Remember the game of Duck~ Duck~ Goose? I loved playing that game. Sitting in a circle getting pounded on head and being called a duck and secretly planning your moves should you be called a Goose! Oh those days.

Real estate should only be that  simple.

You list (Duck), You show (Duck), You lower the price (Duck), you lower the price again (Duck) and finally an offer (Goose!) You start to chase that buyer with seller paid closing costs, home warranty and maybe a lawn mower. You couldn't catch them.

So now you are the one hitting your head wondering who will you chose as your next agent? Maybe the first one didn't have many open houses. Maybe they lacked communication, maybe they never changed the pictures of the lake from snow to summer boating!

Some things to consider:

1)  Friends and Family don't mix. Using a friend or family member can be great, but many times it doesn't work out and then there are awkward moments at the next family get together.

2)  If you don't like what the doctor said, don't you get a second or third opinion? Interview the agent and ask for the last person that they had a transaction with. I can always give a name and number of my last client.

3) It doesn't matter how much you owe. Would you pay more for a home than the market is going to bare? No, I wouldn't let you! A buyer doesn't care how much you owe if the market is saying they can buy many more house for less. You need an experience agent to be honest with you. You may not want to hear it. I always ask my clients:

"Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear, or tell you what the market is saying?"

For me it isn't about the "Listing" or the "Sale". I do only get paid if I sell and close, but, many clients need to have someone to talk to about the market before they make a choice. I have told several clients to wait to sell. It matters to me that they trust me to help them make good choices in any kind of market. I love what I do and I love to sell, but I love to help people sort things out in real estate.

So do you want to play Duck ~ Duck  ~ Goose?

Copyright by Charlene Hammontree and U.S. Home & Realty