Fishhawk Lake Real Estate-I Calls 'Em Likes I Sees 'Em!
That might be a down-home, "Ah Shucks" way to say it, but it's the truth!
When my neighbors give me the ultimate compliment of asking me to represent them as their listing agent for properties at Fishhawk Lake or Vernonia, I wanna do right by 'em and give them the low-down, the straight story.
I don't feel you need to smack someone over the head with the blunt force truth, but I do think you need to TELL THE TRUTH in a kind and sometimes humorous manner. If their house is just not going to sell in this market, or they're in too deep financially, I'm going to say:
I think you ought to wait.
I don’t do a formal presentation….it’s not my style. We have a conversation. These are my neighbors, after all. I do occasionally bring the calculator and we crunch numbers. But, this usually comes after we talk about their situation, I get to see the home, and we talk about their hopes, and their ultimate goals and we see if they are feasible in this economy.
As always, pricing is a key factor. I let them know that the buyer will feel like they have all of the cards right now and will most likely come in with a low offer. I also mention that if they plan to buy another piece of property, they’ll make up for it on the other end. But, straight out of the gate you have to be sensible and reasonable with your price. Rarely will I agree to a price that I think is too much and sometimes I won’t take a listing if I think that I’m setting us both up for failure by pricing it unrealistically, just because that’s what the seller stubbornly wants. I learned that lesson five years ago when I took one of my first listings and it was WAY overpriced and guess what?—it’s STILL on the market FIVE YEARS LATER. Thank God I don’t have it listed—what a nightmare!
It’s not about the money. Well, it IS if they’re not going to make any! I don’t represent short sales or foreclosures at Fishhawk Lake or in Vernonia so most people who own property at Fishhawk Lake can sit down with me and we weigh it out together and maybe wait until it’s a more fiscally advantageous time. I also always give my neighbors a 1% discount, as my way of saying thank you. I don’t count my own money as part of the equation until the property has closed. It is one of those smart business decisions I made early on…you can’t (literally) bank on something until it is officially THERE in hand.
We talk about options. Maybe holding off, refinancing at a much lower interest rate and possibly getting to write off the interest if it’s an equity line of credit works best. Maybe start with a pocket listing and get feedback from my buyers. One thing I don’t do is push. I will guide, I will offer advice and back it up with facts, but ultimately they know their bottomline. At the end of the day, I feel that my clients are best served if I calls ‘em likes I sees ‘em!
Gayle C. Rich-Boxman
Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
"Your Gateway to the Lake!"
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: http://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/
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