It's not that I don't realize that the title of a blogpost is super important - if you want your story read, that is. As a matter of fact, not only do I know this but I've researched and written about it before: How To Write Titles Like a Pro.
And then, because that appears to be a talent I don't naturally possess, I forget what I've learned and I choose something plain, boring or, perhaps, unrelatable. So, it's happened again and, of course, it's readily visible in my number of clicks.
Selling the family home can be a bittersweet endeavor. Sure, you’re excited about moving forward with the next stage of your life, but letting go of a lifetime’s worth of personal belongings in order to move to a smaller space, can leave you confused at best, and paralyzed by indecision at worst.
It’s not so easy to pare down to the essentials. Our souvenirs occupy a big place in our heart. We count on them to help us remember and, sometimes, fear that letting go will mean, pretty soon, our memories will … (8 comments)
What is a "comp?" Essentially, it's the similarities that help determine a property's worth.
Style, age, construction, condition, location, amenities and upgrades all come into play.
Unique properties are more difficult to assess.
Comparables paint a realistic picture. No agent is licensed to pick a number from a hat. All data needs to be substantiated for it to be valid.
In every neighborhood, nuances are important. North of the highway may not be the same community as south, waterfront properties differ from non-waterfront and a description that reads,
"Flood Damaged Home. Some Hazards May Exist. Cash Or 203K … (7 comments)
"Buyers are smarter than you think....they know you aren't paying commission and will discount an offer by the commission amount."
This has always been my experience. In some markets across the country, the "Thinventory" is sooo thin....that it has Sellers believing whispering that your house is for sale to the neighbor....telling your friends on Facebook...doing a quick board on Pinterest will certainly sell your house in a minute for whatever the price was … (5 comments)
home selling: 5 Things to Give Sellers That They Don’t Realize They Need
- 01/31/17 10:32 AM
Destined to become a timeless and all-time popular read from my friend, Jeff Dowler. No matter what you need to learn, an overview of the process is the best place to start so you don't get derailed by the little bumps in the road and you can see the finish line 5 Things to Give Sellers That They Don’t Realize They Need
Selling a home is a tough job, whether a seller has “been there done that” or is selling for the first time. There’s a lot leading up to going live with the listing, managing showings, and then everything that happens … (5 comments)
Upstate New York and throughout the country, the property condition disclosure statement is used very successfully.
Downstate, where attorneys fill out the contract, (barring exact statistics) overwhelmingly, the attorneys recommend that the Sellers offer a $500.00 (at the time of this writing) credit to the Buyers on closing day.
Most likely, this small amount will hardly be noticed or felt as it will not usually come out-of-pocket but from settling and pro-rating final home costs.
The $500.00 amount is the same whether a home costs $81,000 or in the millions. For this small amount of money, the owner is no longer attached to the home.
It's been … (4 comments)
home selling: Real estate shenanigans
- 03/20/15 06:22 AM
A nice couple with two adorable little ones in tow and one beaming set of grandparents came along for the appointment. The listing agent was not present as is common practice here on Long Island. In short order, the two little cuties were enthusiastically engaged in childish, age-appropriate behavior.
Mrs. homeowner generously volunteered to keep them out of harm's way so the family could tour the home in peace. That extra set of watchful eyes worked wonders! Without distraction, the buyers could concentrate on the task at hand and quickly fell in love with the property.
As the kids were clowning around, Mrs. homeowner decided to capture the precious moments with her cell phone and, when an opportunity presented itself, offered … (15 comments)
The other day I got an interesting phone call from a real estate agent I met several years ago, before I was even in the business. The previous evening I was showing a client homes and one of the ones we toured just happened to be this agent's personal residence. We recognized each other - sort of - but chose not to play catch-up at that exact moment. The next morning, I received a call from this lovely woman asking if I had made the connection. I … (48 comments)
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