To cruise or not to cruise! In Columbus Ohio it has been bitter cold! Brr it's been almost too cold to show houses, below zero for days. Door handles are frozen what is a Realtor® to do. A cruise to the Bahamas at this time of the year is an intriguing incentive.
The buyer I have been working with reviewed a number of listings that I e-mailed to her. Sure enough a listing with a buyer and Realtor® incentive was on her list to see. The incentives were as follows: Buyer will receive a certificate for 6 months of house cleaning. The selling Realtor® will receive a 3 day cruise certificate.
As we pulled in the drive of the house with the incentives the buyer was getting excited. This well priced house was very attractive from the exterior. What would the interior be like? The sellers have been struggling to sell their house for more than 256 days.
As the buyer and I entered the house, we were amazed, it was in pristine condition, quality carpeting, huge kitchen with center island, 3 nice bedrooms, 2.5 baths, the lighting fixtures were really cool! A quality house, the buyer was impressed.
As we left the property we laughed about the incentives. The buyer mentioned to me that maybe she could get a nice price reduction in lieu of the cleaning service and I said that I would relinquish the Realtor® incentive hoping the buyer would be able to purchase the house at a great price. (Relinquish the Realtor® incentive! It's been below zero for days now).
After looking at many other houses at the end of the day the buyer decided that she wanted to write an offer on the house with the incentives. No the incentive was not why she wanted to purchase this house it was pure and simple it was a very nice house at a very good price.
We proceeded to write an offer that was well under the list price and what the sellers initially paid for their house. We notified the sellers that we are not interested in the incentives. What a surprise when the seller's response came back. The seller accepted the buyer's initial offer and the incentives have been paid for so the buyer will have a house cleaning service for the next 6 months and I will be going on a cruise.
The moral of the story is it's a buyer's market in Columbus Ohio. The buyer purchased a great house at a great price and the seller was happy that their house has sold.
To all Central Ohio buyers, now is a great time to purchase a house! Interest rates are great, there are so many houses to choose from so don't miss out on an opportunity of a life time.
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