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KISS - Keep It Simple Silly!

By
Real Estate Agent with Calcagni Real Estate, Hamden, Connecticut Connecticut REB.0750397

Have you noticed how stressed everyone seems to be lately? Too much bad news and too much information flying at us are making people cranky. In these trying times it is best to keep things simple. There are some basic tenets to real estate that I share with my clients as we work together. These themes stay in their minds and make the process of buying or selling a bit less stressful.

Staging: I did a CMA presention recently and the sellers were stressing about staging their home. My advice: "think hotel". When you walk into a hotel room, you find all the basics that you need and very little else. There is just enough furniture, but no knicknacks and no personal stuff. Everything is orderly and in good condition. The baths are clean, well organized with nice towels and soaps. If the hotel lobby looks unkempt or unwelcoming, you probably are going to go to the next hotel. Well, you get the picture, and so will they. It's a good visual exercise. Sellers can imagine buyers as "guests" looking for a place to stay, and their home must be appealing.

When buyers ask about the mysteries of real estate, I tell them there are two words to keep in mind: price and condition. Everything revolves around this. Buyers never want to overpay, but this is especially true in today's market. They come to me with a budget in mind. We work within a price range and get the best house for the money. After looking at a series of houses, we come up with one favorite. The next time we go out, we try to "beat" that favorite. If we can't, after looking for a reasonable amount of time, then we know that is the house to buy. 

Investors: They are easier to work with, because they are usually buying a property they won't be living in. For them, as with all buyers, it is still about location. location, location. Once that's settled, "It's all about the cash flow". End of story.

Reducing a complicated subject to its basic components helps clients navigate the turbulent waters of real estate today. There is, however, one mystery that none of us will solve or reduce to its common component - that is human emotion. My clients ask, "how will I know when it's the right one"?. My answer, "it's like falling in love. No one can tell you who it is going to be, but you will know." That's what makes this business fun.

Comments (3)

Royal Goodman
Royalty Home Solutions - Madera, CA
"We Treat You Like a King"
Millie. Thanks for the post. Thanks a lot. Royal..
Apr 15, 2008 03:38 AM
Chip Jefferson
Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

I agree KISS works the best. If your buyer has confidence in you its not complicated at all.

 

 

Apr 15, 2008 03:47 AM
Joe Virnig
RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS, Ventura County, California - Ventura, CA
No Ordinary Joe
You put that very well.
Apr 15, 2008 05:01 AM