Grab the Bull by the Whatever

Grab the bull by the . . . well it used to be "horns," but the common usage seems to have shifted in recent times.

This blog was inspired by a trip to New York a few months ago.  Wandering around lower Manhattan, I walked by the iconic bull statue that defines Wall Street to tourists.  As this picture shows, it's a popular spot for pictures, with a long line of people waiting at the front of the bull to have a picture taken of them grabbing the bull by the horns.

But wait - there was a smaller, yet more rabid line of people at the other end of the bull!  Being curious, I had to investigate.  Yes, as it turns out many people also want to have a picture of themselves grabbing the bull somewhere else!  Quite the anatomically correct statue.   And I'm guessing it's been grabbed there a lot - look how shiny the bonze has been polished by all of those hands!

So now let's get to the real estate part of this blog.

Whether you are a buyer, seller or real estate agent, it's time to grab the bull by the whatever!

Buyers - Whether this is your first or tenth home, let me clue you in to a reality.  Even in today's down market, the really nice, well priced homes move quickly.  I know this is a monumental decision for you, but I see too many buyers who really want to buy a specific house lose that opportunity when they overthink the process and watch someone else buy the house out from under them.

Or, wanting to get the best "deal" available, ignore the agent's comps and low-ball (no pun intended) an offer - only to see someone else with a realistic offer get the property.

Buyers - Grab the bull by the whatever!

Sellers - Gone are the days when you could slap a sale sign up on your home without doing any work and receive five competing offers on the second day.  In today's market, you have to listen to your real estate professional to get your home in the condition it needs to be in for sale, and price your home correctly by heeding the sales prices of your comparable properties.

Sellers - Grab the bull by the whatever!

Agents - Do not forget your fiduciary duty to your clients, both buyers and sellers.  Real Estate, done correctly, is hard work.  Don't just take a few pictures of your seller's home and slap up an MLS listing.  Market the home, showcase the home - do whatever you can to get the home sold!

When working with buyers, it's not just driving them to houses they've picked out on the Internet.  Listen you your buyers - find them options they may not have seen on their own.  Dig for information on houses they're interested in.  Do your job!!

Agents - Grab the bull by the whatever!

I think I'm eating chicken tonight . . .