What Does it Take to Sell a House Today?

I am asked this question daily, in one form or another. Agents in the office are frustrated that one of their listings is still unsold. Clients wonder why no one is looking at their property. Builders with unsold inventory want the answer. Neighbors are worried about the house next door. Everyone wants to know the secret, and since I'm Broker in Charge, I must know, right?


Well I do! It's really very simple. Be competitive! No matter what the market is doing, houses sell because they are competitive.


Now, truthfully, there are houses that just have no market. But they are rare. Nearly all properties can be sold in a timely manner if the owner and marketing company make sure they are competitive.


The Beauty Contest.
It is imperative that the property win the beauty contest. The sellers need to take a hard look at their own property and honestly answer if they'd buy it in the condition it is in. Is it competitive with competing properties? Do they have brushed nickel fixtures while yours has brass? Is the paint shabby or outdated? Does the property have old wallpaper on the walls? Is the furniture arranged to enhance the beauty of the property? In short, is it dazzling?


Those properties that are dazzling are winning the beauty contest and are selling quickly, even in a slow market. Those that are not dazzling are simply sitting, waiting for an offer.

The Price War.
To successfully sell your property quickly and easily, you MUST win both the beauty contest AND the price war. How do you win the price war?


The successful seller will price his property AHEAD of the market. Looking at comparables is like looking in the rear view mirror while you're driving. It does give you a good picture of what has been happening in the market, but it doesn't predict the future. The agent's job is to predict the future.


First, looking at comps gives you a price range in which your home is likely to fall. But remember in a downward trending market, your home will sell in the lower quadrant or below, depending on how long it takes to sell. It might sell at $200,000 today, but by tomorrow there may be a better looking house on the market for less money. The right price is a moving target, especially in a difficult economy.


Setting a price requires looking at the competition, and not just in your own neighborhood. Buyers look at multiple neighborhoods, so all of those are your competition. If you are offering to pay closing costs, but so is everyone else, then you're still part of the herd. If you have granite countertops, but so does all the competition, then you're still part of the herd. Many times the only difference in two homes is the price, or the seller's willingness to be flexible.


Being competitive in the price war means having your home priced just below the market. That attracts attention. If everyone with granite countertops is priced at $200,000, then price yours at $195,000. While we don't want you to "give it away", we do want you to be successful selling your home, and aggressive pricing in a downwardly trending market is essential.


So the answer to the question is, for a successful sale, BE COMPETITIVE!!!

Forest Acres Office Shows Charity During the Holidays

2009 may have been a tough year in the real estate business, but that didn't stop the agents in the Forest Acres office from sharing their blessings.

All it took was a comment by Sara Burnside during one of our sales meetings, and we were collecting and donating warm clothing to the children in Afghanistan. She described conditions of bitter cold, and children without coats, gloves, hats, warm clothes. Many agents donated warm clothing; others donated money with which our small soldier committee went shopping. To read more about the overall effort by St. Michael's Episcopal Church, read this article in The State newspaper: A white Christmas - in Afghanistan - S.C. at War - TheState.com.

Rules for 2010

One of my friends sent me an email with these rules for 2010. Even though we've all seen this before, it bears another read:

Health :

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality :

1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society :

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life :

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. GOD heals everything.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come..
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
8. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Have a Wonderful 2010!!!!