") is never really applicable to the Charleston Real Estate and Huntington Real Estate Markets. "Why is this Bret?" Although West Virginia has now progressed from "Wild and Wonderful" to "Open for Business" our economy just does not reflect that of much of the entire nation. Some may complain, but in a sense, this is a good thing. We never really grow nor recede too rapidly in order for housing prices to go up or down!

2) "Flop that house" Again, this idea also plays on the notion of not believing all that you see and hear on the television. As a Realtor, I think the shows we see on TLC and Discovery channel on "flipping this house" are a great thing for this industry. However, the shows might put wrong ideas in people's minds about how much money one can make off a house when selling or how much one can get taking off a house when buying. These are just TV shows and tend to be a little dramatic. I find it most humorous when the shows hold an open house and have 3 offers brought to the Realtor... YEAH RIGHT!!!!

3) Deal or "Know" Deal! One of the most difficult notions sometimes to convey to buyers is that a houses' price reflects the work that needs done to it. When you go to buy, always remember this for it will save you a lot of time and hardship. You may go to a house that will need new windows, carpet, paint, etc, but this is being accounted for in the price. Granted, there is a lot of overpriced stuff on the market these days but for the most part a home's price always reflect the work needed. Remembering this will save you a lot of time and allow more time for you to find the right home you were trying to find!

4) SMILE!

Small Business...Booming Ideas

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:25:38 -0500

Small business, booming ideas...

I am asked periodically as to why I chose a smaller company to do my business rather some nationally known company such as Discount Realty. This is a valid question, and is one any good Real Estate agent must ask themselves when starting out their new business.

Many factors play into my decision to join Great American Realty. The number one reason is that I am a fan of local and homegrown business. To me, a company that is locally grown, successful, and continuing in its growth is just a sign of hard work! For if it was not for hard work, then the business would have never gotten off the ground to begin with. Hard work goes a long ways, the most important way for it to go is to our clients, and they know this!

Can't we all just get along?

Another important aspect of working for a local company is the sense of homogeneity our company has. In my opinion, ones sense of morale (client and realtor) is priority number one! You have to be satisfied or eventually everyone suffers, starting with you then to the company and most importantly to the client. Although in the world of Real Estate every Realtor is the captain of their own ship, we function as a team and are a fleet sailing for success.

Problems happen!

Being in a smaller company allows for more one- on- one time and allows our broker to help us through any problems should the situation arise. I have been amazed at other Realtors that may have needed some assistance from their broker and it's was like twisting an arm to get help. I do not have that and am glad the way our business is being run. When I need something, I can call and get it on the spot, or I can at least be assured that I will get a call back ASAP!

Who would not want to hire a Great American?

The name Great American Realty is about as patriotic as it gets short of Patriot Realty and I don't know of anyone who wouldn't want decorate there lawn with the old red , white and blue!

Just several of many reasons to go Great American.............

Area Days on Market

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:24:27 -0500

Some bloggers, of all professions, tend to drain their reader's with very useful information but also tend to take the "personal" side out of who the writer is. I feel that although it is very important to provide some kind of useful substance in ones blogs, it is also important to keep your readers entertained. With that in mind, as I begin this journey into Blogosphere I will strive to maintain that necessary balance of professionalism, personality, and downright pure entertainment. I ask my readers to bear with me, for just like anything, it may take practice and a few really boring blogs to get "into the flow" so-to-speak.
OK, ENOUGH OF THE EXPLAINING!!!!

Southside Huntington Days on Market

To a seller, this figure is the most important average for that "sold" sign needs to be in the yard as quick as that" for sale" sign goes up . It appears, in my opinion, that prices in the Southside area have been somewhat too high and will make the average housing days on the market much higher than they really should be. It is very difficult in this profession, to explain to a seller that although they may have so much emotion and know the area so well, that there home is not worth what it used to be. As humans, we should all understand that. However, it is more detrimental to the seller to price a house too high and it stay on the market for too long and miss too many potential buyers.
The average criteria I hear that most buyers want in the Huntington Market, are 3 Bedrooms and 2 Baths. As of right now, in the Southside area of Huntington, WV, there are 43 homes with this same criteria and the average sale price is about 105k. The time on market is about 126 days. It is important to note that this is an average but is still important to know if your home isn't selling quickly as you like. Make sure that if you hire an agent to sale your house that you see their comparables, marketing plan and if they're discounters. When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Until next time, have a great day!
Bret Nida
Realtor
304-NET-BRET

Humor in advertising!

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:44:05 -0500

I'm not too sure if it's the X-generational, always question frame of mind in me, or just the fact that some Realtors advertising seems disingenuous and simply off the wall. Listing to sold ratios followed by astrix and small print, cheesy poses, props and silly quotes reminds me of those old Junior High health book poses we all used to make fun of or some sort of propaganda. Even when I was I buyer I looked at these people and thought "What an idiot". Some say "Well, they get remembered that way" This notion is true of course but is that how one wants to be remembered, as an idiot? So, being the funny guy that I am, I have started a new campaign of ads that are designed to be just as ridiculous as those. I have launched ads with doodles over my face and "Insert Cheesy Realtor Phrase Here" as my quote. This is bold perhaps, but I'm just being genuine, a funny and fun guy, and I think people will see that. Also, I get chuckles out of some peoples mission statements. I mean really, I think it's important to talk and describe yourself in writing as you would say to someone in your everyday life. Before one does write a mission statement they should act it out or say it out loud. If it sounds absurd, don't say it! Keep it honest and keep it real!

StarDate 4-30-07

The Art Of Screening Vol. I

Bret Nida (Great American Realty) — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:56:30 -0500

It seems my abililty to read buyers has been enhanced since I took a step back and looked at them as people rather than as a "buyer". Granted, i'm sure some would say, "of course" but do some really do this. This process of screening can prove very effective when trying to read their needs and not yours or what you think there need is. The main reason I've started to use this approach every now-and-then wasn't because I was motivated to be more empathetic towards the buyer, but because I got so tired of the kind that aren't really serious or those that haven't been approvedand just want to look. I got tired, am tired of being used and not being appreciated. So, it has actually turned out to be a lessoned learn in saving me time and money and seeing the good buyers from the bad. This is Captain Bret Star Date 7-30-07