Geri's Long Island Real Estate Blog

When Was The Last Time You Saw One Of These

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:06:07 -0500

While conducting an unintended archeological dig in what used to be my son's room, tucked away in the hollow space under the headboard I found this relic of the real estate business. To think we used to do business carrying these things around and dog earing pages of favorite listings as we waited for the latest update to come out.

So much about the business was different then. We (at least most of us) had no presence on the developing web. There was no Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or any of the other social media avenues to interact with our consumers or each other. Most of the agents I knew back then didn't even have cell phones. Some carried beepers, then searched, sometimes in vain for a telephone on the road to return their calls. For me, I've carried a phone with me since it was call "transportable" and was the size of an attache case.

The one thing this brings to mind for me is that the only constant in this world is change. Don't ever get too complacent with the tools of the trade, no matter how well you think they work, because you can bet your boots just around the corner is a newer and better way to get the job done.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales and rentals. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

The Way It Was - 9/11/01

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:27:32 -0500

As many of you I'm sure, I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news of the first crash, turning on the tv to witness the second one live. It was incomprehensible. We lost so many lives that day to the insanity that is terrorism. For the rest of us who watched in horror, we also lost a little of our innocence.

On a personal level, my son's best friend who worked in a building close to the attack, had to run, covered in a milky white dust as fast as he could to escape the area. He wound up walking for miles, finally crossing the bridge into Queens. For one of my colleagues, the outcome was far more sinister and devastating. Her son was lost in the twin towers on that fateful day and she and her husband searched with thousands of others, for days and days, hoping against hope that he was simply hurt, or had amnesia, or was in some distant hospital being attended to.

When they finally had a memorial service for their 31 year old, it was attended by many hundreds of people. They didn't even have his body to hold on to, or give him a proper burial. I stood in a long line of mourners to give them a hug and try to offer what little solace I could. It was a long time after that they finally were given his wallet, found in the rubble. For most of us, senseless acts like that are abstract in their horror, but they happen to real people, suffering very real losses.

There were so many heroes that day, on the ill fated planes, on the ground, climbing those stairs of the towers to an almost certain death to do what they were taught, to try to save lives. God bless them all!

We will never forget!

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How Attached Do You Get To Your Sellers?

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:52:13 -0500

I find myself sitting here, feeling profoundly saddened by the move of one of my homeowners. She called me just a short while ago to say the moving truck had loaded up her belongings, her lifetime of memories and was headed out of state to deposit her stuff in the her new house. Though her foot is set on a path that will take her away from her long time and much loved home on Long Island, and closer to her daughter, I feel as if I'm losing a friend.

This is an intimate business we're in. Though purveyors of the proverbial happy ending when all goes well, we walk with our buyers and sellers, shoulder to shoulder, an intrinsic part of the process as we guide them through the maze that is real estate, absorbing much of the stress on their behalf as we head to the closing table.

I've always considered myself fortunate to be in this business and make friends I would otherwise never have met, but this is the other side of that coin. It's so much easier with buyers. You navigate the sometimes choppy waters with them and at the end you have a neighbor, an ally, and often when you get extremely lucky, they become like extended family.

So as I sit here, feeling just the slightest bit sorry for myself, I'll remember this was the ultimate goal all along and I'll wish her well on her journey.

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Freeport Waterfront Home - Welcome To 648 Nassau Avenue

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:10:36 -0500

Just a short drive south of Atlantic Avenue to the water's edge in South Freeport brings you to a wide and attractive cul-de-sac, home to a stately redwood and teak splanch with a grandeur all its own. From its relatively maintenance free landscape design, to the paver walk and driveway, to the stately double teak doors, the concept is at one with its environment and oh so pleasing to the eye.

As the door swings inward, you're greeted by a wide, tiled foyer offering glimpses of the magical spaces to come. Hosting gatherings, whatever time of year is a facile endeavor, the home lending itself to entertaining in style, with easy access to entrancing outdoor spaces at every turn. Magnificent water views, huge multi level decking and 75 feet of bulkheading, make this home a boater's dream. Prefer to just soak up the sun, with a cold drink at your side? Just stretch out on a lounge and allow nature's paintbrush to gently lull you into a sense of serenity.

For more information about this wonderful home

Priced at $699,000, this one-of-a-kind, incredibly spacious splanch offers 4 generously proportioned bedrooms, the master suite, almost decadent in nature with its elegant master bath. You'll luxuriate in your whirlpool built for two as the sounds of the sea gently remind you of your good fortune to live here. With counterspace fit for a king and queen, opulent gold plated faucets, chandeliers to cast a warm glow and a heated towel rack to indulge you on those cold winter mornings, you might be inclined to linger just a little longer than necessary in this skylit room. And if all this, and a separate marble shower weren't enough, why not sit for a few moments, sipping a glass of wine on your private screened in deck, allowing the bay breezes to gently wash over you.

Though you might feel tempted to spend all your spare time in and around your home, the area offers many options for wiling away the hours on a lazy Sunday. The Nautical Mile with it's charming shops, wonderful seaside restaurants and all things maritime, it is a magnet for locals and visitors alike.

Occupying space adjacent to the Woodcleft Canal, on Woodcleft Avenue, you might enjoy walking along the esplanade or stopping for a quick bite at one of the street side eateries while tapping your toes to the music of one of the bands. For a serious meal, the options are many and the fare varied. Here is a comprehensive look at the restaurants of the Nautical Mile.

Another local attraction for area residents is Freeport's Waterfront Park. A quiet oasis with wonderful water views, easy parking and a playground for the children, it attracts its fair share of visitors on a sunny summer day.

Before you leave this bucolic setting, why not take one final look at the future in store for you. To see it in person, just give Geri Sonkin a call at 516-425-6098 and experience it for yourself.

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A Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 6 - What Happens After The Offer Is Accepted?

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:06:20 -0500

As we discussed in the five earlier posts, you've decided to put your Long Island home on the market. You and your real estate agent of choice have determined the right marketing price, you've staged your home to sell and your Realtor has marketed it to a broad audience. Now you've received and accepted an offer, so what's next?

Here on Long Island, typically the next step shortly after an offer is accepted is for the buyer to bring in a home inspector. Even with new construction it is always recommended an expert check out the home's systems and structure to make sure the buyers won't be facing any surprises. At the same time, often purchasers, especially if it's their first time in the real estate arena, will bring in the family for their tacit approval. Assuming all goes well, at this point a contract of sale is prepared by the sellers' attorney and faxed or emailed to the other lawyer for review. Once they work out all the details to everyone's satisfaction, a time is set up for the buyers to meet with their attorney and sign the contract. At this time they hand over a check for the negotiated down payment, often 5-10% of the sales price. The check is placed in an escrow account until the closing. The contract then goes back to the sellers' attorney for execution by his/her clients.

For most of the 23 years I've been selling real estate on Long Island, you could usually sit back and relax at this point. Though a lot goes on behind the scenes, as long as all the participants knew what they were doing, it was relatively smooth sailing. That is no longer the case. With all of the mortgage issues of the past couple of years, getting a home to appraise has become more complex and should never be taken for granted. Within days of contract signing, if they haven't already done so, a pest inspection is done on behalf of the buyer, the results added to the package.

Generally speaking, attorneys handle any other issues that come up, such as a need to close out a building permit or getting a Certificate of Completion for work done on the house. Within 45 to 50 days (on average), the mortgage commitment comes in, usually with conditions. If it doesn't arrive on time, buyers, through their lawyer, request an extension.

Because time of the essence contracts are atypical in this area of the country, our closing date is almost always "on or about." I've found, over the years, that this ambiguous date is a cause for consternation by buyers and sellers alike. You can't make plans for the physical move because you don't have a finite time. Sadly, we as agents often don't find out the actual time and date of a closing till a few days to a week before it occurs.

Within the last few weeks, your agent should give you a list of things to take care of, to make your move seamless. Among them are transferring of prescriptions, notifying the post office and your credit card companies, etc. of your new address. Get medical records transferred to your new physician if your move is longer distance and arrange for your pets ahead of time to make your and their lives easier. Keep a box of things you'll need right away at the new location so you don't have to search for toilet paper or toothpaste and toothbrush in the middle of the move. Get your utilities transferred out of your name and set them up at the new location.

When you finally get to the closing table, you can expect to be there for anywhere from a half hour (for cash deals) to two hours or more. But at last you can shake your buyer's hand, turn over the keys and walk confidently toward your future.

Good luck with the sale of your home!

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Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 5 - We've Got An Offer

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:20:23 -0500

Please remember, when placing your Long Island home on the market, the ultimate goal it to get it sold.

We've been doing everything right. We've attracted the buyers through our marketing and you've kept the property in pristine condition and ready for showing at short notice. In a declining or buyers' market, often months go by before we finally can say, "we've got an offer." There are a few things to keep in mind when hearing those words spoken by your Realtor®. Your representative is merely the messenger, and you've no doubt heard the expression, "don't shoot the messenger." I mention this at this time because many buyers, after teetering on the brink and absorbing all the rhetoric about the current market, come in with astoundingly low offers.

Personally appalled by some of the numbers, but recognizing two things, I try to stay calm and rational under these conditions. 1. Buyers are in the driver's seat in negotiations in much of the country, and certainly here on Long Island's Nassau County and Suffolk County for the past two years and 2. It never matters where negotiations to purchase a home begin, it's where they end that is important. Please go back and read number 2 again. Don't let the initial offer get your hackles up and make you turn away from the person or people who may turn out to be your perfect buyer. They're playing the game based upon the rules as they understand them. Much has been written in the press for a long time now that would suggest the sky is falling and that homeowners are going to have to take massive losses (paper or real) to move in today's selling environment. Allow them their learning curve.

Now is the time to think of your home as a commodity. I know it can be difficult, especially if you've lived there for many years and raised a family within its confines. For the finite period of time that we're trying to make your home someone else's, don't allow the past to infiltrate your thought processes. Our goal, yours and your Realtor® representative's, is to sell your home for the most money the current market will bear, with terms and time frame that work for you and will the least disruption to your life.

So the offer comes in . . . listen to it objectively. Think of it as a chess game. They've moved their pawn. Now it's time for your move. The last thing you want to do is say, I don't like what they did, so I won't make a move. Remember, you can't win the game if you refuse to play. This is only step one. Here's another real estate truism, "your first offer, fully negotiated is usually your best offer." How can that be, you ask, when their offer is insulting? For some unknown reason, perhaps understood in the cosmos, that first ultimate number usually becomes the sign post of all the offers to follow. There's a mystical equation that takes place that puts most buyers within a few thousand dollars of each other, though they come through different agents from different offices and have no prior knowledge of what has preceded them. As time goes by, the offers get lower . . . and lower . . . and lower. Over the years I've heard two analogies for it. The first suggests your listing becomes like days old milk in the supermarket . . . which always sells at a discount to its fresh counterpart. The second offers a scenario of a clothing store which puts the new and fresh merchandise in the front for all to see. As months go by, when some models don't sell as fast, they're relegated to the sale or closeout rack, hence bringing a lower price.

If you trust the real estate agent you chose to represent you, and I hope you do, discuss your realistic options with him or her and factor it in when making your decision. Though you may get a lower price than you hoped for in a lackluster market, you will have accomplished your goal . . . to move on to the next chapter of your life. Reality will dictate your sales price and it will be unaffected by what your neighbor sold for two years ago, how much you invested in improvements, or what you need to get into your next home. On the plus side, if you have to buy another home in the same geographic area, or for that matter in many other parts of the country at this time, you'll pay a lower price for your new home.

My greatest wish for you would be a speedy sale, with a well qualified purchaser and an uncomplicated closing. In the best of all worlds you'll have just that. Good luck with your sale and your proposed move.

Be sure to come back for Part 6

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Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 4 - Let Your Broker Do His/Her Job

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:49:59 -0500

WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME ON LONG ISLAND . . .

Tempting though it is, when buyers come through your home, just go into another room or into the yard, or better still, take a walk or a ride in your car. By following your broker around to show potential purchasers all the things you did to update your home can only be a hindrance. I know you're proud of the work you did, and rightfully so. The problem is you may inadvertently say something that will turn off a buyer with specific likes or dislikes. Real estate agents generally spend a considerable amount of time getting to know their buyers. They know what is meaningful to them and what may be a deterrant.

It's important to keep your home showing ready. What that means is you can have it presentable and primed for company within fifteen to thirty minutes at all times. With life often getting in the way, I know it's sometimes a challenge, but you'll get your home sold faster if you do. You never know which looker is the perfect match for your particular property.

Remember to put all the lights on and have natural light streaming in through the windows when possible. A touch of vanilla on a lightbulb or a light scent in a room will give off a homey feeling as people walk through your home. The feeling you want to evoke is a welcoming place that greets the senses with calm and serenity. Soft background music can add to the ambiance.

If you have to be away from home for any reason, give your agent a key or the ability to place a lockbox on the property. In challenging markets it's more important than ever to have access. You don't want to turn away potential buyers ever, but especially not now. The one who couldn't get in today may wind up buying the home down the street, even though yours might have been a better fit.

Your real estate agent will be updating you about activity or lack thereof and will discuss any new competing properties that have entered the marketplace. Listen carefully. We know this business and what it takes to get any home sold in a timely fashion. You might have to come down in price to attract a viable offer. Don't take it personally. The market dictates the price. And please, do yourself a favor and don't say "I won't give my house away." If the available pool of purchasers is not choosing your home over others, they're telling you the price is off. They vote with their dollars. And you can't give away what nobody is taking. Try to treat this as what it is, a business transaction -- no matter what memories or emotions are attached to the house.

Now good luck, and get it sold! Be sure to come back for Part 5

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Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 3 - Marketing Your Home To Sell

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:08:31 -0500

Once the early stages of preparing your home on Long Island for sale are complete, the next thing to determine is the best method to set it apart from all the other properties currently available. If you've ever looked on the Internet at home listings all over Long Island, you can't help but notice that some are head and shoulders above the rest in presentation.

A good real estate agent will take many, many photos of your house, room by room, hopefully with a quality camera. If he or she doesn't personally have the capability of doing that, a professional photographer should be brought in. This is your home's first and only opportunity to make an everlasting and positive first impression. Hopefully after staging your home, the curb appeal of your property draws potential buyers and their REALTORS® in through the front door for a closer look.

Creating a flyer that makes your home memorable should be uppermost in your broker's mind as he/she looks at it through a potential buyer's eyes. How many unappealing handouts have you picked up over the years as you either searched for a property or attended Open Houses? Many more than not, I suspect. Sometimes with one photo, sometimes with none, these take aways rarely make it past the nearest trash receptacle, where they sit unceremoniously, stained by leftover coffee.

The best way to get any home sold, whether here on Long Island or elsewhere, is to attract eyeballs. The more people who see your home, the more likely it will sell faster and for a higher price. It's a little like an auction, the more people attracted to the item up for sale, the greater its perceived value, hence a higher ultimate selling price. Since statistically, buyers are found cruising the Internet in staggering numbers in pursuit of a new home, your property has to have a significant presence there for all to see. Here are a few examples of cyber marketing that feature your home and neighborhood for all to see. http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com http://648Nassau.CheckOutMore.com http://2126Pemaco.IsNowForSale.com and http://trialtest3.homestead.com/2274-Woodbine---MerrickWoods-New-Home.html

There are so many ways to set your home apart from the competition in terms of marketing. Even presenting a photo album to engender an emotional response from your buyer, with an easy way of getting in touch with your REALTOR® is likely to increase showings, especially in a challenging market. You've done the tough part. You've made the decision to sell. You've chosen a real estate broker to represent you, together picked a viable market price and you've dressed your home for success. Now let's get it out there in a way that appeals to purchasers and you're halfway home.

Be sure to come back for Part 4 in the series and best of luck to you in your sale!

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A Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 2 - Preparing For The Sale - Putting Its Best Foot Forward

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:15:13 -0500

So to recap, you've made the decision to sell your home on Long Island and you've chosen an agent to represent you. The paperwork has been signed and she or he is eager to begin the process of getting your home sold. Now what's next? Before the first marketing piece is designed and before the first agent from the MLS tours your home, you have to walk through it room by room with your REALTOR®.

I often suggest to my homeowners that we take photos of each room so they can look at their house through the eyes of a buyer. When you live with anything long enough, you tend not to see it anymore. Even if you fall in love with a piece when you buy it, over time it simply becomes part of the backdrop and it rarely engenders the same feeling it did when it first took your breath away.

Aside from pricing your home right for the market you find yourself in, the second singular reason homes sell faster at any time, but especially in a downturn, is creating an ambiance in a way that only stagers can do. Builders understood this years ago and hired decorators to design model homes to appeal to a broad range of consumers. It worked so well that they've continued the process for decades. The resale market took some time to play catch up, but once it did, designing homes to sell became a phenomenon all over the country. Long Island, always a little late to the real estate party, now offers staging services to all savvy sellers, helping homes to sell faster than the competition and for more money.

A recent homeowner of mine clearly understood the value of investing some dollars to make his home stand out in a stagnant market in Long Island's Nassau County. In the worst economic downturn we've experienced in fifty years, his home (priced at the high end of the market), garnered eight offers in a few short weeks, putting him in the enviable position of choosing the most viable candidate, his property's next residents. An investment of a few thousand dollars can bring a return of five to ten times as much, and possibly more importantly, an absence of stress as you attempt to move on to the next step in your life's journey.

Even if you don't see how worthwhile preparing your home for sale by decluttering and depersonalizing would be, let your broker do the job you hired him/her to do. If you went to a doctor to cure an ailment you wouldn't likely prescribe your own course of treatment. Trust the person you chose to work with, it will pay you back in spades.

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Nature & Marketing Contest - Looking For A Waterfront Home?

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:03:53 -0500

I am, admittedly addicted, so here is my second thought.

Nature & Marketing Contest - Tired of Renting?

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:25:04 -0500

Well here at the 11th hour is my entry for the Inspired By Nature contest.

A Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part I

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:47:02 -0500

So you've decided the time is right to sell your home on Long Island. You know it's not a great market and the competition is fierce, but you're hoping to get the premium price your neighbor got when he sold two years ago. You find it hard to understand why you'll have a problem because you've updated your property whenever it needed it, and kept it in pristine condition. You did a major remodel of the kitchen and baths in 1983 and it was the talk of the neighborhood. Though your updates may have been state of the art back then, today's buyer looks at those rooms as money pits. The average price for a kitchen overhaul today is $50,000, with bathrooms often coming in at $15-$25,000.

You pick an agent to represent you based upon their promise to get you the most money in the shortest period of time with the least amount of inconvenience to you. Sounds good. They tell you how wonderful they are and how everyone knows them. You might even hear that your representative is number one in town. I'm often amazed at how many people profess to be numero uno. Doesn't anyone want to be Avis anymore? Remember, they're the guys who try harder, and believe me in this real estate market, at least here on Long Island, you have to try harder. You have to be more inventive and you have to think out of the box.

The old ways of marketing homes simply doesn't work these days. The old "sign in the ground, stick in on MLS and pray" simply doesn't cut it. With inventories growing like weeds in an untended garden, your home had better stand out from the pack to get noticed. Then it had better be priced right to attract offers from today's savvy Internet shoppers. Data travels at warp speed on the cyber highway and is transparent, as it should be, enabling consumers to educate themselves before embarking on this high dollar purchase. Take a step back and try to look at your place objectively. Is it a warm and inviting space? Is it uncluttered, with rooms clearly defined? Have you put away all the photos of the family that decorated your tables and walls? When a buyer comes into a house, they have to be able to see it as their own in order to put it on their short list.

If you're planning to hire an agent to market your home, ask them what they plan to do to get it sold. If you like what you hear, and feel comfortable enough with this person to sign on the dotted line, do yourself a favor. Assume they know more about this market than you do and listen to their advice. A very prominent and caring doctor once said, "everyone is a doctor, but find yourself a good plumber," suggesting that it's all too easy to get advice from everyone on the street about something they know little about.

And my best advice, aside from staging your home for sale, is to price it aggressively and make adjustments when needed, especially in a declining or unsettled market. If you wait too long to see if shoppers will nibble at your price, you wind up running after the market and that is tantamount to chasing a snowball down a hill. You can't win.

A final thought. Don't worry about pricing too low. If your home is perceived to be an unusually good value by the people who vote with their dollars, you'll get more than one offer, bringing the price up (often over list price), even in a lackluster market.

Good luck with taking the first step to the next phase of your life.

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Great Waterfront Rental in Copiague, Long Island

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:11:45 -0500

What a joy it can be when, as a tenant you have the ability to dock your boat just steps from home. This pristine and spacious one bedroom in The Anchorage, a gated condo community in Copiague, offers that and so much more. With a waterfront patio to relax on, a beautiful pool with incredible bay views, tennis courts, a clubhouse, convenient laundry facilities and assigned parking, you can leave the cares of the day behind when you close the door to your first floor unit.

At $1695, plus electricity, you'll enjoy condo living in this private enclave with gorgeous water views. In addition to commodious living space, you'll love the walk in closet, easy access to laundry and activities right here in the development.

The place is pet friendly and with pre-approval and one additional month's security you won't have to worry about your furry family member. Available September 1, 2009. Just call Geri for an appointment to view it. 516-457-7103.

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My Childhood -- A Walk Down Memory Lane

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:04:49 -0500

Conjuring up images of my long ago childhood is a little like climbing attic stairs to a cobweb filled space with a comfy rocking chair in the corner in which to ruminate about the past. I find myself sitting there with a half smile on my face as the pictures play like misty water colored memories. In that place where there is no time and everything is happening now, I can even conjure up the smells associated with those times. There was the cotton candy that became one of my favorite things, even though it disappeared magically in your mouth, turning into pure sugar the moment you closed your lips. Plastic bubbles were another thing I loved, forming those perfectly rounded balls at the end of the pipe, only to blow imaginary animals or huge spheres for the world to see. And of course there were the other memories, the more painful ones.

From my earliest memories I was lucky enough to have my uncle Harry. He was my father's brother, the single one with no family of his own. He seemed to adopt us and me in particular. I remember the doorbell ringing in the too small apartment we called home, and Harry appearing like Prince Valiant, with a big smile on his face, and always a bag of goodies under his arm. He'd hand off the prize to my mother as he slapped his knees for me to climb into his arms, which I did with delight. This man was everything to me. There was no ambiguity about his feelings, he loved me without reserve, and he was my personal Santa Claus. I remember waking up Christmas mornings with great anticipation as I tore the wrappings off the gift from Harry. It was as if he read my mind, he always knew just the right thing to make a little girl happy. One year I found a pair of grown up skates, which I quickly donned and learned to skate with the best of them before long. Another year it was a magnificent Singer sewing machine, not the little girl kind, but a shiny navy blue heavy machine with a wooden base that opened to store threads and other accoutrements, and it had a real, locking bobbin thread.

One day, when I was just six years old, this marvelous, magical man died -- within three days of telling friends and family he was the next to go -- and my world was shattered. I spent days lying in bed, feet against the wall asking why. I cried my eyes out. I stared at the stars at night, wondering which one was him. I called his name, only to hear the echo of my own voice reaching out into nothingness. Then I got angry, because they said he seemed to know, I thought in my childish way that it was his choice to leave. I repeated over and over again, how could you leave me. I thought you loved me. The world went on without Harry and the family lamented the fact that he didn't save money and spent everything on . . . God knows what. Some of it was spent on making one little girl very happy. Though my days with Harry on this earth were few compared with all the years since he's gone, he's still a very real presence in my life and his impact was immeasurable.

Then there was the time my older brother decided we didn't have to endure my grandfather's beatings with a cane anymore. Mind you, he was hardly a batterer, but his way of disciplining was to pick up that cane and bring terror into the heart of the perpetrator of heaven knows what infraction. My mother worked with my father in a store at that time and often we were bundled off to the grandparents when our housekeeper was unavailable, or being transitioned to a new one. This particular day, when he was almost six and I was little more than three, he grabbed my hand, stuck a tuna sandwich in his jacket pocket and we were headed home. I wasn't sure exactly where home was, but I knew it was far away. We followed the trolley tracks as we sometimes walked, sometimes ran and occasionally stopped for a bite of lint covered tuna. When finally, after what seemed like forever, my brother stopped a man to ask how far to the store. Turned out it was still four miles away, though we'd already run at least three miles. The next little bit of time is fuzzy in my memory but I do recall being hustled off and returned to a mighty angry (and I'm sure terrified) grandma and grandpa. My parents came over and rescued us from a fate worse than death.

Since my mother worked so much of the time, we were often in the care of a number of other people, including my aunt Yetta. She was always fun to be around because she was indulgent beyond reason. There was the time she took my brother and me to the movies and bought us anything we wanted, which turned out to be way more than our little stomachs could endure. After a not so wonderful bout of retching, I came to the conclusion that too much was indeed too much.

The summer I turned three, my aunt was left in charge at our summer rental in Rockaway. One day she took me to a park and let me spend hours playing on the swings, monkey bars (my favorite) and the slide. Unfortunately at the end of the day, my shorts got caught on the metal at the top and I flew over the side, landing on my head on the hard concrete. I was unconscious and a crowd gathered to tell my aunt not to bother getting a doctor, "she's a goner." Imagine the terror she felt as they finally got a local doctor to see me and evaluate the damage. My memory of the incident AF was the doctor tapping me with (to my little girl's mind) a hammer. I couldn't understand why he'd want to hurt me more since I already hurt so much. To this day there is a flat spot on the top of my head, and some might say it has evermore affected the way I think. :-)

The memories continue to flood my brain as I call upon them but, at the risk of turning this into a book, I think I'll stop here . . . for now. What a fun and interesting journey down the highway of my life. Thanks for giving me the venue.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

Living in Freeport - Waterfront Homes and The Nautical Mile

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:33:37 -0500

On the south shore of Long Island's Nassau County, jutting out like fingers into the bay, lies a strip of land referred to as The Nautical Mile. It is home to wonderful restaurants, shops, fish markets and all things nautical. During the summer months it comes alive with visits from local residents and tourists alike as people stroll down the esplanade in search of a relaxing way to wile away the hours while soaking up some local color. Bands play as a backdrop to an outdoor eating experience as boats glide by down the canal and into the bay.

For those who enjoy a night out at sea combined with an opportunity to gamble, or a leisurely fishing trip, this is the place to find it. Or for the children, there is the miniature golf course and old fashioned ice cream parlor. This place takes me back to my childhood, for my father enjoyed nothing more than a fishing excursion to distance himself from the concerns of the day, and the sights and smells here evoke sweet memories of days gone by.

Travel just a few short blocks west of the Nautical Mile and south on Long Beach Road to the end and you'll find Freeport's Waterfront Park. A residents only oasis, it combines a playground for the children with splendid views of the bay and lots of parking.

For those lucky enough to live on the water in Freeport, the benefits are many. Relax in a year round resort type atmosphere while living minutes from all this town has to offer, as well as easy access to highways leading to all parts of Long Island and Manhattan. Right now, for one lucky buyer, there is a spacious and wonderful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath splanch with expansive views, 75' of bulkhead and a floating dock awaiting their personal touch. Summer entertaining on a huge, multilevel deck will make your guests think they've embarked on an ocean voyage.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

New Homes in Merrick for The New Construction Buyer

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:47:27 -0500

A smattering of new homes dot the landscape in Merrick, offering the buyer with a preference for new construction options in this centrally located town in Nassau County. With easy access to Manhattan (a 41 minute train ride to Penn Station), the Hamptons, Jones Beach, fishing, golf, parks and shopping, the town of Merrick is a natural choice for many people in search of their piece of the American dream.

Excellent schools, a local theater for live productions, restaurants serving up fair to appease the most diverse appetites and sensibilities, Cammann's Pond, a bucolic setting just south of Merrick Road where you can relax and watch swans, ducks and geese go about their daily lives, and a golf course are only a few of the many attractions drawing young and old to this lovely community on Long Island's south shore. For boating enthusiasts there are many home choices, from those backing a canal to the towering mc mansions with magnificent open bay views.

If it's a new home you're set on, here are just a few currently available in Merrick. A splendid, majestic stucco home sits on an oversized property on a pretty residential street, offering 9' ceilings on first and second levels, a grand, open floor plan and amenities that go way above and beyond the typical. You'll find a paver driveway, walk and front porch w/pergola, a double door entry, Pella architectural series windows and doors, custom moldings, a gourmet eat-in-kitchen w/Bosch appliances, granite counters, stainless and glass hood, porcelain floors and cherry cabinets. With beautiful hardwood floors throughout, a gas fireplace, 2 zone central air, a commodious master with walk-ins like no other and a grand ensuite, this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath property will welcome you home in style.

Another wonderful option, at a slightly higher price is this Merrick Woods colonial. Elegant features begin at the street view, with a circular driveway, brick facade and stucco trim. Once inside, light and open spaces usher you in to a beautifully designed formal center hall colonial with gleaming hardwood floors and soaring ceilings. For now, there is still time to customize the final details and to make this house uniquely your own. A 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, and the first Energy Star home to be built in Merrick, you'll enjoy living in luxury while saving money on your utility bills. Typically these homes enjoy a savings of up to 30% on your costs, while providing a quiet and comfortable environment in which to live.

For a one-of-a-kind home, this unusual and visually stunning structure is in the almost new category. Built for his own family, one of the area's premiere builders designed a unique 4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath contemporary to his own top standards. With soaring ceilings throughout the main living space and heated porcelain floors for your comfort, you'll be able to customize the plan to your specific needs. A wide open kitchen with Italian cabinetry and Miele appliances (including a built-in coffee center), a 48" subzero refrigerator, a Gaggenau pizza oven, offers the opportunity to prepare meals in style while interacting seamlessly with your guests. Each bedroom has its own bath, affording privacy to everyone in the family.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

Should I Stage My Home Before Selling? Only If You Want More Money & A Quicker Sale

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:34:55 -0500

Though staging is no longer an alien term on Long Island, it is far from de rigueur in this part of the world when placing a home on the market. Well I'm here to say it should be. Just like placing a sign on the lawn or writing a description that is geared to entice buyers to at least take a look, the package we present to the world should be polished, attractive and stand out from its competition.

What people fail to realize is, the clutter they've grown accustomed to can be an instant deterrent to a prospective buyer for whom this property might be otherwise perfect. They can't see past your stuff to the wonderful space it hides. Rooms with questionable identity are another problem. A space currently functioning as the junk room or the kids playroom, but originally designed to be a living room/family room or bedroom confuses buyers, leaving them with a negative impression as they walk back out the door. What many homeowners don't understand is, the way we live in our home is not necessarily the way we dress it to sell. If they were going on an interview, they would wear the appropriate garb to try to get the job. Once your home hits the market it is being evaluated by everyone who steps through the door or sees it on the Internet. Its merits are being weighed against all the other similar properties in the area. Making yours a standout insures a quicker sale, at a better price than competing homes. It's that simple. First impressions, though seconds in the making, have a long lasting impact.

One of the impediments faced by many Realtors® is a homeowner's inability to see the value in spending a little money up front to bring a mighty return in the end. An investment of one or two thousand dollars can bring a return of ten times that in a selling price, and can substantially cut down the time the home remains on the market. Always an important consideration, it is especially so in slower or down markets as experienced in so much of the country right now.

A recently staged home of mine, with a savvy homeowner who recognized the value of his investment, brought multiple offers in a very short period of time, with the numbers coming in higher than any of us imagined. There is no other way to say it, STAGING WORKS!

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

If You Owe The Bank More Than The House is Worth -- A Short Sale Story on Long Island

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sat, 23 May 2009 09:46:05 -0500

It started much as any other listing I've taken in the past 22 years, with a great deal of enthusiasm and a marketing plan to get the word out about this lovely home in one of the area's most sought after sections. The only problem, and it was a significant one, was that the seller had purchased a year before at the height of the market, with very little money down, and his goal was to get out of this house and into another financially intact. I told him at the outset that market conditions had changed. His expectations were lofty considering the tenor of the housing market on Long Island. After giving them the information I suggested they discuss what they wanted to do before signing an agreement for me to market their home.

It is imperative, when in any stage of a buyer's market, to price realistically, otherwise you find yourself making incremental adjustments as the market continues its decline. I often tell my sellers it's like chasing a snowball down a hill. You can't win. You have to be ahead of the market, not chasing its tail. These sellers found themselves in an untenable situation. With not enough equity to adapt to lower prices, the property ultimately became a short sale, in which we were dealing with two lenders. This is not territory for the uninitiated. Navigating through the muddy waters of a pre foreclosure scenario requires a significant understanding of the process and bank requirements to bring it to a successful conclusion.

I would strongly advise any distressed sellers today facing a short sale to choose their agent carefully and to be as honest as possible, letting your Realtor® know exactly what your situation is. It's happening all over the country in astounding numbers, so you're not alone. You need an advocate to walk you through the process and explain in simple english what is happening along the way. Though you may feel alone as you head through this dark tunnel, you need not be. We're here to make it easier.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-425-6098

The Future of Long Island Real Estate -- According to Whom?

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:33:08 -0500

Just yesterday I was told by a buyer that prices were going to come down an additional 20% in the area. Since he was looking in the $900,000 range, in his mind that translated into a $180,000 reduction in price on any home he was interested in. He had read it in the newspaper, so it had to be so -- right? Not!

This is not the first time in my life I've stood face to face with an opinion of fact that turned out not to be so. In an earlier incarnation I worked for Sotheby's, the auction house. I stood at a major auction along with representatives of the big three television stations and various print media to witness the sale of some rather spectacular art pieces. Later that evening while watching the news I heard the reporter say something that was absolutely untrue. I'm not saying he was lying, I'm sure that was his perception of the truth, but it was not fact. The problem is, when people hear or read what they believe to be a reliable source stating a fact, they take it as the gospel. What they need to know is it often is someone's perception, therefore subjective.

So, back to real estate for a moment. Those prognosticators out there are, at the very least wrong half the time. You can't take the word of anyone predicting the future of this business or any other at absolute face value. How many times have the gurus been dead wrong about the direction of the stock market? If those who study it, and live it every day don't know, how can the doomsayers. The only way to know the bottom of any market is after it starts heading back up, and then, if you've been waiting to make a killing, you've missed the boat.

One long time truth about real estate is it is a great long term investment, both based on finances and possibly more importantly, lifestyle. This is a great time to invest in your future and that of your family. Prices are down, values are there. You simply have to realize that homes are priced for current conditions, not at some abstract price from which you can lop off an indeterminate percentage. Work with someone you trust and take that leap of faith. You could be smiling broadly a couple of years from now.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Sometimes Life is Not All About Real Estate . . . Sometimes It's About Dreams

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:25:37 -0500

For the second time in as many years I found myself mesmerized by the video playing out its magic on my computer screen. Another contestant on Britain's Got Talent was about to be interviewed and given a chance to audition for the judges and a none too encouraging audience. It almost felt like someone would be waiting in the wings to extend the hook to reel in Susan Boyle. With what audacity did this middle aged, poorly dressed woman from a town in Scotland have to voice her dream of becoming a professional singer. The crowd laughed. Simon rolled his eyes. She hadn't a chance. But lo and behold as the music began to swell, the most extraordinary sounds began to fill the theater. Her rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables was astounding. It was stunning. Unleashing a power from deep in her core, perhaps a soul memory of gifts from the past, perhaps a simple need to finally realize the dream that lay dormant for most of her life.

She was admittedly, never married -- "never been kissed" she added wistfully when telling her story. A life of so many unfulfilled dreams, so many days and months and years waiting for something to take her to the stage of her mind . . . to live out her fantasies. There's a lesson in it for us all I think. We all have dreams, some we think we can fulfill, some seeming so far beyond our reach. Dare to dream. Dare to reach. Without it you're doomed to failure.

For Susan Boyle, I hope you follow in the footsteps of Paul Potts, the last contestant who had me crying every time I saw him perform. There's something especially magical about watching someone with an absence of guile, and arrogance, pull ahead of the pack to burst through the tape victorious at the finish line.

If you haven't already seen it, give yourself the gift of watching it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-KiGva9dV4&NR=1

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Spring Fresh -- A Time of Rebirth and Revitilization

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:07:06 -0500

I love spring, always have. Maybe it's because of the dreariness of winter, the fact that everything looks just a little bit grayer and the world (at least in this part of the northeast) seems to stumble and occasionally come to a dead halt. With hopes raised in March, knowing that even an errant snow storm this late in the season isn't likely to take hold for very long, I feel much like the seedlings taking root, ready to burst through the soil.

It's a time of rebirth. The early flowers adding much needed color to the landscape, with a promise of better things to come. It's especially poignant for me this year. I've come out of a year and a half life lesson that has been costly, both on a physical and emotional level. We take so many things for granted, our health, the people in our world, that tomorrow will march ahead just like today and all the yesterdays before it. But this was the year I had to face the fact that it was not always so.

I, who have always been the one to take care of everyone else, got sick. I'd like to say it happened overnight, but that wouldn't really be true. I just ignored all the warning signs until one day I almost collapsed in the mall and was taken to the hospital. That probably turned out to be one of the luckiest days of my life. Had I not had that major tap on the shoulder, I might not be writing this story now. After six days of tests yielding nothing much by way of explanation, they finally found out I had a 90% blockage of an artery.

In these days of medical miracles, a simple procedure should have been no more than a blip on the radar screen, and I should have bounced back better than ever. But my plans of getting back to work in a week didn't play out quite that way. One to never take medication, the drugs they prescribed to keep my blood pressure under control were wreaking havoc on my body and I seemed to get worse, not better. For the better part of a year I wondered if the old Geri even lived inside anymore.

When finally things began to look up, I got back into the world I knew -- that of selling houses. The problem, as many of us know, is right about the same time the buyers decided however temporarily, to remain on the sidelines while the real estate market found it's own feet. I wasn't alone in my quest for business but I was building from the foundation up . . . and I'd dried up all the funds I had when I couldn't work. Terror is never a good place to dwell when you're out there trying to pick up the pieces, but I couldn't seem to help myself. I was frightened. Never before in over 22 years had I not been at least relatively consistent in my production. My future seemed totally out of my control.

As things happen, when I finally recognized that sometimes you simply have to let go and trust that it will all work out in the end, everything in my world started to change. I'd forgotten for a time the simple lesson that whatever you put out in the universe is what you attract. A sense of peace came over me and not surprisingly the phone began to ring. I'm no fool and I'm not a Pollyanna and I recognize I'm still climbing a very steep hill to get to the place from which I fell, but the sun is shining, the sky is bluer and the universe is standing there with open arms. I feel a little like that early spring plant piercing the earth, claiming its place in the garden.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Merrick Woods New Construction -- Going Green

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:23:20 -0500

The first ENERGY STAR home to be built in Merrick is sprouting up on Woodbine Avenue in Merrick Woods, an amalgam of majestic style, quality and green elements to create an elegant environment with an eye to energy conservation. Without sacrificing style or livability, the builder is employing the best available technology to create a home that delivers comfort, performance and lower utility bills. Ever mindful of the escalating cost of energy, coupled with diminishing resources, homes built to ENERGY STAR specifications save homeowners approximately 30% in energy costs while creating a quieter, healthier living environment.

With the brick facade being installed as this is written, the final touches will soon be in place on the exterior of this stately home. As of this moment, buyers still have the option to choose their own finishes and be part of the design process. A four bedroom, two and a half bath colonial, it offers 9' ceilings on the first and second floors, an upper level laundry room, granite and stainless appliances in the well laid out gourmet kitchen. Custom Pella doors and windows, moldings, two zone central air, central vac, hardwood floors and porcelain tile, pavers front and rear, an in ground pool, 200 amp electric are just a few of the additional elements that make this home unique and special. Unseen but integral to the value of this home is the 2x6 construction on all exterior walls with R19-R24 insulation, employing a hybrid system to improve the thermal efficiency of the structure.

Though others may follow, this first segue into the world of green construction in Merrick certainly has been done with panache.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Living in Merrick Woods

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:18:22 -0500

On Nassau County's south shore of Long Island, just 41 scheduled minutes from Penn Station on the Babylon line of the Long Island Railroad, sits a well manicured enclave of homes on tree lined streets, known as Merrick Woods. Just moments from shopping, schools and the charming revitalized town center, yet a world away in feeling, this well loved area as it exists today was developed in the early to mid twentieth century. Homes have evolved over the years, some taking on a whole new persona while others wear subtle changes that only enhance the vision conceived in the developer's mind.

Housing styles include wonderful old tudors, ranger ranches (sprawling homes that lend themselves to the many updated and reconfigured styles they've become over the years), colonials, cape cods and a smattering of split levels, hi ranches and splanches.

There's a sense of permanence here in the woods that appeals to the many buyers who choose this as their future destination. It's quietly elegant, friendly in feeling and accommodating to people in any stage of their life's journey. The children of "the woods" attend schools in one of three districts, #29 (North Merrick), #25 (Merrick) or #4 (Bellmore), depending upon the street the house sits on. Excellent schools all, it is common for people who grew up here to gravitate back to Merrick Woods and all of Merrick for that matter, when they marry and begin to raise their own families.

For the new home lover, occasionally new construction springs up, offering buyers the best of two worlds. For one lucky person, such is the case right now, with a majestic custom colonial (the first Energy Star home built in Merrick) on the market.

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com or http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Sometimes Life Reminds Me of Musical Chairs

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:14:29 -0600

As a child I hated playing musical chairs because inevitably, and sometimes long before the game was over, I would find myself shoved off a chair I had occupied, however momentarily, onto the floor by a child with fire in his or her eyes. It was an ignominious end to an altogether unpleasant experience, with the victor grinning from ear to ear as I dusted off my injured pride.

Maybe that's why as an adult I'm so turned off by overtly aggressive people. You know the kind, the in your face, catch me if you can, megalomaniacs who truly believe the world revolves around them. Needless to say, we have more than our fair share of them in this industry. I pride myself on integrity, knowledge of the business and ability to get the job done -- when I get a product I can sell. More than once I've closed my presentation book, stood up and wished a homeowner luck when the seller's unrealistic expectations assured a negative outcome and months of aggravation for us both. I've said, "I'd rather turn you down now than let you down later," before walking out the door.

One of my biggest problems is when another agent tells them they can expect much more money from the sale than I know they can realize in a given market. the other agent knows as well as I do that it won't happen, but they bargain on the seller reducing the price over time till it finally reaches market value. Unfortunately, in a declining scenario, attempting to bring an overpriced listing to a viable selling price is tantamount to chasing a snowball down a hill, with the unwary owner getting much less than he might have if the house was positioned properly in the first place.

Not long ago I was approached by a seller on Long Island who had found me on the Internet. We corresponded at the start, then talked on and off for years till he finally decided the time was right to sell his home. So I was more than a little surprised when he told me at our meeting that much as he liked me, he'd decided to go with someone else. I had been his go to person every time there was a blip on the real estate radar screen. What had gone wrong? He finally told me that he didn't think I had the killer instinct and the other guy was very aggressive, and an expert in selling higher priced homes. It turned out not to be true. In actuality the other only sold two homes the year before and none in the current year. My dilemma was, do I tell him -- or not? I decided against it, reminding him instead of all the things I could do for him and wishing him luck whatever his choice.

Much to my surprise a few days later I got a call from him. He'd decided to go with me after all. One of the major things that changed his mind was my ability to stage the house. this story has a very happy ending for us both. In a lackluster and overstocked market, we got multiple offers within weeks of listing it, enabling him to move on painlessly to the next stage of his life. If you had asked him if we were in a difficult market, I suspect his answer would have been "no."

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About the author:

Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 22 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://175Sherman.GreatCustomHome.com 516-457-7103

Talk About Value Added . . .

Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:26:41 -0600

It's been a long time since I've questioned the intrinsic value of staging a home, but recent events bring the benefits clearly into focus. In a market in which there are hundreds of homes available in a town on any given day, setting a listing apart from the pack can reduce its time on the market substantially. Case in point: after spending about 4 weeks bringing a forty something year old home into the twenty-first century by making major and minor adjustments, I took a basically unsalable piece of real estate and turned it into a highly desirable commodity. With the average home in the area (at that time) taking up to six months to sell, this property received six offers and the gavel came down (no auction involved) on the winning bid a short two months into the process.

My latest staging involved a much higher priced home in need of some depersonalizing, clutter removal and redesign. This one only took five days and the results were dramatic. As of this moment, just weeks into the listing, we have an accepted offer. In the current selling environment it's astounding. I've always understood the value of this service but I can now sell it with the undeniable confidence that it will quickly and positively affect my sellers' bottom line. So I guess you could say I've gone from simple believer to zealot.