I checked the referral list and couldn't find anyone - anyone out there know a good agent in Lemoore, California? It's for an upcoming listing....

Happy Valentines Day to all my RELIB Sweethearts! 

Of course I don't get the little Valentine cards anymore as we did in grade school, but it was fun and I have fond memories of collecting them and looking at them for weeks after.  Just wanted to extend the wish that I hope you all have a great day and evening!  Wine and chocolate...that's the ticket !

With much Valentines Love!

Cindy

I posted earlier about flyers, and how they've maxed out a little.  We don't look at them anymore, because honestly, our buyers are telling us what they want, we go to the MLS and go from there.  An email flyer might remind us, but 50 email flyers saying "price reduced" doesn't help very much.

With Buyers, we do need to get back to basics, they need to talk with a loan officer, they need good credit, they need to know what they want and where they want to be, and then we need to follow up, and help them make a decision.  The hardest part is helping them to get off the fence if it's a good time for them to make the move to purchase right now  (and inventory is up, sellers are reasonable and interest rates are great).  Real estate is still a great investment - but it's a long term investment.  And that's one message that the media seems to be missing.

 But with sellers - we are doing the virtual tours, they are all over the internet at all the sites, they are doing price reductions, I've seen sellers offering vacations, cars etc., as well as "weekend only sale price reductions"...  Bonuses don't work.  Open houses (really, and truly) don't work...the e flyers don't work.  Is there something we haven't thought of yet, that is cutting edge to get potential buyers into the house and help them make a decision to buy?  Any suggestions on where to go from here -

Anyone have a real, new, creative idea that may be the  next great tool to sell a house?

I am inundated with multiple emails a day announcing new listings, price reductions, agent bonuses etc.  So I guess I haven't been opening them up regularly (as it seems a lot of other agents aren't either) so the one that stood out today had a subject line of "at least preview the flyer..." 

What else can I say about this?.

And yes, I felt bad for the agent.  I know how he must feel...

Sometimes I just find myself talking back to the TV, (okay, maybe in not such a ladylike way...), be it c-SPAN, the News, Presidential debates...you name it.

Is there a forum we can use, or does anyone have a suggestion on a non public place we can vent a little politically?  Would love to hear some of your perspectives on some of these things....but would rather it not be "public".

Cindy

 

1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.

 

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, so the property has less competition.

 

3. Houses “show better” when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors associated with the season.

 

4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feelings they receive when viewing the home.

 

5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.

 

6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.

 

7. January is traditionally the month for transfers. Transferees can’t wait until the spring to buy. These buyers need a home now and houses must be on the market to capture these buyers.

 

8. Sellers can restrict showings during personal family events and still take advantage of their homes being spruced up and decorated “show ready” property.

 

9. Sellers can sell now – but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if it is agreeable within the negotiations of the contract.

 

10. By selling now sellers have the opportunity to buy during the spring – when more properties are on the market.

 

I'm trying to firm up my marketing/business plan for the coming year. 

In my mind, it looks like the group that most benefit from todays' market would be homeowners who bought their first home 4+ years ago, have equity in their homes (as the values increased even though they've recently overall adjusted) and have great credit. 

Homeowners who bought their first condo, townhome or modest single family home that planned to "move up" in a few years would have a great opportunity to move up into a home with more square footage and maybe a yard that they might not have been able to afford 2 years ago.  

If we were able to concentrate on these homeowners, and they put their homes (which are still affordable to get new first time homebuyers into the  market) and "move them up" into the mid range homes they couldn't have afforded a couple of years ago, would that not move the market a little?  Just thinking... I feel they are in the best position to make a change right now, which could be advantageous to all.  Question is:  How to and would it be the smartest move to market to these particular homeowners right now? 

Today one of my sellers reduced their price again, by about 24K.  This was the fourth reduction and the home has been on the market over 120 days.  We did our initial meeting and CMA over 2 years ago, but at that time they decided to rent for a year and see how they liked their new out of state location.  When I re-did the CMA a year later, it pointed to a much lower price than a year before due to the recent solds and we listed the home at 50K less that I recommended a year before.  They understood then, and do now thank goodness, that timing is everything.   Now it's 120 days later, and we are reduced to approx. 100K below their initial asking price of 120 days ago, due of course, to the price reductions in the area and the new home builder in their community slashing prices and offering incentives to get the new homes sold.  So now, we've slashed to the bottom line... I feel terrible for my sellers, and feel almost a sense of embarrassment and a lack of creditability although the numbers always were presented accurately and I've marketed their home extensively.  I logically understand the conditions of the market and the factors in my area right now, and of course, the tremendous increase in inventory coupled with the lack of buyers, (where ARE they?), but is it a "female" thing to wake up in the middle of the night feeling antsy, responsible and embarrassed about this stuff, or is it a "REALTOR" thing?

I'm throwing this out there because I'm not sure where else to turn for input - I've put a call into a loan officer I know and a title attorney - but while I'm waiting...

 I received a call from one of my sellers yesterday who was trying to think creatively after listening to a radio show and had this idea about offering to pay 12 months on the lease of a car to a buyer with an acceptable offer on his home.  HOW you would go about this is new to me.  I know it might be considered a "side deal" which is not allowed, or there might be tax ramifications (to who?) etc. 

 Has anyone ever done this type of creative incentive?  Or is there one (not price reductions, we've already reduced this particular home 3 times and we are trying to avoid a fourth)  that you've had success with?

Cindy

Last night I had a wonderful "Trick or Treat" evening.  But while giving out the candy to all the little ones with their rope lights around their necks and the shoes that lit up when they walked away, I had a great idea that came too late.  I'm SURE someone has done this already, but I'm a little behind the curve sometimes with ideas...on Halloween, wouldn't it be a great idea to give the kids with their candy a little inexpensive flashlight with our info on it?  WISH I would have thought of it earlier, but I think it's something I'll do next year. 

This suggestion came from a member of my neighborhood HOA – and I liked it so much I wanted to share it:

 

“Subject: CAR KEYS... a terrific idea!  This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.

 

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

 

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

 

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

 

It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

 

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the perpetrator won't stick around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.....Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.”

 

Taking this a step further – when you’re on a showing that becomes uncomfortable for some reason…keep your car keys in your hands  - you can just push the button and the alarm will sound.  So maybe on those few and far between “gut feeling” uncomfortable showings…keeping the keys in your hands couldn’t hurt.

 

 

I’m trying to compose a keep-in-touch letter, just a short one pager to send to my SOI to start keeping in touch more often than I’ve been.  I’d like this one to be a reassurance letter regarding the current market if possible, as well as reminding them that I’m there if they or their friends, family, coworkers etc. need assistance.  

I’m having trouble composing, and if anyone has any ideas or blurbs that they’ve used recently and wouldn’t mind sharing…I’d greatly appreciate it.    Cindy

I was listening to the radio this morning and heard that Yahoo is unveiling a new site or expanding the existing one for real estate searches to include more videos - I’m not sure how I feel about this. 

How much is too much? 

When a Buyer is searching on the internet for months at a time, which they do, they are inundated with virtual tours and videos.  When I am searching for my buyers, I am inundated as well.  The virtual tours that are "slow" or won't let you pause them so you can actually see a room, irritate me to no end.  And then there is the music.  I usually put up multiple pictures on all my listings and the virtual tours as well.  For the tours, I try my best to make sure the sequence is only a second or two between images, as we all have such a short attention span these days...the tours that take too long...loose my interest rapidly, as I sure happens with internet searchers too. 

My thoughts on these tours are; might they be detrimental to our sellers?  

If you are looking at multiple tours, you are weeding out the homes on your list to see.  I don't like that.  A few pictures give you the feel of the home, but unless you actually walk into the home, drive through the neighborhood etc., you don't get the feel for that home.  The tours show you a lot to weed out, but we want our buyers to actually go there and see how it feels. 

Case on point....I personally live in a neighborhood in a great commute area, close to shopping and a military base...but this neighborhood is in a park like setting.  As soon as you drive in, you breathe.  It has running and biking lanes, lots of trees, a neighborhood shopping center and many community amenities...but on a virtual tour, all you see is that the homes with the best park like setting lots were built in the late 80"s, so you'll have the "oak wood" trim and "80's" style kitchens etc.  The newer neighborhoods have the expansive kitchens...but when you walk outside...you can touch your neighbor's car.   

Buyers need to see the place before they get a true feeling for the home.  That's why I'm not sure that the virtual tours are such a great idea - they tend to weed out great properties. 

 Any thoughts?

Just some reminders about the opportunities in the holiday season comining up - feel free to use and change - always good to remind our clients...

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Property During the Holidays!

1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.

 

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, so the property has less competition.

 

3. Houses “show better” when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors associated with the season.

 

4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feelings they receive when viewing the home.

 

5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.

 

6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.

 

7. January is traditionally the month for transfers. Transferees can’t wait until the spring to buy. These buyers need a home now and houses must be on the market to capture these buyers.

 

8. Sellers can restrict showings during personal family events and still take advantage of their homes being spruced up and decorated “show ready” property.

 

9. Sellers can sell now – but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if it is agreeable within the negotiations of the contract.

 

10. By selling now sellers have the opportunity to buy during the spring – when more properties are on the market.

 

Today, I was up early and got a lot done before 10AM, so I made myself hit the lawn with the lawnmower - I've been putting it off for 2 weeks.  I am not an enthusiastic yard work person, but no one else was doing it and if not me...then who?   So I mowed the lawn and then started pulling weeds around and in the rocks (that drive me crazy) that line my yard. 

 ...Background...my husband gave me a bracelet a while ago that he bought me when he was out of the country on a business trip, that I loved.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that it was missing from my wrist - didn't mention it to him... but I figured it was gone and I was sick about it.

Guess what found while I was on my hands and knees pulling those weeds this morning? 

My bracelet!  Lying right there on top of the rocks...

The lightbulb ( environmentally friendly lightbulb of course) went off...maybe if I "pull the weeds" a little in this vast pile of old leads I have (sticky notes, printed emails, old files and legal paper covered with notes...)  I'll find a bracelet? 

You know..."life is like a box of chocolates..."   So I'm motivated right now. :)