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Sorry...My Crystal Ball Broke

By
Real Estate Agent with Dockside Realty VA 0225142975

Sorry, my crystal ball broke.  In fact, it broke the day I became a REALTOR®.  That's right, it is very unfortunate but because of that I am unable to tell you, with absolute certainty, some very important things as much as I would like to.

I cannot tell you, the SELLER:

  1. the exact price to list your home
  2. how long it will take until we receive an offer
  3. the exact price that you can actually get for your home
  4. Whether the market will be stronger next year or not, therefore should you put it on the market now or wait

However, SELLER, I can tell you:

  1. a price range that may or not be what you want to hear but should be pretty accurate
  2. all the things that I will do to get your home sold in the shortest amount of time for the best price

Lake Anna - photo by Kate Elim

I cannot tell you, the BUYERr:

  1. if prices will be lower or higher next year
  2. will the house you are longing for be coming on the market next week, next month, next year
  3. what is the lowest price you will need to pay for the home of your choice
  4. exactly why everyone is selling their home and how anxious they are for an offer
  5. how much longer the house you are considering making an offer on will be available

However, BUYER, I can tell you:

  1. how long the homes have been on the market and what price reduction(s) they've had, if any
  2. which ones are priced fairly and those that aren't how far off the mark they are

Now if my crystal ball can ever be repaired I will be the most sought after REALTOR® in the universe.   In the meantime I will provide honest answers to all questions and do the best job I can.

Posted by

 ©Copyright Kate Elim 2015

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GET MOVING WITH KATE!

540-226-1964 cell

lakeanna.kate@gmail.com

For easy property searches check out my web sites: katesellslakeanna.com

or

lakeannacountry.com

Comments (23)

Karen Monsour
Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
REALTOR, SSRS - Sells FL Waterfront, Short Sale Expert!

Wow!  What a beautiful property.

We can only suggest with the knowledge that we are afforded. We are not magicians (although sometimes the sellers think we are).

We do our best, for the most part and the rest is in the hands of others.

I'm not "breaking," I'm just doing the best I can for my customers!

Great post - suggested.

Apr 19, 2011 04:15 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

I never had one to begin with!!! where do I sign up for one?? maybe mine will work! If it does, I will let you all borrow it :)

Apr 19, 2011 04:20 PM
Gwynn Carpenter
Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin) - Austin, TX
: Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191

Ambassador Kate: Do you work under a tent??  Might we see you with a scarf on your head walking around looking for the crystal ball repair shop?  When you find it will you PLEASEEEEEE write a post with the exact address of the repair shop??  

I think we all need to have ours repaired - o wait, I believe there was at least one agent in town who THINKS the crystal ball they own still works!  

My crystal ball said TO SUGGEST-so I did,

Apr 19, 2011 04:26 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Kate - crystal balls generally come with cracks ..... crack pots that is ..... historical data provides us with a guide but the definitive answers are generally in the hands of the current crop of buyers and sellers

Apr 19, 2011 04:46 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Kate, well what you DO tell the buyer and seller I think is perfectly fine and your training and experience can really help them out. No crystal ball needed.

Apr 20, 2011 03:53 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Loreena...If you can do that please let us know how.  It's too late for me but you never know, I might find one if I ever go dumpster diving and then I'll be able to keep it intact.

Kate 

Apr 20, 2011 12:43 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Steve...On the day you became a home inspector?

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:04 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Jeff...Thanks.  I had two listing presentations yesterday and that's what made me think of writing this post.

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:09 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Karen...I'm sure your clients appreciate your efforts.  We can only try to do our best.

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:12 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Sheila...As soon as I find a new one I will loan it out as well.

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:13 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Gwynn...Thanks for suggesting. 

You may have a crystal ball in need of repair but you have terrific long distance vision. I had no idea I could be viewed from Austin.  Spooky or is it comforting?

Is that agent still fooling those folks in Austin? They'll smarten up and turn to you so keep on blogging.

Kate

 

Apr 20, 2011 01:31 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Kathy...Love your reference to the crack pots.  Yes, buyers and sellers drive the market.  We can only analysis what they do.

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:39 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Gary...All we can tell them is what we know and what we think based on the information we have at hand.

Kate

Apr 20, 2011 01:41 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Kate, this post was a great explanation of how we use our skills and market knowledge instead of a crystal ball.   Our ability to foresee the future doesn't exist, that's why I call the psychic hotline.  HAHAHA!

Apr 21, 2011 02:44 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Kate -- This is funny to me because whenever I get those questions I will respond first with...'Well, I don't happen to have my crystal ball with me, but I can tell you that......'    They get the point.  Great post!

Apr 21, 2011 03:20 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Mary...A psychic!  Now that's a great idea.  Do you share their cell number and do they take emergency calls?

Kate

Apr 21, 2011 01:15 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Barbara...And you can tell them you can't borrow mine because it's broken.

Kate

Apr 21, 2011 01:16 PM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Kate--You haven't lost your touch to write great posts.  If I had been here on the 19th I would have clicked SUGGEST, but I will still do it before I leave. 

PS  I am teaching a training class for newbies in May, may borrow your 'I can' and 'I can't do' lists?

Apr 22, 2011 02:14 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Mary...Please feel free to share it with your students.  Thank you so much for asking.  You've made me feel very good.  No gold star but kind words from friends.  I like that.

Kate

Apr 22, 2011 04:30 AM
Mike Bolaski
Coldwell Banker - 1000 Palms, CA

Perhaps I should supply my clients with their own magic eight balls for their amusement. The most common one I get from buyers is "how much should I offer for x property" or "What is the lowest offer you think they will take?". I can't tell you what to offer, you have to decide that yourself. I can guide you in a very general way but that's it, sorry.

Apr 25, 2011 08:20 PM