Audrey's Adventures in Real Estate

If you have never spent time in Our Nation's Capital as a tourist, you need to add it to your bucket list.  I live in the DC suburbs of Montgomery County Maryland and I admit that I do not visit the City nearly enough.

Yesterday, Saturday, was the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival.  It one of the most beautiful sites you can see.  It started when the Japanese gave the United States the gift of the Cherry Blossoms and they were planted around the Tidal Basin.  Several years later the Parks service has planted many more and several different species. If you didn't make it this weekend, not to worry, it goes on until next weekend - you should try to make it if you are close enough!

My husband, Mike, and I made a day of it.  We rode down on the Metro train, we sat in the first seat of the first car and felt like little kids.  Then when the real little kids got on the train with Mom and Dad, we gave them the seats.  They were cute to watch as we went through the tunnel.               

The weather was perfect, you needed a jacket but blue skies all of the way.  One of the things that is so wonderful is the "Mall", not where you shop for stuff, but the large grass park that sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the US Capital and has the Smithsonian Museums along the sides. It is filled with so many people and Activities.  Not only was the Cherry Blossom Festival going on, but a Kite Festival, the National Marathon, and the Epilepsy Walk were all going on at the same time. There was such great energy in the city.

After walking around the Tidal Basin we went to the New WWII Memorial.  It is a beautiful tribute to the lives that were lost for our freedom. 

There were people from all over the world enjoying the day in Downtown DC.  Tourist from the far East, Middle East, I hear German spoken, Russian,  and a good old "Bama accent too:).  Every age group, people from all walks of life enjoying the day.  It was great.

We ended our day having lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill. REALLY great food and atmosphere.  Casual, but in an uppity good food kind of way.  It is right downtown by the Treasury Buildings and the White House, you never know during the week, you could be sitting next to a Senator or Congresswoman? Okay, or man?  DC just has a great energy to it.

The best part is everything is free.

So, I joined Active Rain about the middle of January.  I have been hooked ever since.  I admit it I have spent more than my fair share of time here on AR. 

When I first joined I looked through the groups and thought what groups do I join?  There are only about 3400 to choose from?  Where do I start?  I went down the list.

REALTOR(R)- yep, I am a REALTOR(R)-joined that.

RE/MAX Rainer yep, I am a RE/MAX agent- joined them.

Positive Attitude, well, I am all over that, click.

Dogs, yep, got a dog - in there like swimwear!

ePro - shoot they are going to love me there, check.

Iowa Rainers, hey, I know someone in Iowa, maybe I should join - I didn't really just thought it would sound good ;).

Lake Arrowhead, Dude I lived there almost 35 years ago before all them were born- they want me back!

Dutifully I would check out the Groups read what they were about, if I felt like I could relate click I was in there.  Then, as I read posts and I liked them, I would see which groups the posts were sent to.  Then I would have a whole new way of finding new groups.  Checked them out.  Then, a couple of times I was even INVITED to join a group.  Someone must know how special I am, I was there.

As much fun as it is to explore the different groups, is it better to join MORE groups or LESS?  I find that I REALLY post to a certain number of groups.  I guess I try to put the appropriate post in the appropriate group.

I just want to know are the group moderator/ founders more interested in having more members in their Groups or is it better to have a good number of people that consistently post to the group?  Does it matter? 

Welcome all Darnestown residents it is time for the Darnestown Civic Association's 9th annual Spring Social!!  It is a place to meet your neighbors, bring the kids and enjoy the afternoon! 

 The Spring social will be hosted and sponsored by Smokey Glen Farm.  It will be Wednesday, April 23th, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00.

Smokey Glen Farmis the one of the metro area's best picks for everything from wedding receptions to corporate BBQ!  Great food and plenty of activities! Darnestown is its own "town".  We are located 20 minutes from Washington DC, but have a small town feel.  The spring social brings this part of Darnestown's personality out for people to see and feel!

The Spring Social is for the residence of Darnestown and is free, so bring the family!

If you are a resident of Darnestown and would like to attend you will need to RSVP Lisa Patterson, social director.  You may rsvp by calling 301-548-0999 or email Lisaapatterson@aol.com. 

It is lots of fun and it is free!  Hope to see you there!

                                                                                   Darnestowncivic.org      

Search for Darnestown Real Estate at Audreyjune.com                                          

Isn't that what you buy a home for anyway?

When I talk to my husband in the evening and we exchange the happenings of our day, we listen and exchange points of views from different perspectives.

He works in the Biotech industry. Yes, HE is finding a cure to save lives - real life and death stuff - even though I think that is my department.

I told him I had a settlement the next day and my client is really excited about her new home.  The client and I feel that she got a really good deal on her new place, even if the market went down more, she feels like she has a really good cushion.  I told my husband that she and I discussed the fact that she should plan to stay in the home for awhile and ride the market. 

Then my husband said the most profound thing, "well, isn't that what you buy a home for  anyway?  To live in it,enjoy it, spend time there?"  That just smacks of Hellooo? 

Of course that is what we buy a home for.  To live, grow, and enjoy as our safety haven from the world.

It made me think of how in 20 years of selling homes what the perception of home selling and home buying has been.  In the early years through the 90s we sold homes and havens. We sold the features, location and comfort of the home.  Maybe it was the way the house made the buyer "feel" or a certain school district was the buyer's hot button?  

Then, in the early 2000's, it seems we sold the investment - not the haven.   When we discussed homeownership it was about appreciation in dollars.  Almost always homes were sold with amenities, but the dollar signs outweighed the haven.

Today, I feel we are back to selling what is important; Lifestyle as well the haven and the investment that homeownership can provide to consumers. 

Whether it is a convenient location for a commuter or gated community with all of the recreational amenities for people of all ages enjoy?  Lifestyle and comfort are the benefit of homeownership.

Yes, the investment factor is still strong.  Heck, investors with plenty of cash are out getting bargains, but for our homeowner consumer, we have to remember that there is more to a home than a giant dollar sign!  Well, until the next big upswing market!

This is not web based marketing, this was good old belly to belly stuff!

Another agent and I would go on Wednesday mornings to the local bagel shop, buy bags of bagels with different cream cheeses.  We would drop these bags of bagels ( about 20 to 30 in a bag) off at different local business in our area once a week.  We would leave our business cards, magnets, brochures, contact information, and the like with the bagels for the employees to read.  It took a bit of effort, but it really paid off.

We did this for about 3 months and go leads from it.   We still get business from those bagles?  They were always waiting for us on Wednesdays to come with the bagels.  The bagel company gave us a discount because we were such regulars and bought  a lot of bagels.

We have since changed our format with these companies.  We now mail gift cards, movie tickets and occasionally drop off bagels.  The bagels were a way for us to get into the door and get to know the folks, who is going to turn away free food?  This let us get them in our database and build relationships.

Audreyjune.com

Google images

We had "Show and Tell" at the office yesterday.

Well, not REALLY, but it was close.   About twice a month our office has a "Group Think".  It is a very casual meeting.  We meet in our computer room, which is a sizeable area, pull up a chair and brainstorm about different ideas.

I don't usually go to this meeting.  I just get other things on my schedule and usually skip it.  Last week my broker asked me to come and be one of the "Group Leaders" for the most recent session.  I said I would, but wasn't sure what I was getting myself into or what I would have to offer?

The topic of the discussion was "Getting Buyers off of the fence".    My broker asked a series of questions  of two other agents and myself answered in a group discussion format.  It was great because we have an office of 150 agents and is difficult to cover in a sales meeting.

I found this to have been a really great way to bounce ideas off each other, some scenarios to use when discussing current market conditions with your buyers.

Some of the ideas we came up with were;

Have a "Buyer listing appointment" when I first meet with buyers.  When we have this appointment we discuss this market I tell the buyers that this not a market for flippers if that is what you are looking to do, this is not the time.  If you are looking for a home you should plan on living there at least 5 years and it might be longer, it might be shorter?   But you need to plan on owning the home for awhile.

This market is one where you can negotiate your price and closing fees to help you with cash.

The interest rates are great.  Even if you wait for the market to "bottom out" in regard to price, you may have a higher interest rate that might make your payment higher even with a lower sales price.

The key is the time a buyer should expect to own their property. It is called a market because they go up and down in cycles.  It has always happened, it will happen again.  It is the circle of life, Simba.

There were more ideas, these stuck out the most in my mind.

After we talked, supported and helped each other I was surprised that many of the agents in my office did not use a Buyer Information Packet when they first met with their potential clients.  I brought mine out and shared it will all.  The newer agents, and even some of the seasoned agents, really were appreciative of my sharing with them.

I think this was a very helpful forum for the agents and brokers to have a chance to sit down and really bang around ideas and support each other.

I guess I figured everyone had such a package?   It felt good to help some of the agents that have been having their struggles.  I hope it can add to their confidence and success.

Image from Google images

I just came from one of my listings.  I was there with my stager trying to figure out what we can do to give this listing some umph!  It is a single person who travels a lot for their work and they don't spend much time in the house, therefore it is pretty basic.  It has very nice features, just needs some pizazz!

We moved furniture around,  put knick knacks here and there and we cleaned the house.  It was not terrible, but we found the wall paint touched it up vacuumed, cleaned, reorganized the pantry etc.  It looks amazing.  Thank God for her.

As I looked around the house though it made me laugh. The house is pretty much what I call REALTOR(R) Beige.  That is the techincal color names on the color wheel!!  You know, white walls, tan carpet, neutral hardwood floors. Now, I can't tell you back in the olden days how hard we work to get our sellers to strip wall paper, paint their decorator walls and get rid of their hunter green carpet all in the name of getting your house ready for the market.  Honest to God.  Rip out all of that work, we figured that it needed to be as plain as possible so the new buyer could imagine "their colors and decorations" through out the house, not yours?

Now, my REALTOR(R) Beige listings have the hardest time.  "It has no personality" I hear.  So we get them staged and have some fun "pow" to the home.

While I was there I told my decorator/stager "do you know hard we used to work to get our sellers to get their homes to be as neutral as possible?"  We laughed and just said times are different now.  I will be excited to see how the home buyers feel about the house now and how important staging a home is in this market!

Funny how the business has evolved and we have a new industry so to speak because of it, kind of cool?

KILL YOUR TELEVISION!

Today our society is bombarded with bad news that the media spews out everyday.  If you really believe them, you are in for a battle of wills.   We all know bad news sells and gets our attention, but at some point we all have to turn the television off.  If you listen to the media and believe them, they will have you hiding under the covers and not to come out until they give you the all clear.  I don't think so.  The media is not going to run my life and my thoughts!

I am guilty of having it on as background noise while I get ready in the mornings and while I am answering emails or checking out the Rain.  When I hear Brian Williams say the state of the economy is the worst in 30 years because of real estate and the stock market. I have all of the power- it is called a clicker and poof, Brian is out of my life.  I used to be addicted to news 24/7.  I had to quit.  I am much better now.

I try to look at the bright side of things.  That has been tough for the last couple of years.  Respectfully, I don't need any help from Mr. Williams.  I decided to take control of my reality and know that things are not as bad in my area as the media makes it out to be.  I read Ray Nellum's  post  My Glass is half full. . . the power of the Postive, and truer words have not been spoken.  You make your own reality.   Don't wait for the Media give you the all clear to come out from under the covers!! 

You have to believe in yourself and I guarantee you will be more productive and happier when not listening to the negative.

Now, go out there and sell some houses!!

I have a listing.  It is my dear friend who has been an agent for 20 some odd years.  She used to be one of the top ten agents in my association.  She has sold her fair share of real estate.  It was a total compliment that she would ask me to help her.  She has now slowed down a bit.

She lost her beloved mother last year after taking care of her in the most loving way a daughter can love a mother.  While my friend belabored and loved her mother, she neglected herself.  She skipped her mammogram.  The next year when she went to get caught up on her own health issues it was discovered that she had breast cancer.  She had 3 surgeries and then started an aggressive round of Chemotherapy.  She had the best attitude.  She would go on Wednesday and get her manicure and then go on Thursday and be all fluffed up for her day at Chemo.  Every outfit was a perfect match, including earrings, jewelry, and shoes.  Even the glasses were coordinated with each outfit!!  She amazes me!

They tell her that her cancer is gone, but she is now having radiation therapy daily for 6 weeks.  And you thought you were having a time?

She called me a couple of months ago and was just wiped out and asked me to come and list her house for her and get it sold.  She was just too worn out to deal with it anymore.  We have had some good traffic through, a couple of folks for a second look.  We are hoping for an offer soon.   

I have to say my friend always amazes me that she gets worn out, but always has a positive attitude.  She is always put together and a good word for everyone.  She is now getting her energy back.

I believe we are all stronger than we give ourselves credit for.  I too have lived through a cancer diagnosis.  All is well.  Thank God. The point is, we all get so caught up in wallowing in how "bad the market is" that we lose sight of other things that are important. Live your life and counting your blessings.   Work hard, keep your attitude positive and know you are going to live through this market and come out on top.

Do you do the two step?

Over the years I have gone back and forth as to whether I was being more effective in doing a one appointment listing appointment or a two step style listing appointment.?

I feel the one step is just that, one time to make your impression on the sellers. You have to be everything at that appointment. You have to be the listener, the teller of get your stuff out of the house person, and you have to sell your services as to why your are the end all get all agent of the world and they should go with you.

That is a long appointment and sometimes I think you start to lose the seller's attention. The phone rings, the kids need help with their homework, life just happens. So I switched to a two step listing appointment. Don't get me wrong, I have done my fair share of one step appointments, but if I don't already have some sort of relationship with the potential seller, I try for the two step.

So here is how I do it. When I get a call from someone who wants to potentially list their home with me, I have an interview form and ask my standard questions. You know, how long, how much, why the hard info you need. Then I explain to the potential client that my process is a two step listing appointment. I tell them so that I have the best information for them I would like to do 2 things for my first appointment. I want to drop off my "prelisting package" . This is so they can read over my goals, what I am about, how great me and my company are etc. This will save me time at the main appointment. I wont have to sit there and talk about myself, I am there to talk about them and how I can help them. It's about them, not me. The other thing I want to do with the seller is have them show me the house in detail so I can be as accurate as possible on the Market Analysis. This also gives you a chance to build a rapport with the seller in a more causal setting.

When I am finished with the first appointment, I do ask if I can be the last agent if they are interviewing. Some agents will want to be first and seal the deal, but if they are good consumers and used to read old "Bob's" article, they know they need to interview 3 agents. So I like to be last if possible.

I don't get every listing and yes, this is more time consuming, but I feel this has been more effective for me.