Helping families, couples or even a single person make the transition from their city to ours is always a fun and exciting time for me when selling real estate. The anticipation along with the trepidation of making such a move can seem and feel quite daunting to them and I love to help smooth the way and introduce them to our area.

Last year one such couple was transferring here from the Midwest. Excitement was in the air as they contemplated their new positions in Washington DC and their new home in the Annapolis Md area. We found the perfect new home for them and before long they were settled in and exploring all that Annapolis, Baltimore and the Washington DC area had to offer.

But alas, the Midwest kept calling their names so when a position became available back in their previous hometown area they jumped at the chance and then gave me a call to come list their home. I was excited for them but knew there would be some challenges ahead as they had only been here a little over a year.

Our first challenge was prices had dropped in their neighborhood. About 2% from when they bought. Not too shabby considering other areas had dropped far more but still not a good thing since it meant money being brought to the table to sell.  

Our next challenge was the competition. With 14 available homes on the market all very similar to theirs  and 8 of those in their very own neighborhood that was a heavy load to cut through. 

Another challenge was that the average days on market was 84 days. Way too long for them to be able to be at their new jobs in the Midwest on time.  And our final challenge was our view. We had a lovely woodsy view with a side peak of other homes but we did not have that golf course view so many others on the market had this time around. What to do, what to do.

So we sat down and concentrated on their neighborhood. We looked at the Solds (only 3 recent ones) and the under contracts (only 2 of those) and the 8 available for sale (way too many). The other 6 available we kept on the back burner as they were in the same zip code but not the same amenity filled neighborhood. We went through each and every one with a fine tooth comb and came up with a plan to price and market their home.

Now I will say this property was beautiful as the Sellers had done a fine job of making it a home however there were also a few others out there that were just as beautiful and priced just as well for a Buyer to choose from.  So we were quite happy when on the very first day of being listed we got word of a showing. A showing by an agent who I had worked with just a few months earlier. 

After the showing I received feedback via email saying that it was a consideration. Great I thought. I emailed back saying thanks for showing and for the feedback and if there was any additional information that he or his Buyer needed in regards to the home to not hesitate to contact me. Then I said if this home works for your Buyer that it sure would be nice to work with you once again.

A few days passed with no word and I was beginning to feel they had moved on when a call came my way saying they were going to write a contract. The call ended by him saying he was taking me up on my offer to work together once again. Wow!!

So now we are under contract. The Buyer is ecstatic over the home, the agent is happy to be working with me and me with him and the Sellers.... well they are ecstatic too. They can not believe how quickly they cut through the competition and that their dream of moving back to the Midwest is actually going to happen and on time.  

So how did we cut through ALL the competition and go under contract in 8 days? Well... part of it came from the time the Sellers and I strategized over price and where in the competition we wanted to be. And yes part was the beautiful condition of the property. But another part was the relationship built between me and the other agent. From the two of us working successfully and professionally together in the past to make a home that was for sale by one work to become the new home of another. 

Yes, agency relationships are very important. Important between a Seller and their agent and a Buyer and their agent. But they are also important between one agent and another.

It can make all the difference in the world when cutting through the competition.

About the Author- Martha Brown is a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) whose passion is homes in the Annapolis MD area and surrounding communities. Her goal is to help her clients understand the real estate market and to then be able to make sound real estate decisions. Martha is a 3rd generation Annapolitan who writes about her experiences in and out of the real estate market. Her passion has carried over to her granddaughter, Nichole, who is her partner in business. Between the two of them they offer a wide and full range of real estate services that cover 4 counties bordering Annapolis MD. Martha has been in the real estate business for 17 years of which all have been associated with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., the largest independently owned real estate company in the Mid Atlantic.

Martha can be reached  at 800-735-5122 X5011 or Martha@TheRealEstate-Lady.com

To search for homes for sale in the Annapolis Md area or to see Martha's listings visit:

www.TheRealEstate-Lady.com