Dawn's Blog

Ethics vs Greed or am I just an Idealistic Realtor?

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:36:11 -0500

Help me out here folks because I am really struggling on this one....

I currently have numerous listings in a neighborhood where homes are still being built. We all know how difficult it can be to compete with new construction; especially when the construction company also has an owner's interest in a mortgage company and can offer tantalizing financing incentives. But...what about when you are told Good Luck selling your resales because the builders are offering huge incentives to Buyer's Agents?!

What exactly does that imply? Am I to understand that there are actually agents who will just show their buyers the newer homes because it is a bigger payoff to them??? I've heard the justification - well, the homes are the same anyway, so they aren't shortchanging the buyer on homes that fit their criteria. But really - I have shown two homes that were identical in floor plan, both with colors throughout the homes that the buyers liked, but the floor plans were simply reversed. In one home, the kitchen was on the left and FR on the right. On the other home, vice versa. And the buyers made their decision on which home solely on which side of the house the kitchen was on! (Something you would not know without having actually gone in to see the home!)

Now it's one thing if a buyer has specified that they want a new home. I get that. But I have had several agents suggest that my sellers need to offer an incentive to the buyer's agent to get them to even show their home. WHY? Isn't it our JOB to show the homes that meet our buyer's criteria?

I represent both sellers and buyers. And when I send homes to my buyer clients, I send them EVERYTHING that fits what they have told me they are looking for. I don't care if it is the same floor plan five times over. They might like the position of the rooms better in one over another, the position of the sun rising/setting, etc. And the way I see it, if they are all in the same neighborhood anyway, it'll be a quick trip. They quickly realize they are looking at the same floor plan, and if it is one they like, we walk through all of them so they can decide which one they like better as far as personal characteristics. But that is up to my BUYER to decide, not ME! It should be based on their personal preference, NOT MY COMMISSION!!

Am I crazy here? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying a buyer's agent shouldn't accept a commission bonus when one is offered. But I do have to say, if agents start narrowing their buyer's list based on their commission check, the backlash is going to be ugly! Commission bonuses may be banned. And I think it goes without saying what that will do to our already struggling public image as a profession.

Imagine telling your sellers that they may want to consider offering an incentive to buyer's agent just so they will consider showing their home....wow, are we not screaming out - REALTORS are greedy?!

I would really LOVE to hear I am not the only one baffled by this...Call me idealistic, but I still believe there are those who are looking out for the best interests of their clients...you know, people who are still doing their job.

Rolesville Rocks

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:35:34 -0500

I have been a resident of Rolesville for a little over two years now. How did it happen? A Realtor friend of mine had mentioned a Broker Open House in a certain community, The Village at Rolesville.

The luncheon was being catered by Lady Fingers, which I love. And we all know how Realtors love a good, free meal anyways! Well, let me just say, that was the most expensive "free" meal I have ever had! LOL

When you consider that I see, on average, 30 homes a month...I never expected to go to a Broker Open House and fall in love with a home myself! I wasn't even thinking about moving! But the model home was all I could think about after the luncheon. I went back to visit...several times in one week. The floor plan, the upgrades included, I just loved everything about it! I HAD to have it! So the week of my birthday, I went in and signed a contract. Happy birthday to me!

I admit I had reservations about leaving Raleigh and moving to the much smaller neighboring town of Rolesville. Now granted, my new home was less than ten miles from my home in Raleigh, but it just seemed soooo much further away. Could I handle the "long" drive in to the office, to the mall, and what about my fast food habit?? We all know it only takes about all of five minutes for the french fries to get cold!

Two years and five months later, it was the best decision ever! It's funny how the first time you drive somewhere it seems to take forever to get there. But once you've driven the route a few times (and check the mileage and time the trips - you know, all the things we tell our clients to do before deciding where to buy a home), you see that the 18 minute drive to the mall really isn't that long. And as far as my fast food habit...be careful what you ask for! After I moved in to my home, Sonic opened a store in town. As if buying a new home weren't enough, I now had the temptation of blowing my budget on the number two combo several times a week! (For those that don't have the menu memorized - that would be the Super Sonic Cheeseburger, with macaroni & cheese snacks and a drink - sometimes I choose the Vanilla Coke and other times I splurge and get the chocolate cream pie shake.)

And I have to say, in the short time I have lived in Rolesville, I have become more involved and feel more attached to the community I live in than in the 8 years I lived in Raleigh. I've found it's easier to get to know people in a smaller town. Yet I still have all the conveniences of living in a bigger city - several grocery stores within 5 miles of home, banks, pizza places, city events like parades, fireworks, and even a fair! No wonder the slogan for Rolesville is small town...bright future!

Rolesville Rocks!

Can't We All Just Get Along...

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:20:50 -0500

It seems this is a common theme that has been popping up around me lately...and in a "cut throat" business, I have been finding myself starting to wonder if we aren't the ones doing the cutting...to our own throats!

Point one - I was recently speaking with a graphic designer friend. She works for herself and we were discussing the ups and downs of owning our own businesses and trying to keep a strong momentum going. We've had many brainstorming sessions with each other and always walk away from them with some new idea or strategy. And we thought how nice would it be to be able to do this with someone who is actually in our specific field and can relate even more to the situation and offer more insight to each other. She said she had tried to do just that and always hits a road block with other designers. And, of course, I have visited that same road block many a time myself! It's one thing if I talk to an agent who is in another state, but trying to talk to anyone in your geographical area...it's like if one single idea is shared, "OMG that person is going to take over the entire region and I will be out of a job!" People, do we really have all of our ability to do business wrapped up in to one single idea, that if we share and help others, we will never get another buyer or seller again? I mean, I'm not saying hand over your entire business model and all of your marketing pieces. But general ideas - what do you find works best in keeping in contact with your database: phone calls, emails, monthly mailings, a combination of all? Where do you get the most activity/feedback on advertising your listings: the internet, print media, open houses? Just a general discussion of what people are seeing working for their business.

Point two - Along these same lines, a networking group I have been part of for almost a year now has been struggling with trying to grow our group. Someone suggested we speak with some of the larger and more successful groups in the area and see what they have to say. Someone responded that this has been attempted in the past and just like the above scenario - Road Block. If the bigger, more experienced group were to share too much, our group might grow to be even bigger than their group! OH NO! catastophe! Please....we aren't looking to steal members here. Wehave been more than happy to announce the information of these other groups when someone visits ours and we already have their seat filled. At that point, why hold that person back just because they can't join our group. Refer them on to another one and wish them the best. Aren't we supposed to be about helping people grow their business?

Point three (and I promise I will wind this up) - I recently had one of my smoothest closings. At closing, the other agent and I both commented on how smooth everything went and how great it was to work with each other. It occurred to me, why aren't more of our closings like this? It's not our job to make friends with the other agents, but if we work WITH them on a level of integrity and professionalism and respect, doesn't that work in our client's best interests also? Is it necessary to start a transaction with an "I'm going to huff, I'm going to puff, I'm going to blow your client's house down!" kind of attitude? You all know what I am talking about...I have no doubt everyone has dealt with an agent like this at one time or another. What does this kind of attitude really serve? Except maybe the ego of the agent....

Enough of my soap box. In fairness, I have to say I have found some agents on the RE/MAX website who are very open to the idea of helping each other step out of their boxes with different perspectives and ideas. And I can say the same about some of the folks here on Active Rain. I know I am always looking for ideas that are new, fresh and just plain different from stuff I have tried before. And I get a certain sense of excitement when I have been able to offer that help to someone else. For the skeptics, it's not just about helping someone else...you never know what YOU are going to get out of it too! Even if you're the one rattling off ideas, one thing you may say could be the catalyst for someone else to offer a brilliant idea. But if you're too scared to talk and share with others, it's your own throat that you could be cutting and your own business you could be stifling...

Earning my ASP

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:13:16 -0500

All the world's a stage....and so should your home if you are trying to sell it! While I still feel the media has over-hyped the notion that real estate is in a "the world is coming to an end- market" I do agree that we are in a buyer's market. So when you are trying to sell your home in a buyer's market, you have to take some extra measures to make your home stand out above the rest. And the first way to do that is stop thinking of it as your Home. It is no longer your Home, but a house that you are currently living in and trying to move out of.

Over the years I have learned the importance of truly "staging" a house to meet buyer's expectations and allow them to visualize themselves living in the house rather seeing the sellers in it. Yet the more I read and the more I learned, the more I realized I had even more to learn! I finally went for my ASP designation - Accredited Staging Professional. It was a wonderful learning and hands-on experience. After learning the importance of staging, different staging principles for both interior and exterior, and also how to explain staging and its importance to sellers, we then as a class went to a home for hands-on experience. (First of all, I have to say what a brave woman the home owner was! I mean to let 36 strangers come in to your home and have their way with it....WOW! I would have been in straight jacket by the end of the day.) It was such a great opportunity to share ideas, feed off of each other's creativity and learn from each other and the experience.

I had met with some sellers just days before taking the class. They purposely waited until I had completed the course so I could be more prepared to stage their home for listing. The other agent on my team took the course with me. So we tackled the house together and after just a couple of visits to the house, we Staged it for sale. While the sellers were a little surprised by their "new" house, every feedback received so far has been GREAT! And that in turn has made my clients very happy! Which is what my job is all about!

Fun on The Website - Warning! It can be addicting!

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:47:30 -0600

Ok so the truth is, this is something that started out as a way to take a break and relax for myself. But then I thought, how many buyers are out there searching the internet and getting frustrated trying to find the right home and need a moment to just relax and look at something different...

so that being said, back at Halloween time last year I came across this great little hangman site. It was all words, phrases, etc that had to do with Halloween. I found it absolutely adorable...and addicting!! You can imagine my fear as Halloween came and went...what would I do for a moment of peace? Well they then moved on to Thanksgiving Hangman, and proceeded to honor each holiday as they came! I decided to link this fun little game on my website. Just click on the Holiday Fun button and have at it! But be forewarned...this game is addicting!

The Holidays

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:05:37 -0600

I don't care what anyone says, this is a great time of year for real estate! For those who purchased their home this year, this is a wonderful time to reflect on and appreciate what a difference it makes to be in that bigger home, or the home closer to your family, or maybe your first home ever. And for those who are thinking of moving, it's nothing like spending yet another holiday in a place you're not thrilled with to say next year is THEE year! I already have my first two months of 2008 booked with people who are ready to make a change for the New Year. Instead of being disappointed or just downright depressed, they look at it with a renewed sense of motivation and HOPE. And hope is something everyone should have this time of year.

My hope is that each and every one of you have a healthy, happy and safe Holiday Season!!!

Business is Fair - Literally

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:00:48 -0500

"Well, the market is taking a turn for the worse. I bet you're worried about your job." This the kind of thing I hear on a pretty regular basis these days. The truth though - business is just as good as ever! It just may be more "fair" now. Instead of putting a home on the market and then having offers pour in before I even have time to work my advertising magic, I now get the opportunity to actually show my sellers what I can do! Sure it's wonderful to proudly proclaim "SOLD in 3 days!" But it is just as wonderful to list a home, advertise that home, and show my sellers what I am willing to do and capable of doing. And then have their referrals pour in!

I didn't get in to real estate as part of some master get rich quick plan. I knew that my education and my experiences in life would make me a great Realtor. And I knew I would take pride in helping people achieve the American Dream of owning a home. At times when the market may slow down A LITTLE (reports of the real estate market crashing are strongly exaggerated!), I'm OK with putting in some extra energy (God knows I have enough) and taking that opportunity to shine! I have no problems working for my income. Real estate is my job. I love what I do, but it is a job and I expect to get paid for it. Which is why I equally expect to work for that pay! And it seems to me, that is fair!

Introducing The Dawn Nuzzi Team

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:10:12 -0500

I am excited and proud to announce that after four years of working on a real estate team, the time has come for me to go on my own and start The Dawn Nuzzi Team! While I have had such a great experience working with, and learning from, my past team leader and team members, I felt I was ready to take my experience and form a team of my own, continuing to provide the same level of customer service as before. And adding other Realtors to my team who have the same desire and passion to assist buyers and sellers in the most important investment of their lives.

Elizabeth LaFon joins me on September 1st. She brings with her a strong background having worked in the mortgage industry for the past four years. Elizabeth looks forward to using her experiences and knowledge in assisting our clients.

I assisted Elizabeth and her husband Matt in the sale of their home and purchase of their new one not too long ago. She knows firsthand the level of superior customer service I strive to give all of my clients. We are both excited and enthusiastic to work together in ensuring our future clients are expertly guided through the process of buying and selling!

My First Real Estate Blog

Dawn Nuzzi (RE/MAX Capital Realty) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:30:16 -0500

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my first real estate Blog. As the market and industry continues to evolve, I strive to stay on top of all the latest trends. And blogging seems to be one of the latest and greatest of these trends...and what a great way to reach Buyers and Sellers in the Triangle in a nice, informal, "really get to know me" way!

I have been a REALTOR since 2003. I purchased my first home in 2001 and had a HORRIFIC experience!! The agent I used treated me like a nuisance and tried to brush me off numerous times...before I even even closed on my house he said he really didn't have anything more to do with the transaction and I no longer had to contact him! I thought - are you kidding me?!?!!! Once everything FINALLY closed I continued to obsess over my ordeal. It just didn't seem right. I mean surely there was a better way to work with clients and help them with what should be an exciting time! After driving my friends crazy with my obsession and tips now that they were buying their first homes, one finally suggested I get my license. It was clear that I had a passion for real estate and a strong desire to do a better job for others than someone did (or more to the point, didn't!) do for me. And that, my friends, is how it all began! It was one of the best decisions of my life! A job isn't everything but boy it sure helps to really LOVE what you do like I do!

As I get started with different blog topics, if any of you have any real estate questions, specific or general, I want you to feel free to contact me. I will be happy to post your questions along with my reply on my real estate blog. (Unless, of course, you have a more personal question regarding real estate, I will respectively reply in private.) Often times people have the same questions but just don't know who to ask. Now you have that forum! Let's get going!