Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

STAMPEDE!!!  Well OK, just a great Open House.

I had my busiest open house in years.  I had done a few open houses before at this listing..nice home, extremely well priced for the area.

I've had just a handful of buyers show up and a few no shows that I was expecting.  But this past weekend I had well over 20 different buyers show up for the open house. 

I didn't have a minute to myself...my feet ached, my legs hurt, my throat was sore, my back hurt and it was the happiest I've ever been after an open house! 

I didn't get any firm offers, but I did get a few possible listings, and a couple buyers who didn't think this was the house for them ...but they were going to buy and could I help them!

I normally have great open house attendance...considering the comments of my colleague this was a stampede!

I contact other Realtors to ask if they will hold open their listings located within reasonable proximity to my listing.  We send traffic to each other.

The key is working together.  We have to selling showings...the home will sell itself to the right buyer.

Sometimes agents are leery of working together.  My goal is to get my clients home sold.  If you get a sale it is one less home in competition with my listing!  I look for the good stuff....we can't sell every home but we can help each other make it easier!

Do you work with you colleagues to make your open houses more like a neighborhood tour?

Have you noticed how overworked and stressed out most people are nowadays? 

I look at people in the grocery stores, gas stations, fast food places....see how little I have in life!  They look and act dazed and shocked.  The economy has created a huge concern for everyone.  The media has dwelt on the negative for so long that people cling to anything that happens that is good in their lives.

People keep a guard up with one eye over their shoulder to see when the next shoe is going to drop!

I had a closing yesterday and the Title Company has reduced staff to the point of paralyzing the employees. 

Do you take the extra minute to acknowledge and appreciate their situation.  Better yet, do you hear the shock in their voice the surprised reaction that you even care when you say something nice?

I helped with some of the documents so the closing agent could get the HUD one done and the sale could close on time.  She was very concerned to even ask but knew she couldn't get everything done.

I put one of my staff on it and we supplied the last documentation she needed.

We closed without a hitch and she was so thankful for our help.

Put a smile on someone Else's face....it is easy and could get you your next sale!  How bad would that be.  It is easy to lend a hand...say some nice words, open a door, step aside for an elderly couple.  Seems we are so busy we forget that everyone is just like us...looking for a smile in the sea of frowns and worried faces.

How do you put smiles on faces?

If you have ever been on a listing appointment you have heard these words.

How long will it take to sell my house?

When will the buyers make an offer?

Buyer and Agent feedback.  Why did they say that about my beautiful home? 

Many agents easily forget, they see homes every day...well most of them do.  They are concerned about marketing getting buyers to come to properties.  They are concerned that their advertising will be seen.  Agents are focused on things sellers never think of or have been exposed too, that why you hire an agent....to sell your home!

Sellers want to feel good, they made the right choice in agent selection.  How long will it take to sell a home?  Simply put it is based on some key factors.

• Location...nothing here is going to change or be impacted by anyone.
• Condition...this can be impacted by the homeowner, the curb appeal and staging of the home.
• Marketing....how much and where the marketing is place to expose the home to buyers.
• Price....priced wrong and the home will linger like a bruised tomato....and then forgotten, if no price adjustments are make to get the home competitively priced!

When will buyers make an offer?  That is one of those question only buyers can answer.  Sometimes based on location they think the home will come down in price...especially when priced at the top of the market.  So they take a wait and see attitude.  The problem is they could find something else while you are thinking of making a price adjustment...and two....another buyer may come and love your home and it sells.  When will buyers make an offer when they are ready to buy and find the right home.

Why did the buyer or agent say that about my home?  Sometimes buyers are not sensitive to different tastes.  I have seen some color combinations that my wife might have beaten me for mentioning...yet others think they are fine.  This is a personal choice and let these comments roll by like a ripple on the water.  They have not impact...unless...you hear them repeatedly showing after showing...then it is time to make adjustments.

Layout...not much you can change.  I have a beautiful home with a "small" kitchen.  It was custom build for the current owners.  They don't entertain or cook much...so the kitchen wasn't a big deal.  Now time to sell....the small kitchen in a big home is a very big deal.  70% of the "NO Thank You" comments are based on the size of the kitchen.  We can't change it...we are looking for the right buyer.

One more thing....there is a buyer for every home.  Finding them is the trick!  Using a professional who understands can help you meet your goals faster and with less stress.

If you live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan, are not under contract, would like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  FlexIt Realty designs selling and buying programs to meet our clients' needs.  Your call is always confidential, you are never pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699     Local: 616-784-2360     Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

This issue of Money Magazine says Grand Rapids Michigan is going to be in the top 100 cities to recovery the fastest from the recession.

They also said something very important to buyers.

If you are a buyer waiting for that home to drop in price...better move someplace else for the bargain!  We are expected to drop in value a bit more...but 1.1% for 2009.  Take other cities the number exceeds 11%.

That means buying now while it is still a hot buyers market may be your best and ONLY opportunity to get that home you have had your eye on.  Waiting for the price to drop may be a disappointing option to get a bargain.

Today I looked at a conference table.  It was beautiful...I was hesitant because I wanted to make sure I could transport it without extra costs.  They only had one.  I went back...sold.  My conference room table is now in someone Else's office.

You may have your eye on a home...there is only one like it.  Sure others have the same number of bedrooms and baths...but the lot is different, the location isn't quite the same, simply they are different.

So go ahead wait...next time you drive, by notice the curtains have changed in the windows?  The new owners liked the home too!

Watching the market is different than knowing the market.  Money magazine watches the market from statistical samplings.  Agents like myself, we live and work in the market....we know the market.  The difference, we see the activity, the homes, the bargains and know your deal isn't always going to be there.

Want to know the average days on market for HUD or foreclosure homes?  The good ones are gone in a week!  If they have a bid time frame on them they rarely get past the first round of bids.  The good deals are gone as quickly as they show up on listing reports.  Do you think you are the only buyer?

How many have you missed waiting for a better deal?

Send me an email if you would like to be on the "HUD or Foreclosure Alert List" for homes in a specific price range or style.

GaryWhite@FlexItRealty.com you can go to my website. www.ForeclosuresWestMichigan.com you can also go to www.SeeHUDhomes.com 
To save you from looking through a bunch of homes that are of no interest to you fill out the data sheet on the website.  You will only be sent alerts for homes that  meet your needs and price goals.  Want a great buy on a home where the buyer is still maintaining the home?  Go to www.ShortSalesGrandRapids.com 

Thanks for Stopping By!