Jenny Gloudemans's Blog

Was Your Summer Hit or Miss?

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 11:27:00 -0700

If I had to answer the question truthfully, I would say my Summer was definitely a MISS! Oh, I had a great time hanging out with the my husband and kids, spending a wonderful time at the beach with family and friends, and just enjoying a very lazy Summer. Was that productive for my real estate business? Probably not. Could I have spent my time sending out more postcards, holding more Open Houses, and really trying to network more effectively? Of course I could have! Kudos to those of you that really applied yourself's to closing deal after deal and keeping the pipeline full. If, however, you fall into the "unmotivated" category with me...it is time now to reflect on how to finish off the remainder of the year strong. You may say it is a little too late for 2013. And you may be right. But if you start now with diligent follow-up and starting up a nice fall campaign, you may very well Close a deal or two before December 31st, and you will certainly get the ball rolling for a nice flurry of Spring activity. Procrastination is my biggest problem. Always has been. Not exactly the best characteristic for a Realtor! And it is even harder to get motivated to sell when you don't have anything under contract or any deals on the horizon. (sound familiar?) What I am discovering though, is that my "target" group of Sellers does not fit with my personality type. And that may well be the reason for my lack of motivation. I had an epiphany several weeks ago, that I would like to share, as the inforamation may hit home. My real estate goal, from the start, was to sell million dollar homes all over the County. I love the fine details and architechtural masterpieces that many people call home. I enjoy walking clients through impressive 4000+sqft homes with wine cellars and media rooms. Problem is, those listings seem to take an enormous amount of enegy to sell, not to mention the cost associated with marketing those homes (as they deserve to be marketed), and in my market, quite a bit longer on the market than the average less expensive home. My enthusiasm comes from always having a deal in the works. I love the process of negotiating and selling. Working with both buyers and sellers throughout the entire transaction, and after. If I don't have a deal going, my motivation wains...severely! So, that said, I realized that I need to target a market that is more fluid. Days on the market are quite a bit shorter and there is always a market for the price range I am targeting. You may have guessed it: my target market is smaller homes that would work for 1st time homebuyers, or empty nesters looking to scale down. Maybe not as glamorous as selling million dollar homes, but it does work for keeping me excited about my job and motivated to host that extra Open House, or send out that additional post card campaign. If this sounds familiar to your scenario, I encourage you to take a look at the market you are targeting. Is it really fulfilling what you need, or is it a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. I am certainly not suggesting that everyone go out and start selling to 1st time homebuyers or empty nesters, but what I would suggest is taking a look at when you are your happiest with the job, what components do you love, and who are the clients that bring out the best in you. So, here's to finishing off the year with a clear direction on who your target market is, and how to effectively market to those clients. I wish you the best of luck and a profitable 4th quarter!Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

And Then Anxiety Sets In...

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 11:33:18 -0700

OK, so all the indicators are pointing to the real estate market heading in a positive direction. Lots of Open Houses, email blasts from other Realtors marketing their new listings and the expected increase in real estate advertisements in the local paper. So what’s the problem? You don’t currently have any listings nor does there appear to be any prospects on the horizon. Feeling a little left behind and anxious about the remaining 8 months of the year? You are not alone. When this feeling hits me, and believe me- it does, I tend to go into overdrive. I begin sending out postcards and emails in a willy-nilly fashion (hoping my timing is just perfect and that a prospective seller or buyer will give me a call). I get very excited about a new targeted campaign that I will launch and just know that I will soon be inundated with more work than I can handle. Truth is, that is not what happens…EVER! Good business is based on genuine, consistent contact with your sphere of influence, and consistent (but not overwhelming) contact with farming areas of your choice, past clients, organizations you are involved with…you get the picture. So, that said, instead of spending hours generating a postcard to blanket the town, my strategy this year is to pick 5 neighborhoods in my town that have proven to be a good value, consistently lower Days On The Market than other areas, and provide a range of prices (from economical to luxury). I like the price range for one reason: the lower price properties tend to move faster, so they keep me engaged and motivated while I am working on generating buyers for the luxury homes that I list that tend to take a longer time to sell. If you are like me, when there is nothing under contract, I tend to lose steam and become less productive. My second strategy is to PICK UP THE PHONE! In the past, I would find any reason to email someone instead of calling them. Hardly an admiral quality for someone who sells homes! As hard as it is to break that habit, I now opt in calling instead of emailing. It is absolutely true that I get a better response and put more deals together when I can speak with someone directly, and make that connection. And another thing- Do not spend time comparing yourself to the Realtor Extraordinaire in your office. Each office has one, and you can certainly gather some valuable information in watching how they work and how they generate their business. However, each one of us has to cultivate our own business and determine what works best for us. It is well known that if you compare yourself to someone else, chances are you are going to be the one that doesn’t measure up! It is not too late to get started on your marketing plan and have a truly successful 2013. Stay calm, stay on track, pick up the phone, and have confidence in yourself! We can all do it!Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Anyone can list a property...

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:25:05 -0800

but not everyone can sell. I've been thinking about this for a while as I put together my "game plan" for 2013. It takes so much more than simply listing a property in the local MLS, planting a yard sign out front and submitting the property to various other websites. Heck...anyone can do that! The effort comes in finding a creative way in which to attract prospective buyers to view your listing. My efforts lately have been on internet advertising and playing the numbers game. Countless hours are spent creating Craigslist Ads, blogging and working at developing "Relevant Content" within my website. If you are like me, you thrive on the immediate satisfaction that your efforts are paying off. Unfortunately, that is generally not how it happens. More often than not, when I least expect it, another Agent calls me out of the blue to let me know that they are submitting an offer (maybe all the stars are in alignment, or something else like KARMA is playing out- remember that the next time you can do something nice for someone). Whatever it is, I'll take it! Let's face it, until we have achieved Critical Mass, we will all experience the roller coaster ride called SALES. If you don't like the feeling of the highs and lows, this career clearly is not the right choice for you. Perhaps a "re-read" of What Color is Your Parachute" is in order. For others of us, we thrive on the DEAL. Bringing buyers and sellers together for mutual benefit. Even the tenous negotiations over whether that wood carving of a bear will stay with the property, or not, can be exhilerating. The trick is finding the balance between the highs and lows. That calm area where you know you have chosen the career for you. Keep your eye on the big picture and don't let the deals that fall apart keep you from striving for success. Remember...anyone can list a property.. but YOU are the one who will get it sold. Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Strategy or Stupidity...when to end a negotiation

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:10:20 -0700

So this was a first for me. I have a listing that received a really lowball offer (not uncommon in this market). My Sellers came back with a reasonable counter that should have closed the deal. I had already been told from the buyers agent that Mr. ___was extremely analytical and had been crunching numbers to determine the exact fair market value of the property. That's fine, except that he thinks that he is pricing a three bedroom instead of a four bedroom. Evidently he didn't see the closet in the fourth bedroom. So, the negotiations go back and fourth and then stall. Both the Buyers agent and myself presented a "split the difference" approach to our respective clients. Mine agreed on the middle price, but strangely enough, the Buyer came back with a counter LESS than his previous offer. So the question is: What kind of strategy is that? I suppose that he really didn't want to pursue a contract and this was a strategy to halt the process without his wife getting irritated at him. But this cannot be the first time this scenario has presented itsself. Wondering if anyone out there has experienced the same thing and if they were able to continue negotiating to a successful Close? Thanks in advance for any insights. Signed...Baffled in the High Country.Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Prospector Village at Wildernest: One of the Best Kept Secrets in town

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:05:14 -0700

Prospector Village at Wildernest sits quietly tucked away off of Ryan Gulch Road in Silverthorne, CO. A wonderful assortment of condominiums and town homes that backs into a forest setting, offering abundant wildlife and a labyrinth of hiking trails that lead to mountain peaks, cool streams and quaint ponds. The complex itsself offers a clubhouse with pool and hot tubs for owners and their guests to enjoy. A Summit Stage stop is just steps away, and operates year-round. The townhomes are strategically positioned to maximize both mountain and Lake Dillon views. At just two miles from the I-70 corridor, this complex is perfect for easy access to the interstate and five major ski areas within a 30 minute drive. All that, yet secluded enough to have that "away from it all" feel and be remarkably quiet. Locals and 2nd homeowners alike have always held this complex in high demand. The price point for the town homes is between $400k-$600,000 with the smaller condominiums being proportionately less. http://www.prospectorvillage.com/ This 4-bedroom Town home is an exceptional value at $440,000. New hardwood floors, stainless appliances, new carpet and paint simply add to its charm. If upscale, but not too fancy is what you, or someone you know is looking for, then you may want to take I encourage you to take a look at this one. Once you compare it to the others on the market, you will love it even more. Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Mimosa's Anyone...

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:51:21 -0700

Back again with another Open House. This time serving Mimosa’s and offering a drawing for a bottle of Schramsberg (an excellent choice designed to entice Realtors to flock over). The question is “Whatever happened to the days when a Realtor could put up an Open House sign and be visited by numerous Realtors just because they wanted to see a new listing and become more knowledgeable about the current market?” I was looking through the Realtor Tour list today, trying to figure out what “angle” had not been covered. If a Realtor coordinated the visits just right,he/she could end the day having had a full course meal, including appetizers and dessert, and the chance to win a $100 dining gift card, a round of golf at the local course, and my bottle of vintage champagne. Average cost, including food: over $100. This is all with no guarantee that anyone will even show up! The fact of the matter is, we have all invested time and effort into putting as many pictures of our listings on-line. Remember, 87%ish of all Buyers look on the web first. Realtors are able to get a pretty good idea of what a house looks like without having to spend extra time visiting Open Houses. Have Open Houses Gone the Way of the Dinosaur? I think NOT! The sellers expectations of what we will offer have always included Open Houses. There is something about putting the signs out, opening the door, and welcoming visitors in that is still very appealing. As for today…I guess I will just help myself to a Mimosa and enjoy a little solitude. Cheers! Jenny G., Owner/Broker Simply Summit Realty.Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

What if we all "Just Asked"...

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:18:12 -0700

As a procrastinator of mammouth proportions, I find myself pondering what my life would be like if I "Just Asked" for what I wanted. Like many of us, sometimes I am hesitant to ask for fear of rejection or possibly scared that if I do, indeed, get what I am asking for, that I will fail miserably. However, I have found that more often than not, when I do ask for things, (ie a listing), I generally receive them and am able to perform effectively. So many of us allow our insecurities to hold us back from creating the life that we dream about. It is no secret that we all invision being "top producers" within our markets. Whether it be selling multi-million dollar homes to famous people or being the "go-to: agent in our own small towns, each dream is equally important to each of us. So, I am willing to try an experiment with my fellow Realtors and any others that are reading this Blog. For the next 23 days (until July 1st) I am going to "Just Ask" for what I want and log the results. I challenge each of you to do the same thing. If the experiment plays out like I think it will, most of us will be "renewing" our pledge to continue the "Just Ask" philosophy for the remainder of the Summer and then some! As a way to kick off this fun Summer experiment, I am going to "Just Ask" each Blog reader to Subscribe to my Blog and write a sentence or two on how he/she "just asked, as got what they requested. Thanks for participating...I will post the responses for all to see. This just may result in all of us being a little more proactive over the Summer months. I look forward to hearing from you all.Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

It's OPEN HOUSE day...again...

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:33:11 -0700

It's OPEN HOUSE day...again and traffic is slow...again! Oh, I have used all the usual lures: drawing for a gift certificate to somewhere, bottles of wine, movie tickets, and todays' option: Jimmy JOhn's gourmet subs, deli dill pickles, southern ice tea, and some shortbread cookies I found on sale at the local grocery. The only thing I am confident in is that I now know what my kids will be having for dinner (I'm sure you can all relate) So the question is, " is there any offering that consistently gets other Realtors in the door of an Open House"? As Realtors, we know that Open Houses typically do not yield a buyer for the house you have "OPEN".We feel obliged to sit, in sometimes completely empty homes, for hours on end- Usually eating way too much of the food we have prepared (or bought) for others to devour as they listen to us drone onabout all the wonderful features of our listing. I must admit though, at this moment I am looking outa huge picture window of a beautiful lake and mountains as a back-drop. NOt a bad place to be hangingout. But it does give you pause as to whether you could be more productive at your office (with wi-fi)crafting a "featured home" page for your listing. Or perhaps sitting with your office cohorts brain-storming marketing ideas and pricing strategies. Maybe a cocktail hour OPEN HOUSE. In this mountain town I live and work in, Apres Anything generally gets people out of their offices. Yes! That's it...now I just need to list a house with a westernfacing living room, or patio/deck to showcase a beautiful Summit County, Colorado sunset and send outcool invitations with pictures of martini glasses on them. I'll keep you all posted on how that works out. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your suggestions on what successes you have had with Open Houses! ABC (always be closing), Jenny G.Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Start a Business...Eat a carrot

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:23:48 -0700

I was pleasantly surprised at the article that appeared in our local Summit Daily newspaper this afternoon. Most locals, and even those that aren't, can attest to the healthy lifestyle that permeates most of Summit County. But what Colorado residents may not have known is that Summit County is rated #1 out of 3,060 nationwide counties surveyed, based on number of micro-businesses and lower rates of mortality, obesity and diabetes. http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120410/BUSINESS/120409790/1078&ParentProfile=1055 Being the owner of a small business, Simply Summit Realty, and co-owner of my husband's business, The Hot Tub Company,Inc, I know first-hand how important local community is to the success of small business. We all rely on each other, encourage and support one another and refer consumers to our local establishments. If you are one of the "transplants" from another state, you were probably drawn to Summit County for the endless outdoor activities that our wonderful County offers. I know that is what enticed my husband and I to move here twenty-one years ago. Skiing, biking, rafting, hiking...the list goes on. We now have three children, born in and being raised in Summit County, that we encourage to participate in an array of outdoor activities. How great it is to own and live in an area that most people save for all year to vacation in. Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Cupcakes, Brownies and Real Estate...What do they have in common?

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:24:02 -0700

My eleven year old 5th grader informed me that he needed thirty cupcakes and 30 brownies to take to school to sell at "market" the following morning. Did I mention that it was already 7pm, and I was already anticipating getting to bed by 9pm. (this story may strike a cord with other parents out there with school-age kids). In my quest to "just get it done", I told him that he would probably have more brownies than cupcakes (I wasn't going to venture out to the grocery store at this late hour)....Moving forward in the story....we ended up with 37 brownies and 16 cupcakes...at 11pm. I asked him how much he was going to sell the brownies for. He said $.50. I then asked what he was going to sell the cupcakes for. He said $.50. Seizing a "teachable moment", I launched into Supply and Demand and how it relates to pricing. Explaining that we had just witnessed the extreme of having too much Supply of houses without a high Demand, causing prices to sharply go down. As the Inventory of homes becomes smaller, prices generally go up. The morale of the story: Do your homework and never underestimate the value of your cupcakes!Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty

Easter Sunday is the 2nd best day of the year to buy a home!

Jenny Gloudemans (Simply Summit Realty) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:09:30 -0700

Easter Sunday is coming up quick... Call your active buyers and go show some property! Studies show that Easter Sunday is the 2nd best day of the year to put properties under contract. It is the beginning of the busy Spring/Summer selling season and Homeowners are more likely to make deals happen. And if that isn't enough...Christmas Day ranked #1 as the absolute best day to get a property under contract. Maybe it's the eggnog or just the desire to start the new year with their property under contract, but Sellers do sign offers on December 25th. But what about the best day to sell a home? Turns out you have a 12% increase in selling a home within the first 90 days if you list the property on a Friday (actually submitting it to your local MLS and other search engines). You also increase the likelyhood of selling for close to list price if you market beginning on a Friday. What is not a far-fetched statistic is that listing on a Friday, your listing is 18.8% more likely to be viewed by buyers. Most likely because folks tend to look at property on the weekend and realtors will alert them of the new listing as soon as it hits on Friday. So, show a property on Sunday and market your new listing beginning on a Friday. What have you got to lose? I'd love your feedback and any cool statistics that you may have. Hope you found this fun and a little helpful! Study information provided by Phil Pustejovsky CRE online.Jenny Gloudemans Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE Simply Summit Realty