I Lost A Potential Listing

I lost a potential listing the other day. They decided to go with someone else which is totally okay. You can’t win them all, right?!

In this market it’s incredibly hard to price property. Homes are regularly going for over asking and often with multiple offers.

Sometimes I feel like an agent turned fortune teller, trying to predict the future for my clients.

I am a data freak. In other words, I rely on the data to guide me. So when you ask me to list your home, I am coming prepared with the facts.

What are homes selling for?

How long are they on the market?

What’s the price per square foot?

What’s the available inventory?

How much more can I add to the list price knowing the current market conditions?

At the end of the day, I told these sellers a list price they didn’t like.

I want all my clients, both buyers and sellers, to feel heard, not pressured and above all respected. But part of my job is delivering professional advice.

I can promise you I won’t blow smoke.

I will tell you the straight facts.

I value transparency and being honest.

I will give you my honest opinion on price but ultimately the the list price is up to you and I will likely support it even if its over what I think is appropriate.

And I will advocate for you every step of the way. With gratitude.

Plan For These Expenses

If you are thinking about buying a home these are some of the expenses you should plan for.

Some of these are fairly fixed and some vary based on purchase price and other factors.

Here’s a quick run down for you:

Home inspection $400 - $1000 (optional) Appraisal $600 - $1200 (mandatory)

Title fees $400 - $600 (mandatory)

Survey $500 - $700 (optional)

Reach out with questions

A Story Of Patience

A hunk of clay. Soft, malleable and unassuming.

Yet, center that piece of clay on the wheel and with careful movements and patience you can create a masterpiece.

I took pottery in college, this is one of my creations.

It was probably my very favorite class…. ever.

One thing you need to know about pottery - you CANNOT be in a rush. See, if you don’t get the clay centered you have no chance of making anything but a mess.

As a twenty something I didn’t know much about “being present” or “finding inner peace”. But I do know that when I sat at the wheel with the clay swirling between my hands that I went to another place.

I would lose track of time, and the room would go dim and quiet.

Just me and the clay.

Only after many failures do you know the moment the clay is ready to become something else.

Ready to become something that is imagined in your mind and flows from your hands into the clay.

Even if you don’t consider yourself “artsy” or “creative” if you ever have a chance to give pottery a whirl I would so recommend it (pun intended).

But as I said you will have to have patience, something all of us could practice more of.

Life Isn't Fair

I was 9 years old when I first learned that life isn’t fair.

My third grade teacher, would have a monthly calendar contest. We were tasked with making a creative and colorful calendar on poster board to be displayed as the “official class calendar” for the month.

Oh, this was right up my alley.

I loved coming up with ideas and seeing how many items I could hot glue to a poster board before it could no longer support itself.

Conversation hearts and doilies for February and spring flowers and Lucky Charms cereal for March.

And what better to glue to a calendar in October than the candy corn no one will eat.

Each month, as I poured my heart and soul into my creation, I thought surely my classmates would be awed with wonder and crown me queen of the calendar.

But alas, I never won.

Not a single time.

Now I know this was a long time ago and my memory might be a little foggy but I’m 99.8% sure my calendars were the best, at least some of the time.

But I never won.

And that’s when I was introduced to the “good ole boy (and girl)” system.

Some of these kids had been together since kindergarten! They had history! And I was the new kid in 3rd grade.

It was always the same handful of kids that would win. Were their calendars good? Meh, sometimes, but they had the votes and that’s all that mattered.

One month I had had enough and I campaigned on the playground. Disclaimer: nothing of value was exchanged for votes, but I did present a persuasive argument.

Well that didn’t go over well and ended up with a call to my parents. I wasn’t acting the the “spirit of the contest.”

At the tender age of 9 I realized that the “best girl” doesn’t always win.

It broke my heart. And truth be told, it still does.

Life isn’t fair, we all know this but it doesn’t make it any easier.

And I know there will be an occasion that I can share this story with my girls and they might realize that while life isn’t always fair, there is so much to be grateful for and if we focus on the good nothing can get in the way. 

TEAMWORK

Team work makes the dream work.

In order to have a great experience when buying a home you need to have a team of superheroes on your side.

  • Real estate agent. Someone you trust, who has your back and understands the market and area.

  • A rock star lender who understands mountain properties, is easy to communicate with and delivers on time.

  • An experienced home inspector who is knowledgeable and takes the time to explain the findings in your inspection report.

  • A title company who is responsive, accommodating and precise.

You don’t have to do this alone and a great team will walk you through every step.

Tips For Readying Your Home

Just because we have a lack of inventory doesn’t mean you get to skip the key components for readying your home for sale.

Putting your best foot forward still matters and will be a direct result of a quick sale.

  • Take time to declutter. You are moving anyway so take this time to pack up the items you will not be using or needing in the next couple of months. Clear and clean surfaces matter to buyers.

  • Deep cleaning. No one likes to clean baseboards but now is the time. An unclean house is distracting to buyers and they notice everything.

  • Touch up painting or repainting. Getting rid of scuff marks and dirty walls is a quick and easy way to give your home a nice clean look.

  • Repairs. You know the ones you said you would do when you moved in The loose railing, the missing screen, the broken window pane, now is the time to get those small but important repairs done.

Lesson Learned

You know how you can sometimes learn from someone else’s mistake

Well here’s an opportunity for you.

I recently heard about a home that sold “off market”. This is a home that is sold privately, no Realtors involved.

Apparently the seller (lets just call her Jane) did not want to pay real estate commissions so she sold it herself.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this, however, while Jane saved herself the commissions she cost herself over $200,000 in the purchase price.

Had she called a local Realtor they would have helped her price her home accordingly, in line with fair market value. Jane ended up selling her home for WAY under market value.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset. Don’t leave it to chance, fate or your best guess. Get some expert and professional advice so you don’t end up like Jane.

Truth Hurts

You’ve all seen it. American Idol auditions gone bad.

They're cringe-worth at best. I find myself squirming in my seat. It's perplexing, strangely fascinating and downright sad.

The worst part is when the families greet the crestfallen contestant with soothing words of comfort. “Oh, sweetie, those judges don’t know anything. You are the best signer in the world!”

This is the part that drives me insane.

Why lie to these poor people

They are terrible singers and NEVER should have auditioned for the show.

Telling someone the cold hard truth is sometimes very hard. You don’t want to hurt their feelings, crush their dreams or seem insensitive. But the truth is sometimes the most important thing they need to hear.

A couple of years ago I met with a very nice family who wanted to sell their home and move out of state. The winters were getting tough for them and they were having some health issues.

Selling was a MUST.

I met them at their house and noticed right away this was going to be a tough property to sell. There was stuff everywhere, inside and out. The house was dirty, dark, and falling apart.

They gave me a tour of their home and we sat down to talk. I asked them about their goals and timeline for selling.

They needed to be out of here by September which only gave us 3 months to sell. They were short on time, money and resources to get their home ready for market.

They looked at me with hope in their eyes and asked what was next.

This was the moment for the cold hard truth.

When I first started in real estate I probably would have tried to gloss things over to ease the blow. “No, it's not that bad, buyers can look past your stuff.”

Now I know better.

People hire me for my professional and honest advice.

This family had a tight timeframe and a pressing need to leave the area.

So I told them the truth.

That no one would buy their home in its current condition. And because we were dealing with a very tight timeframe they should consider pricing their home below market value to get it sold quickly. I connected them with contractors for repairs and resources to get rid of the years of accumulated belongings.

I said all of these things with kindness and sincerity, because I very much care about how my words make people feel.

And at the end of our meeting they thanked me for my encouraging words. What??

I didn’t think they sounded encouraging at all, but then I recognized it was the honesty and a thoughtfully laid out game plan that gave them feelings of encouragement.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but I believe if you really care for someone you owe them the truth and nothing but.

With gratitude.

When In Doubt, DISCLOSE!

Selling your home doesn’t have to be a gamble. And the sellers property disclosure can keep you out of hot water.

Did you know the number 1 complaint with the division of real estate is non-disclosure by sellers?

What does this mean in plain English. “We bought a house from Mr and Mrs Seller and they never told us about the roof leak, the cracked foundation, the flood in the basement, fill in the blank.”

So how do sellers avoid this unpleasant situation?

There is this handy form we use in real estate called the Sellers Property Disclosure. This form is your opportunity to air all your homes dirty laundry.

Sometimes I have sellers balk at this form, they feel reluctant to fill it out.

But think of this form as your get out of jail free card.

The save your bacon form.

The keep you out of hot water form.

You can’t hide things from the new buyer!

Just picture this. New buyer moves in and who should saunter over, but Karen from across the street.

“Oh welcome to the neighborhood! I was just saying to my husband that I didn’t think anyone would buy this home with the moldy attic and all.”

Your neighbors know everything! And if something is wrong with your house the buyers are going to find out eventually.

It’s best to be as thorough and accurate as possible with the disclosure. It will protect you in the long run and keep you out of trouble.

Yes, you might have to make some repairs, but I can promise you it will be a lot cheaper than a lawsuit and attorney fees.

When in doubt, DISCLOSE!

Best Offer

First offer is your best offer.

This is a phrase we hear in real estate and what I have found over 20 years is that often times it’s correct.

When I help sellers price their homes I use other homes that have sold to narrow in on pricing.

Buyers are very savvy and with the help of technology they can do their own research to see what other homes like yours have sold for.

If you get an offer on your home right away that means you priced it right.

In this market, if your home has had very few showings and/or no offers you are likely priced too high.

It’s better to get ahead of the market than chase it down with price reductions.

Invest in YOU!

We are all on the stairs, my friend; some of us are going down, some us are going up!” - Mehmet Murat ildan

Did you know that 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing?

It might be time to invest in YOU!

With rates still historically low its worth looking into the pros and cons of homeownership.

No Horsin' Around

Okay no more horsin’ around

If you are in the market to buy a home and you haven’t met with a lender you are doing this all wrong.

Agents won’t show you homes and sellers won’t take you seriously.

Remember, you don’t have to do this alone.

Get a lender recommendation from a real estate agent you trust and make your first step towards homeownership.

Best Foot Forward

Just because we have a lack of inventory doesn’t mean you get to skip the key components for readying your home for sale.

Putting your best foot forward still matters and will be a direct result of a quick sale.

  • Take time to declutter. You are moving anyway so take this time to pack up the items you will not be using or needing in the next couple of months. Clear and clean surfaces matter to buyers.

  • Deep cleaning. No one likes to clean baseboards but now is the time. An unclean house is distracting to buyers and they notice everything.

  • Touch up painting or repainting. Getting rid of scuff marks and dirty walls is a quick and easy way to give your home a nice clean look.

  • Repairs. You know the ones you said you would do when you moved in The loose railing, the missing screen, the broken window pane, now is the time to get those small but important repairs done.

Testimonials

I really love my job. I know lots of people feel that way but for me there are so many gratifying aspects of real estate.
And testimonials like this are what keep me coming back on the hard days.
If we have worked together in the past just know that I value our relationship and your trust in me. I am forever grateful.
With gratitude

No More Monkeying Around

No more monkeying around.

As the market continues to evolve the art of skill and communication becomes paramount.

In 2021 the market was pretty bananas and the pace of the market was extreme. When helping sellers price their homes we could easily pad the value by 10% - 15%. And we were successful.

Buyers were making offers at asking or above and everyone was happy. Appraisers were able to support these increasing values and because the rates were lower then buyers felt good about their purchases, even if they did pay above asking.

This market is evolving but it’s not bad news. Hear me out.

Homes are still selling but pricing is critical. I’ll say it again for for people in back - pricing is critical. No more monkeying around.

Sellers are still getting multiple offers and they are still getting above asking but only if they are priced right.

Gone are the days of padding by $50,000.

So while some sellers might be feeling a market slow down, the ones that listen to the sound advice of their real estate professionals will still be seeing showings and offers.

And for buyers, while rates have gone up please remember that 2.5% was likely a once in a lifetime event. Rates of 5-7% are normal and historically low. Ask anyone who bought a house in the 80’s what their rate was for some perspective. I’ll say it again and agin till I’m blue in the face - the interest rate on rent is 100%

Stay or Go?

Hold or Sell.

Should I stay or should I go.

  1. Here are a couple of things to consider if you are thinking about selling your home.

  2. If you’ve bought your home within the past 12 months you might not have enough equity in your home to end up ahead.

  3. If you’ve not lived in your home for at least 2 years you might be subject to prorated capital gains even if it was your primary home.

  4. If you’ve had a significant life change (divorce or death of a loved one) most experts would say not to make any changes to your living situation for at least 6 months if possible.

  5. If the market is trending downward (not the case in today’s market) and you can stay put it might be a good idea to do so.

If none of the above apply to you and your home no longer fits your needs give me a call, I’d love to help.

Gazillion Dollars

But Zillow says my house is worth a gazillion dollars!

Okay, I’m exaggerating, kind of.

Zillow uses sales data to come up with your “Zestimate” but what they can’t factor in are things like the view, traffic noise, intimate community knowledge, changes in the local work force like a company leaving town or coming to town.

In other words the “Zestimate” is a 50,000 foot view of your homes value.

Having your local agent help you price your home is like looking under a microscope at the value of your home.

Don’t leave these things to chance. Now is not the time to be inaccurate about pricing. Correct pricing is going to dictate whether your home sits on the market or gets multiple-over asking offers.

Real Estater

I was called a “real estater” the other day.

Not Realtor, not real estate agent, a real estater.

And it reminded me that there are still so many people who don’t fully understand what I do. I mean lots of people think all I do is open doors and go out to lunch with my clients!

Whether I am working with a buyer or seller my hope is that I am brining years of experience and connections to the table.

Recommending pre-listing repairs for the biggest bang for your buck.

Connecting you with experts in their fields for pre-purchase inspections.

Coordinating with the title company to resolve unreleased liens.

Brainstorming with the lender when we have an issue on the appraisal.

Inside knowledge on things like well depth/quality or feisty HOA’s.

Negotiating on your behalf when inspections items come up.

Accurate pricing for the maximum return on investment in the shortest amount of time.

Getting you the winning offer when you are competing against many other buyers.

And sometimes being a shoulder to cry on, real estate can put you through the ringer.

With gratitude

My Worst Day In Real Estate

It was my worst day in real estate.

I had made a huge mistake.

This was back in the days of Blackberry phones.I had forwarded (or thought I had forwarded) an exclusion list to some buyers via email.

Well long story short, they never got it and the first time they had a look at the list of things that were not (and supposed to be) included with their new home was at the closing table.

How do you spell disaster.

What transpired next was me renting a small UHaul in a blizzard and driving 6+ hours to retrieve the massive amount missing items.

As I was commiserating with the man at UHaul about my epic mistake he said the following...

“A person will be judged not on the mistakes they make, but on the actions they do to correct the mistake”.

Little did this stranger know but he gave me a spark of hope and reprieve. A verbal life raft in a sea of self loathing.

We are all human, we make mistakes, it comes with the territory. But how you handle and respond to your mistakes reveals ones character.

That day I didn’t blame anyone else for what happened and I know I did everything humanly possible to make up for my mistake.

And now, I copy myself on every email to make double sure.