Clarksville Real Estate

We recently were contacted by some previous clients who had placed two properties on the market with another agent/broker.  Of course we knew that this had happened, but nothing much you can do about it.  The homes sat for six months and the clients contacted us about possibly listing them.  We took a couple of days to research the areas each were located in and prepared CMAs on both properties. 

Our suggested price was well below the previous price that they had been listed for.  We also went back further to get analysis for comparatible homes that had sold in the areas over the past year and had that on hand for the clients as well as the active listings.  The information showed the clients that the homes were originally marketed over the value that the market could support, thus the stagnate period of six months.  The clients took a couple of days to think it over and to review the presentations we gave and came back to list with us.  They commented that we could have lost the listing by being so honest and I just laughed - couldnt help myself!  Really!  I told the gentlemen that we would rather be honest and help them sell the homes, than to simply get a sign in the yard with our names on it knowing that nothing other than that would come of it.

On the flip side, we continually get buyers who try to low ball as I am sure many of you have had or do have.  Yes, it is agreed that this is a 'buyers market' that we are currently in, but that does not neccessarily mean that it is a thrifty market.  While homes have dropped in value per square foot, and many have been sitting on the market for some time, offering 20 - 30 thousand less than the asking price on a home that is within the price criteria is a bit overboard.  If it was a foreclosure - go for it - 'as is - where is'.

On one hand you want offers, but on the other hand you do not want to be continuously bombarded with low ball offers merely to have your clients reject them.  So, how do you make them understand?  As Real Estate Professionals are we not to advise?  Sure we are obligated to write an offer, or to present an offer (depending on which side of the table you are on) but do you advise/recommend when you see that your clients are considering a very low offer?

Just some thoughts and I am sure that this topic has been broached before so be GENTLE to the newbie!

I am looking for some much needed advice.  I BELIEVE that open houses can be an effective tool for getting visibility on our listings, however, I am yet to PROVE this point to Pam.

We do the customary advert in the paper on Sunday morning, arrive 30 - 45 minutes early to ensure that the home and yard are in good order (I usually drive over the day prior if vacant and do some weeding and trimming if needed) and try to post online, but really we have not had much traffic through this process as of yet.

Could it be due to saturation of available open houses?

Could it be due to the location of a given property?

What methods have you found best for getting traffic to your open houses?

Thanks in advance for sharing.

Pam and I are considering a website package.  Still doing some research on it at this time.  What is your take on it?

In today's market, it seems as if many agents are complaining that they just do not have leads, or their listings are not moving.  Many of the agents (if not all) that started with Pam have since retired their license or just moved on to other professions.  While we have the standard company website, we are yet to get a lead or a call that came from our site.  We have been fortunate nonetheless to survive and continue to pick-up new clients through word of mouth from previous clients and the like.

As I said in a previous post, both Pam and I pride ourselves on being 'people persons' in that we thoroughly enjoy interacting with others and assisting them in buying or selling.  There are many in our neck of the woods that are anything but - BUT - they are plain covered up with leads and clients.  Why you might ask?  Well, the best that I can figure is due to a good website which is on the first or second page of a search engine.

Now, those of you out there that have quality sites, and I am sure there are many of you that do - did you:

Build the site yourself?

Buy a package and have it managed?

What about an SEO package?

I am still doing some research on this matter, and while budget is a factor at this point, there seems to be a few different companies that offer a lot of bang for the buck.  In the end, I am not looking to be the first site that appears on a search engine, but I do want to have a quality site for Pam and I to bring potential clients in. 

What say you?

I have always considered myself the 'techno' partner in our marriage, but Pam has me beat.  She has been into scrapbooking for years now and started a Blog a few months back.  When she first told me about it, I pretty much laughed - that was until I saw what she had created.

Thought I would share with yall

http://pamsfavoriteplace.blogspot.com/

Good evening to all.  A thought on my mind this evening, which I hope that folks will comment on is this:

What does a seller want in a Real Estate Broker?  Do they merely go for the person who has the best adverts?  Does word of mouth count?  Or is it simply from seeing a sign in a yard and contacting the Agent?  This is not to offend any agent and I truly hope that all will learn from any comments that OUR prospective customers/clients might post.  I have my own thoughts on this as I do with working for the seller.  Personally, I try to keep in mind, as does Pam the following:  What would WE want in way of a Real Estate Broker if we were selling our house?  I think this keeps you constantly humble and allows you to see through the eyes of your customer/client.

What about as a prospective buyer?  Same thought as above.

Many people in today's market are timid due to the new reports and the real fact that friends, family, and nieghbors are being forclosed upon.  We are no different than you.  I have to head up to Kentucky this weekend to assist my father in moving as he dealing with a strained mortage on the brink of forclosure right now.  I must say that I am proud of him though - even in the midst of a heavy financial burden he continues to keep his head up, does not blame anyone but himself for the situation he is in.

To give you a little more background, without dealving too far into the details, Dad purchased a home in 2002 in a Minnesota resort town.  Against my and others advice he found the biggest and most expensive property he could afford.  Now mind you, he lived all but a week of the year by himself.  The market was HOT then so he ignored all and went for what he wanted.  Immediately he turned around and got a second to take care of some improvements - all was grand. 

Then came 2006 and the slowing economy.  Dad managed the independent supermarket in the town.  It was sold and as any familiar with independents will tell you, most times when sold the higher management is relieved.  The market was starting to go south at this time as well.  With no job and no luck for one up that way, I started to assist in securing him a new job.  He was blessed to get on with Dollar General Market Stores as a Store Director and now lives 2 hours away.  First time in 20 years we have been this close but I wish it was a little closer.

Anyhow, I digress.  Dad got, for lack of a better term - Greedy.  He thought he would make a killing on his place in Minnessota - again against my pleading to price the home to sell quick and aviod what was coming.  We are now two years later with Dad holding on to that home - in that time he has had one offer but it fell through, now we are working with the mortage company to do a short sale.  A couple lessons from this:

- GET A HOME INSPECTION:  The contract dad had on the property fell through.  Why you ask?  Well, the buyers got a home inspector and it seems that Dad did not when he bought the house.  The entire septic system to include field lines was on the wrong side of the property for code and had to be redone.

- IF YOU MUST SELL - PRICE TO SELL:  Many folks are in a good position where they are not 'Needing' to sell, thus they can wait for that buyer.  Dad was not so fortunate.  Had he priced the home at a reasonable price (which would have allowed for a small profit) he would not have wiped his 401K trying to maintain two households. 

- HAVE A GOOD AGENT - COMMUNICATION IS KEY:  Once dad signed the contract the agent and brokerage was like a phantom show - nowhere to be found.  They had the listing.  MORE TO IT THAN THAT folks.  One picture online - thats it!  Weak WEAK write up - no virtual tour - where was the marketing?

Oh, you are probably wondering why I am moving my Dad right?  Well, he was to buy the home he is in (one year option) but of course he cannot, thus the owner sold the property leaving Dad to find somewhere else.  It will be a good thing for Dad.  I hated to see him sell off so much of his belongings, but he will be happier in a smaller place where he has time to play golf - he can get his bills paid and spend more time BBQing for me!

Well that is it in a nutshell.  Not sure if that is what these Blogs are all about - but it certainly is what life is all about.  Hopefully it will assist someone in the future from making crucial mistakes when dealing with real estate. 

Have a great day.

Pam and I have heard this over and over again.  It seems that some are struggling, but others are continuing to thrive.  It is true that it is a buyer's market, the opportunities are there for sellers.  The key is a good marketing strategy and a dedicated Realtor Team.  Pam and I have been blessed to have a great team to work with in Crye-Leike (Sango).

We are thoroughly enjoying working with both buyers and sellers within the Clarksville and surrounding areas.  While we have alot to learn in the Real Estate arena, we remain humble and continually remind ourselves that our clients deserve the absolute best service that we can offer.