There's always something new to learn in real estate, and perhaps a little more if you work with clients who own or want to buy vacation or second homes (or who leave their primary homes for extended snowbird trips). The recent winter storms probably can teach us a lot about what folks should or don't know, and suggest things you can do to truly provide service after the sale (or after the listing).
You're most likely dealing with private water systems, so double check to make sure your clients know what a well pump does and why it's best to switch it off when a home goes unused for an extended period of time...and not just in the winter, as last September's wild winds taught us.
You're also likely to find that clients figure it's best to crank down the heat (or worse, turn it off) during the winter months....not a good choice, for lots of reasons. Showing and selling a cold home is an unwelcome task, and the colder the home, the quicker the drop to freezing-level interior temperatures should power go out for more than a few hours. And, like us, houses really don't take well to being downright cold for long lengths of time...has anyone ever lost a potential sale due to an unknown "mold" problem?
You might also suggest to clients that they keep basic plumbing supplies on hand...whether they'll be using the home or not. A couple of gallons of RV antifreeze can come in very handy if plumbing needs a quick winterizing treatment, along with a hose for draining a hot water heater or service lines. Pipe wrap/insulation can also come in handy.
And as a sidebar, you'll find it almost impossible to find a backup propane heater when you really, really need one....and propane heaters don't need electricity. Better builders will include them in the design of a home, or at least suggest adding one.
And how about a door key? Even if they're not particularly handy, a good agent will be more than willing to check on second homes...if only to ensure the client's peace of mind when they're many miles away from the action. Don't be afraid to ask your agent if they will be willing to periodically visit the home they're asking you to list. And you might also advise clients to not hide the key somewhere where it might be difficult (or expensive) to reach...such as on a locked porch, for example, or a location that might be subject to ice build-up.
Another issue for our times is vacant homes, although that's probably a topic for another blog entry. We were normally surprised at agents' lack of attention (or knowledge) about their REO listings, until we wound up dealing with some ourselves. We've had a lender flat-out tell us that we can look after such a listing (originally listed with the home's private owner), but there would be no guarantee that we'd be paid should we bring them an offer. With that kind of thinking, it's depressing to think about what we're likely to find across the country as more homes fall out of the traditional sales market.
Doug (& Karen) Parker, http://ikarensell.com
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