I have been getting numerous phone calls from companies selling their Real Estate services to Real Estate agents.  All of my phones are on the Do Not Call List.  What is really the kicker is that when they are announcing who they are with and who they are, they run through it so fast you have to ask them again who they are with.  I tell them nicely that I am not interested and I am on the Do Not Call List. I know these people are just trying to make a living but wish they would check the list first before calling.  What is everyone else doing? 

After posting to Mary's blog I thought I would write my own.  I called an agent the other day to show his listing that was advertised on MLS with his name and phone #.  He told me he didn't have a listing in that area.  I was confused as I was looking at the MLS sheet and making appointments.  I told him I would call his Broker.  The Broker said Yes, this was in fact his listing.  I didn't bother to call him back and passed it up.  His Broker told me that he had over 60 listings and probably couldn't keep track of all his listings.  What a great Broker.

Wow!!!! How would you like to be the owner and hear that kind of info from your agent?  How do these agents get these listings? 
I always encourage my clients to call me and see if I don't pick up the phone by the second ring or return their call within the hour.  What does this agent say when he is trying to get the listing???? Maybe it would go something like this...  Mr/Mrs. Homeowner, I won't be available for calls on your property, I might not even remember your home address, I will list it on MLS and the Selling agent will have to do all of the work.  I won't put your home phone # on the MLS so they could set the appointment up with you, it will just have to be the luck of the draw.  If I am available to take the call and if I can remember any details about your property I will gladly give it.  Otherwise, I just like to list properties so everyone can see my signs.

I found a house while scrolling through that has a Panic Room.  I looked again and yes it does.  I wonder if you are showing this house what would happen if you couldn't get out.  Even worse, what if your clients got in the panic room and couldn't or wouldn't come out.  I laughed so hard at the thought of it.  Knowing how clumsy I am I don't dare show this house.   
Why are people putting panic rooms in their house when they live in the country?  How do you search specifically for a panic room?  Will this be a new item to narrow the search?   Hmmmmm!!!

 

I know how everyone loves my trials with animals and showings so......Yesterday I was showing homes and I check all of the listings to make sure if they have animals I know how to deal with the situation.  The listing showed no dogs or cats. I start to open the door and here comes the 80 pound puppy.  Sweet and yes I got a kiss on the lips.  3 cats are running around and not going for the door.  My client is comfortable with them and proceeds to view the home.  I wanted to pull up some additional info and went out the front door and made sure the dog was going to stay inside.  I am in the car and my client opens the front door to walk outside and the dog moves like a guide seeking missle out the front door and into the woods.  Since I don't know the dogs name and he has no intention of coming back, I am frantic.  My client wants to leave.  I call the LA and he says he didn't know about the dog but did know about the cats.  He asks me what we think of the house.  Can you believe that?  I tell him I am not leaving till he calls the owner and tells us if his dog is ok outside and if not will he (the owner) be coming to help us find the dog.  I also tell him I can't think of giving him info on the house while we are in the midst of tracking down this dog. 
The LA calls the owner and he just starts laughing.  Apparently, the dog comes and goes at will.  I didn't see a doggy door.  Anyway my heart got that special jolt that you only get with too much caffiene or lightning bolts.
Hope your day went well too.

 

 

Listening to the news this morning they had a pretty good idea.  If you go to CatalogChoice.com and cancel the catalogs via email that you no longer want to receive.  This can save trees.  Normally, I am not one who posts on such things but it really is a good idea.  Think of all the catalogs you receive daily you put right into the recyle bin without ever opening.  Just thought I would pass this along in case anyone is interested.

It snowed yesterday and it has not melted.  It will be in the teens tonight.  I realize the Northern's are going to have a laugh at this.  I don't know how you do it.  There goes my heating bill up up up....I miss California's winters.  Hope everyone is staying warm this week.

This weekend my husband and I have found a house in another State that we want to look at and will probably put an offer on it.  Called the Listing Agent and explained to him that I would be representing myself and would he knock off the 3% for the Buyer's Agent for my closing costs?  Not a problem.  I told him we would want to view the house the 18th or the 19th, which is best for you?  Just let me know when you are in town he replies. Okay, do you have any pictures of the bathroom and the detached garage because we would like to see this prior to our visit?  No and I can't get them.  Oh, I say is it a rental?  No he replies, I have 50 listings and I am not going to go and take more pictures.  Okay.  So I figure I can see the bathroom and detached garage on the 18th or 19th.  I email him that I would like the Seller's Disclosure 4 days ago.  Guess what he will not send them. 

Now, I am not happy and this one was #1 on our list.  We only had 3 we were going to see and put an offer on one.  Wouldn't it be just grand if the Seller's new how professional their agent is.  #1 if he has 50 listings he should of told his client, oh and I won't be taking any more pictures to send to interested buyers and I won't be email or faxing your Seller's Disclosure. 

I know they have a Seller's Disclosure.  I believe we will just write this one off.  Can you imagine putting an offer in would he even deliver it to the Seller??????  So glad the market is so good for this agent he can blow off a serious buyer.

 

 

AgentDirectNews.com .... Has anyone used this service?  If so did you find it useful?  Useful enough to pay for it?  Let me know.

 

This morning on the Today show they had a Computer Scientist named Glenn Kelman.  Mr. Kelman has done some interesting work on the Science of Selling.

Here are a few of the highlights:

Don't overprice your house.  It will be on the market longer.
Price it right so you don't have to reduce it.  People who do not price their home correctly will get 88% of their intial sales price.  If your home is priced correctly these homes will get 97% of their sales price.
Web savy is rising.  72% look at homes on the internet.
Show your home on a Friday for Caravans.  Friday is the best day.  Worst days are Mondays and Thursdays.
Look for foreclosures in your neighborhood.  This could affect the value of your home.
List on Mls & Craigslist

 

 

Around this time of year I start thinking about writing my goals for next year and getting ready for the best year ever.  I read an Active Rain blog about scripting.  Writing everything you want and going one step beyond and writing a story about it with very descriptive words.  Reading it every day and keeping on track.  I think this is wonderful and I am sure many have done this.  I have to remind myself to read it every day.  It seems like this scripting with everything including pictures might get a tad long.  I'm going to try it.  Has anyone else tried this technique and read it every day? 

I have been extremely busy with 2 buyers, 2 closes, 1 Lease/Purchase, and, a new listing.  When I am this busy I don't have time to work on my website, cultivate my leads, and start making new calls.  Am I the only one that has trouble with this?  My mind is so tied up with the details of each deal.  I feel guilty when I look at my website and realize I need to update and change things.  Also, I try to read a little of Relib each day and am amazed at the content.  So many great ideas and from people who I know are burning the candles at both ends. Could everyone just be a little bit like me and not have everything together all the time? 

A buyer called me today to ask me if I would be her Buyer's Agent... of course I will.  "Why again do I need a buyer's agent" she asked...

#1 -  A buyer's agent represents the buyer and not the seller.  You will have someone to work for you with your interests in mind. 

#2 -  Seller's agent represents the seller and they have the seller's best interests in mind.

#3 -  A Buyer's Agent will be a fierce negotiator for you. (at least I will).

Any other reasons? 

 

 

How do you get the smoke smell out of a house when you are trying to list it.  These people are chain smokers and it reeks.  When I went to the front door I smelled it.  I know the carpets must go (and they are in good condition).  How do you get the smell off the walls?  You can't just paint over it.  Is there something you put on the walls or just bleach them?  How about the floors that are hardwoods?  The furniture is going to be moved to their new home, so I won't have that to worry about. 

If anyone out there has rehabed a smoker's house please respond.

Happy Thanksgiving and may you all have a great day.  So great you won't see this post till tomorrow.  Thank you all for the entertainment and sharing of so much knowledge. 

 

Gloria

As professional as all of you are I am sure you check on Feedback from viewings on your listings.  I am always excited to hear what they say.  At least until two days ago.  I have a beautiful property in a great neighborhood I have listed.  The owners have 4 children and a naughty dog.  I went through the house before it listed and told her paint needed to be touched up and all the clothes picked up so when showing the property is pristine. 

Well....I called a day after the showing.  The Buyer's agent told me that the buyer was not interested in this property.  I asked " Well what did you think of the house?"  Isn't it great?????
He said the house was a mess and the buyer was so disgusted he wouldn't go upstairs.  I apologized and reiterated the 4 children.  Then I put a short but simple email together.  I know that they want to sell the house but with all the properties on the market we must be neat so we attract buyers.  I also tried to give them an out.  I know this agent couldn't have been right.  Haven't heard a word and this has been 4 days now. 

If I am spending money marketing a home it needs to be ready to show at all times.  I was really surprised by this family.