Dating and Negotiating

Dating and Negotiating-Being 31 and still not married, I've become pretty awesome at the former (think what you want...I'm very picky), and have noticed a lot of similarities which has actually helped me help my clients quite a bit. Here are a few that I can share:

Don't be too eager. If you play all of you cards on the first date with a guy, he's either 1-not going to call you or 2-going to have all of the proverbial "hand" when he does. Real estate is no different. If the sellers know how much you love the neighborhood, yard, finished basement, and that your best friend Giggles lives just down the street, they will have all of the power during negotiations.

Keep your options open. There's nothing more attractive to most guys than a confident woman. One that will walk away if they're being a jerk. If a seller is raking you over the coals or being too possessive, walk away. If it's meant to be, they'll eventually come to reality. If not, there are plenty of other "houses in the sea".

Don't be desperate. This one goes without saying in the dating realm. If you're a homebuyer, desperation won't score you a good deal either. If, for instance you needed to move like yesterday, rather than be desperate for one particular house, you're much better off being a bit more analytical and lining up a couple houses that will work as backups just in case.

Don't fall for the commitment-phobe. Whether it's because of his emotional baggage or 5 children, some guys don't want a commitment. Some sellers may put their house on the market and go on dates (ie. showings) but when it comes down to getting an offer, they either refuse to come down to a reasonable price or may even take the house off the market altogether. It wasn't meant to be. Dust yourself off and let's go find "the ONE".

Make yourself attractive. You wouldn't go out on a first date in sweat pants and a tank top, would you? Then don't submit an offer (or even start looking at homes) until you've been pre-approved by a lender. It shows you've done some "primping". On top of that, make sure you're putting some earnest money deposit down as well. If you can't afford to, you’re probably not ready to buy just yet.

Be open minded. If he doesn't open the car door for you, maybe he's just nervous and forgot. If he doesn't buy dinner, maybe he's had a bad experience w/a feminazi who berated him for trying. Sometimes a duck is just a duck but not always. You never know what's going on in sellers minds either. Maybe they’re being forced to move or have watched their children grow up in this house and are emotionally scarred after seeing your offer for 10% under asking price on the home they value much more than the market does. Practice the golden rule when negotiating. If the sellers are negotiable on the price, but need some time after the closing to move out, give it to them. If they want to keep the refrigerator because their high school sweetheart gave it to them, let them. Everyone is happier with a win-win!

Everyone is different. Just like guys, every Seller has different emotions, history, and past experiences. In my 5 years as a REALTOR and 10+ years as a dating specialist, there's one thing that rings true for both: Timing is EVERYTHING!

I'm on the Move

I moved to Keller Williams, teamed up with a Sellers Agent, AND am now working exclusively with Buyers! It's been on my mind for awhile so it wasn't a rash decision but I feel like a 100 lb weight has been lifted off my shoulders so it feels like a good one already.

I think part the reason that many agents don't stay in the business very long is that they get overwhelmed with the different facets (financing, paperwork, staging, paperwork, inspections, paperwork, marketing (themselves and the homes they sell), and so on) involved in selling real estate. Even when you're good, there is only so much that one can focus on well. Yet we continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results (isn't that the definition of insanity?).

Buying and selling real estate is usually an emotional transaction for my clients. For most people it’s the most expensive purchase they’ll ever make so it makes sense. I’ve found that depending on the day, I may get to play marriage counselor, cheerleader, consoler, or some other role…and always an ally and educator. I never know which hat I’m going to wear but I like that every day is a new adventure. Because I like working with/for Buyers so much, I roll with the punches very well. Sellers are over my head. It's not personal. Sellers are good people. I'm just not interested in honing this skill right now. But I didn’t want to let my friends, past clients, and referral sources down so I had to find someone that was. And I did! It took a few months and several meetings with different brokerages but I finally got it right. Mic Gordon has been in the business for 18 years, sells a boatload of homes, and is the managing partner of the Keller Williams office that I joined. So when someone I know wants to sell their home, I can rest at night knowing that they are being treated fairly, are well informed about the market, and will still have someone to negotiate a win/win on their behalf. If you're a past client/friend, I'll probably help with the process too. But I'll leave the tough stuff to Mic :)

And my perfectionist personality can focus on being the best Buyers agent that I can be. The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster but I’m completely relieved and overwhelmingly excited about this opportunity!

Just an aside: I got an e-mail a couple days ago from a past client who wanted to refinance. It went something like this: “I just closed on my refi today at Union Savings Bank. No escrow, no pmi, and no fee for not escrowing. Cost me a total of $771 to close and my payments went down by $384 per month! God bless you” . I share this because nothing thrills me more than to be able to benefit someone’s quality of life. And now that I'm able to focus on one subset of the market, I’ll be able to keep up to date with lenders to find out the most recent changes the banks are making (and deals like the one I just mentioned), stay more abreast of Builders inventory, and develop even greater ideas for the Buyers I represent. So when someone says they're thinking about Buying a house, remember to give me a call. They'll be glad you did!

A Gaggle of Tips to Prepare your House for Sale

If you've ever sold a house before, you probably know that in order to be successful, you should live differently than you normally would while marketing it for sale (unless of course, you're a bit OCD and a clean freak, in which case selling your house should be a breeze once it's priced right). As a REALTOR, I want nothing more than to sell your house…and for you to want the same. Here are some tips for minimizing the torture of "being on the market" so that you can move on with your life and IN to your new diggs!

• De-clutter! Repeat until you resemble a minimalist.
        ○ This is the easiest (and free) way to prepare your home for sale. Get knick knacks, crowded closets, and storage spaces under control. Take down personal photos. If you haven't used something in over a year, pitch it.
       ○ Use closet organizers to maximize storage space. Make sure buyers can see the back of closets and cupboards. Thinning closets cabinets, and basement will help your storage spaces look larger.
       ○ If you can't part with items, rent a POD or storage unit.
• Kitchen cabinets
       ○ If you don't already have hardware for your kitchen cabinets, get some.
       ○ If they're from a different decade, update them.
       ○ This is probably the biggest bang you'll get for your buck when selling. If you're installing them, make certain that they're level...or pay to have someone install them for you.
• Carpet
       ○ Steam cleaning carpet is great for spot cleaning and reviving semi-trafficked areas
       ○ If replacing carpet, be sure to use the best quality carpet pad, which will make any carpet "cushy". Cheap carpet with a great pad is better than a pricey carpet with a cheap pad.
• Windows
       ○ Make sure they're clean
       ○ Remove heavy drapes and/or valances
       ○ The more natural light coming in through the windows, the better. If you have blinds, open them for showings.
• Basements
       ○ If there is moisture, get a dehumidifier
       ○ If there's not already a sump pump, install one
       ○ Get rid of cobwebs
       ○ Organize storage areas
       ○ Wipe down the water heater, furnace, washer, and dryer
○ Outside
       ○ Limit yard ornaments to a favored few. Too many can make yards look busy and buyers also might want them included in the purchase.
       ○ Replace broken bricks on terraces, cracked concrete patios and steps. If your deck has any broken planks, replace those as well.
       ○ Paint or stain (if needed)
              - Shutters
              - yard lights
              - flag poles
              - Mailboxes and address #'s
              - Planter boxes
              - Fences
              - Swing set or play equipment
              - Deck
       ○ Take a good look at the front of your home from the street. Look for overgrown or dead shrubs and trim/replace them with plants that are scaled to the size of your home.
       ○ Add color with a few sets of flowers around the entrance. And don't forget to mulch.
       ○ If you have a dog(s), pick up dog droppings from the yard. Buyers outside admiring your yard don't want to take that with them.
• Paint scuffed up or dirty trim, moldings, and ceilings. Bright white will make your walls "pop"!
• Neutralize colors. If any of your walls are Red, purple, or any other darker shade, rethink the color. Neutral, earth tones sell the easiest. When in doubt, call me and I'll stop over to give you some good color choices.
• Remove wallpaper. It dates the home and no two people have the same taste.
• Simple furniture rearrangement can bring new life to a tired space. Float sofas and coffee tables away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to anchor furniture groupings on tile or wood floors.
• Polish and wax hardwood floors to brighten and blend an old finish
• Replace screens on porches and windows. Dirty rusty, or ripped screens limit functionality to home-buyers and give the impression that the home isn't cared for as it is.
• If you have Pets, take them off-site, when possible. A barking dog or over-friendly cat can kill a showing, especially if the potential Buyer(s) has allergies.
• Clean every surface until it shines. First impressions are important!


Of course, you don't have to do ALL of these things, but decide what your house really needs and start checking things off.