Are you fit to sell?

I was preparing dinner a few weeks ago and had the weather channel on to catch the week's forecast. My mind was kind of tuned out as I was running down the list of the comings and goings in our household for that evening. Before I even got as far as "drum lessons", I was immediately reeled back in to the present by those five words . . . are you fit to sell?

I couldn't believe it! This is my mantra. I've lived and breathed this for much longer than I've even had my own home staging business. I mean, I have my business because I passionately believe in preparing a home or property for sale! (Well, only if you care about getting top dollar, that is.;-0)

But then I froze--onion tears and all--as I tried to figure out the implications of a nation-wide campaign by one of North America's leading real estate franchises empowering home owners to be more proactive in selling their homes. Would this be good for business? Bad for business? What if they are "giving away" information that makes a staging consultation no longer necessary?

Well, I am glad to say that as the proverbial ball spun around the wheel in my mind, that it firmly landed on, it's all good.

What I believe this campaign and value-added service by ReMax professionals will do is . . .

• Increase awareness that buyers have changed right along with their expectations. Thus, sellers must change as well, if they want to attract those buyers and profit in today's real estate market.
  
• Increase competition among real estate professionals to offer value-added services and arm their sellers with appropriate knowledge and tactics to compete in this brave new market. Realtors who have more than just a big black marker in their toolkits for price reductions will be sought out as true real estate marketing professionals. And for those Realtors who have banged their heads against the wall getting their vendors to "step up", they will now have tangible motivation backing them up!
  
• Increase demand for home staging consultations and services as most sellers will feel overwhelmed and stressed with the extra burden to keep up (isn't time already at a premium??).
  
• And ultimately . . . Increase the quality of pre-owned homes for sale. This is where everyone wins! I believe it will bring home-maintenance issues to the forefront of home owner's minds, knowing that when they go to sell down the road, good maintenance all along the way will pay off.

But that's my opinion! I'd love to hear what others think about this rather "progressive" move on ReMax's part! Exciting times . . .