I have a very good friend in the business that works for a competitor.  Over the 30 plus years that I’ve know her, she has always made a point of holding an open house or sitting site on New Years Day.

Her name is JoAnne Stafford with the Contact Corp.

She has told me that over the years, she has made a lot of deals on New Years Day.  I found that hard to believe – since my wife and I usually had a big party at our home the night before.

JoAnne is more devoted to work then to self pleasure. 

I’ve tried the same thing myself over the past few years, (the age thing) and have found that there are several people out-and-about on New Years Day looking at houses.

There reason?  A New Year’s resolution to buy a house!

Not everyone likes football.  What are you doing this Sunday to make a buck?

Formerly known as “Baskett Lumber” this 1.53 acre property is surrounded on three sides by county roads. The primary road is Portland Ave. just off of Highway 512.  Currently operating as a custom saw mill.  The location is virtually impossible to match.

This fenced property is zoned “Neighborhood Center”, which allows for numerous permitted uses.

Asking $649,950.  Owner contract terms are available.  CBA # 461028

Just listed, this 3,700 sq. ft. daylight sits on 1.24 private acres. 2 Master bedrooms highlight this home.  Located in gated community of similar properties.

Home has an abundance of features too numerous to list them all. Extra’s like a 3 car attached garage, security, vacuum, sprinkler & generator systems. Also has 1,050 sq ft. shop, gazebo, yard shed, RV parking and dump.

Sit on your screened porch and savor the view of Mt. Rainier and surrounding area.

Original owner selling @ $449,950.

 NWMLS #9934

 

Tags: sales strategies

 According to NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, there is a big media push going on this year to heighten the public’s awareness of the extended and expanded Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Although it would have been nice to see this program a little earilier, it’s good to know that at least there’s a program in place.

Did you know that the average New Year’s Resolution is only good for 19 days?  That’s not a very good number when you consider the fact that most resolutions involve life-style changes.

As most agents tend to do, I’m looking forward to next year and trying to get myself re-organized and focused on the year ahead.

I think it’s essential for all of us to have a good business plan, and to do the best we can to stick to it.

Considering the fact that I too usually fall into that 19 day scenario, this year I promise that I won’t make even one New Year’s Resolution.  Promise!

One of the things I emphasize to my agents is that it’s imperative that they are in tune with all of the newest information with regards to this business.

This includes any local issue that has to do with real estate, plus any other issue that affects our industry in general.

Now, before you get too excited, I’m not talking about pretending that you’re an expert in “another field”, but at the very least you should be well versed on anything that touches our business.

Once you put out the effort to get out of the mode of saying “I’m not sure about that, but I’ll get back to you” you’ll find that potential customers are impressed with the fact that you eat and sleep real estate.

Until you wake up in the middle of the night with a solution to one of your transactions, you’re not fully involved in the game.

One of my agents called to tell me that they heard that banks were being mandated by the US Treasury to expedite the short sale process.

This isn’t “brand new news” but I hadn’t hear anything about it. I thought I’d pass it on. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091130/bs_nm/us_treasury_shortsales

 

One question that seller’s often ask an agent during a listing interview is “how are you going to market our property?”

Of course the standard response is flyer’s, Internet, virtual tours and the like.

One thing I throw into the mix is that I target top producers and good agents that I’ve done business with in the past.

I want the seller’s to understand that I rely on other agents in my market to bring their buyers to my listing, and I want to ensure that they’re aware of what I have on the market.

I have saved in my email a group I call “top producers” for lack of a better name.

When I get a listing I take a copy of the print-out, scan it to my email and then forward it to everyone on my list.

Nothing dynamic, but it’s affective.

I like to listen to Pandora internet radio while I do this. Since I can pick my own music, I get very enthused about what I’m doing.

On occasion I’ve been approached by an agent seeking advice as how to best handle a scenario involving either a buyer or seller that is not one of our own transactions.

The scene plays out something like this,  (sic) “I have a friend who just bought a home and the seller’s being unreasonable with regards to letting the home inspector enter the property” … or a myriad of other situations like this.

My first response is usually along the lines of  “why did your friend buy their home without using you?”

Sometimes agents get caught up in their desire to show just how savvy they are about the ins and outs of real estate, that they give advice to someone who is seeking help with a problem they are having with another agent(s).

The first thing to remember is that if the “victim” values your advice so much they should have contacted you to begin with.

Secondly, any statement you make could be construed as giving legal advice, or interfering in a contractual relationship that you’re not a party to.

Don’t be tempted to show your friend that they made a big mistake by not using you. 

Simply tell them that you can’t give any advice with regards to a real estate transaction that you’re not involved in, and suggest that they talk with their broker, or contact their attorney.

If you have a property that has decent exposure (i.e. off a major road) and a seller who is flexible – or even better a home that is vacant; try doing a spontaneous open.

Instead of planing ahead, running an ad that may or may not get results, and counting on the weather to cooperate, I find that choosing a 2-3 hour time-slot on almost any decent weather day can generate about as much traffic as a pre-planned open.

It beats sitting at home doing nothing and increases your chances of getting a buyer.