Is Cheaper Better??

I was just reading a blog post showcased by Inman News when a paragraph hit me in the face. I began reading it due to the catchy headline regarding selling a home via Zillow, but the author captured our society perfectly with the following analysis "Consumers often choose speed, simplicity and low prices over thoroughness and quality. Redbox’s half-rented-out, $1 DVD kiosks survive though rental stores with hundreds of better choices for $5 went out of business. We book reservations on Hotwire without even knowing the hotel’s name because we can save $20. Parents entrust their inheritance to a will that they crafted on a legal website for $99." Read the rest of the post here.

Why You Should Use a Realtor...

Home sellers are more than twice as likely to get their homes sold if they use a Realtor®, rather than trying to sell their home on their own, according to a new survey conducted by HomeGain of 400 home owners nationwide from July 31 to Aug. 10. Seventy-three percent of the home owners surveyed said they used a Realtor®. On the other hand, 21 percent of those surveyed said they tried to sell their home themselves. The survey found that 66 percent of the home owners who used a Realtor® were able to successfully sell their home compared to 30 percent of for-sale- by-owners. What’s more, the survey found that 22 percent of the for-sale-by-owners eventually decided to use a Realtor® to try to sell their home. More than half of those who did were then able to sell their homes too, the survey found. “The value of a Realtor® in a real estate transaction is made strikingly apparent in our 2012 FSBO verses Realtor ® survey of home sellers,” says Louis Cammarosano, general manager of HomeGain. “A qualified Realtor ® understands the dynamics of the market and can better assist home sellers in the pricing and preparation of their homes for sale.” Source: HomeGain Thank you Tina Shields with Allen Tate Mortgage for passing on this useful info!

Follow Me for a Week...

It's been a while since I've posted, but every day I have a new idea and think to myself "I really need to blog about that!" It has seemed, though, as if the best intentions of every day have simply been God using His sense of humor to make me think I have a handle on things! Lisa and I have been so very slammed, and we are so thankful! New listings, following up with showings agents, writing offers, working with buyers, setting up inspections, etc. -- it's just been managed chaos for both of us.

This brings me to my point. I had a friend send me some contact info for a FSBO on his street. While I really appreciate him thinking of me, I am not going to contact them. I have worked with many folks who have tried the FSBO route before, and I absolutely respect someone's right to try to market their own home. BUT, before I seriously consider listing a home that has been FSBO, I try to get the owner to truly understand all that goes into marketing a home. I have even invited someone to follow me for a week, or even a day, to see all that goes into this business. Hmmm... I've never had anyone take me up on that...

So, FSBOs, don't worry about me soliciting you. I'm too busy marketing the inventory I have to try to woo you my way. But, if you'd like to solicit me, that's another story!

"I Got More Offers than the Agent"

I was talking with a prospective customer the other day about a home he is currently trying to prepare for the market. He was very frustrated with his last Realtor experience and commented that he had gotten more showings and offers when he had it for sale by owner then he did when he had it listed. He then went on to say that it still hadn't sold. I asked, if he had so many offers, why he still had it. His response was that none of the folks offering could get financing.

So, my question to you is... Are you better off listing with an agent and having limited showings OR would you rather handle the marketing yourself, open it for constant showings, and negotiate offers that have no merit because the folks can't afford the house in the first place? Hmmm..... sounds like an easy decision to me!