Is Off-Market the Best Market? Off-market listings can be considered exclusive or dare I say…sexy, but let me share a cautionary tale with you: Recently, one of our sellers asked us to try to sell their home off-market. We took great pains to explain the downside of doing this. However, they assured us…
Permission Granted With the holidays upon us, I thought it timely to write a little about the importance of taking time off. I know, I know, you’re busy. You have a new listing coming on right after the New Year, and you have a lot to do to get the house ready. You…
The Competitive Doldrums Competition amongst you and your colleagues can be a healthy motivator. Each new listing that your office mate posts on the board can spur you on to business activity to generate your own new listing. However, all too often I see the success of others eating away at my coaching clients.…
Sometimes You Just Need to Talk to Your Client We’ve all been here – at your wit’s end with a buyer. I have an agent who was beyond frustrated with one of her buyers. His goals kept changing. His price range kept getting lower. And no property seemed to fit the bill. In fact,…
How’s the Market? After a busy summer we’re seeing a slow-down and a shift in buyer activity this fall. Some of this is likely just seasonal, as many buyers re-signed leases for September 1 and dropped out of the home search process. But, as we have been predicting for a while, the market has changed.…
Over the last 10 years we’ve seen an increase in “empty nesters” buying property in the city. These buyers typically still work but are nearing retirement. With grown kids, their large suburban single-family home with a spacious yard is simply too much house and too much work for them to handle on their own. …
When Karen and Jim approached us to help them sell their home and buy a new one, it was with mixed feelings. They bought their sweet little home when they learned they were expecting their first child. It was the perfect place for them to start their new family; close to everything they needed…
The Voices in Your Head I’m a big believer in the power of positive thinking. Positive – or negative – thoughts can significantly impact our confidence in our ability to do almost anything. Unfortunately, for most of us, the negative thoughts tend to be the most prevalent. If we are nervous about something, unfamiliar,…
There’s so much more to selling a home than most people would imagine. Of course, there are necessary preparations when it comes to getting your home ready. First, the physical space must be prepared to maximize its features and appeal to a broad audience. Then, of course, the listing price must be determined, the photographs…
Stay Away From Your Desk Of course, any real estate professional must spend time at their desk – making phone calls, preparing presentations, conducting research, drawing up contracts, doing the business of real estate. But, don’t underestimate the value of getting away from your desk and interacting with the world outside your office once…