Blog
What Listing Agents Do To Earn Their Commission
Wondering what listing agents actually do to earn a commission? According to the 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, only 53% of sellers were very satisfied with their home sale. Many cite lapses of performance during the listing or closing process. While procedures vary from one agent to another, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association has put together a list of activities that … [Read more...]
19x Easier Than Cutting Hair!
It requires 19 times more education in Florida to cut hair than to sell homes! To cut hair in the State of Florida one must complete 1,200 school hours in a cosmetology program and pass a state exam. To sell homes, all you need is a 63-hour course and an exam. Once they have a sales license, the National Association of Realtors 2009 Member Profile reveals that the average Florida agent sells … [Read more...]
Home Buying: Negotiate from Strength
You may not be the only one who recognizes a good deal. When the right home comes along there may be multiple offers. A pre-qualification letter must accompany every offer, regardless if you are looking at bank owned foreclosures, short sales or traditional sales in the Tampa Bay area. While pre-qualification offers leverage during pricing negotiations, a pre-approval letter goes a step further … [Read more...]
Home Seller Goals: Prevent Loss
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. - Corrie Ten Boom A record 48% of Florida mortgage holders are underwater according to a Wall Street Journal article. The Tampa Bay economy and housing market have brought many homeowners from security to uncertainty. Many of us who bought or re-financed during the boom years have seen our equity, hopes and options … [Read more...]
Home Seller Goals – The Big Picture
If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. - Yogi Berra What motivates you to start a new chapter in your life? The first step in our Home Selling System asks the right questions to understand your specific objectives. Asking and listening are the foundation of a successful relationship. The result should be a set of clear and measurable goals to improve your … [Read more...]
Price to Market – Anchoring
If only we did not buy at the peak, or if we sold a few years ago! While many of us understand that local real estate values have declined 30% - 50% in abstract terms, doing the math on our own home often results in shock and disbelief. Homeowners have a tendency anchor their estimate of their home's worth to the price they paid. While the price you paid maybe very vivid in your mind, you may be … [Read more...]
Closing Costs Clarified
How much closing costs should a home buyer expect to pay? Closing costs average 5% of a home’s purchase price. Closing Cost Estimates Looking for the exact amount? Lenders are required to disclose all closing costs within three days of when a buyer applies for a mortgage. The forms used to list closing costs have been standardized and simplified. The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE), circa … [Read more...]
“I am Not a Lead” – The Privilege of Serving
Ran across this manifesto last year and was impressed. Spoke to Marc Davison of 1000 Watt Consulting and enjoyed his thoughts on the real estate business and the mindset that traditional agents have about "leads". Rather than relying on technologies that de-personalize or attempt to automate "lead response", Realtors should focus on listening, absorbing and responding with accurate information. … [Read more...]
Social Media Presentation
We are witnessing the birth of social media. Why do we care? Team Bohannon's goal is to maintain and strengthen our client relationships by delivering high-value, relevant content more quickly. Most people buy a home once every seven years, but most Realtors do not stay in touch with past clients for seven years. We use social media to meet clients where they are online. We want to understand our … [Read more...]
