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Get insider secrets to avoid costly blunders on the most important investment of your life HGTV has brought together some of the top real estate experts to compile the definitive list of the biggest mistakes we all make when buying and selling our homes. 25. Buying a House for its Decor Remember that you are buying the house, not the stuff inside of it, so make sure you see beyond the decorations and look at the bones of the home. Focus on the floor plan and the square footage. You also might want to measure the dimensions and graph out how that's going to work with your current belongings. Picture your furniture in the house. 24. Not Providing Easy Access for Showings Make your house easily accessible to potential buyers. If there's nowhere to park or it's difficult to get into, buyers may just skip it and look at someone else's property instead. This is very important, properties that require too much notice to show, or have a list of restrictions are likely to get overlooked, agents or buyers don't have the patience for long prodedures. 23. Not Researching the Neighborhood It's absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy. Check out the school system to be sure that your address corresponds with the correct school district. Also attend a community meeting, if possible. You're not just buying a house, you're buying a piece of that real estate and the land around it. Many times you hear of people buying, living in the home for a very short time, and then deciding they don't like the area, all research is very important. 22. Losing Money With Auctions While the starting bidding price for a house on auction might be a good deal, it doesn't mean the final price will be. Make sure that you are very strict with your budget when you are bidding — do not go over your final price because you got wrapped up in the excitement of a bidding war. Another thing to keep in mind is that when you buy a property at auction, you aren't able to get any of the warrantees or guarantees, and you are not able to do a home inspection. Find out if the auctioneer is going to put those charges on top of the sale price as well as if there are any liens on the property. You could be responsible for paying the property taxes on that house you just bought, which could make what looks like a good deal into a really bad deal. The research thing again. 21. Trying to Make the "Hard Sell" While Showing If you are selling your house, you really shouldn't be around at the open house. You might want to try and sell the place on all the reasons you think the house is great, but that might not translate to the buyer. If you leave, you allow the buyers to really give unbiased objective feedback to the agent, which is only going to help you in the end. Again another important part, that is why most For Sale by owners have a difficult time, most people don't want to hurt other peoples feelings, and while you think the pink carpeting is wonderful, the new owner might not.
20. Waiting Until Spring to Sell Your House Spring is the time of heaviest real estate activity, but that does not mean that people don't buy houses 365 days of the year. That doesn't mean you can't emphasize your home's seasonal amenities. Showcase the important features of your home, the river view, park-like backyard, three seasons sun room, winter wonderland.
19. Treating Real Estate Like the Stock Market When the real estate market is really hot and is appreciating really fast, people tend to look at it like it's the stock market. But playing real estate is nothing like the stock market — when you invest in real estate, you really need to take a long-term approach. Well said 18. Failing to Market Your Home in Different Ways Don't market your home with just a for-sale sign. Explore other marketing tools as well. Talk to your real estate agent about the marketing that they will do. It's something that should be set up from the initial signing of a contract with an agent. Some homes have virtual tours and photographs online. If you choose to go that route, don't forget to include the floor plans. That way, people can see the layout of your home and know that if it it's right for them. Again so important real estate is more than a sign in the ground, it is your listing agents job to attract buyers, and not just through other agents, yes any agent can sell your home, but it is the listings agent job to attract the buyers, I strongly believe we are a secondary and vacation home area, most of the people that own real estate here come from many parts of the world, and your home needs to be marketed world wide, when you list your home, ask yourself and your agent, where are my buyers going to come from, what market place are you going to target. 17. Not Thinking About Resale When you are decorating and renovating your home, you need to think about what is going to appeal to a broad section of buyers when it comes time to sell it. Buying houses and being in the real estate market is like chess, you always want to look two or three steps ahead in the game. The reason for my compaines name BUY AND SELL RIGHT, if you do not buy right you probably won't sell right, if you really weren't fussy on the kitchen because it was too small, and you didn't do anything to change it, chances are when you go to sell, you will hear that comment over and over again from potential buyers, we don't like the kitchen it is too small, and it will take sometime to find that buyer that is willing to overlook the kitchen just like you did, but sometimes you have to kiss alot of frogs before you meet your prince. 16. Buying Without Actually Seeing the Property It's really easy to buy a house without seeing it because of the Internet and virtual tours, but virtual tours can be deceiving. Plus, it's really hard to actually get a sense and feel of a home by only looking at it online. You need to actually walk through the place yourself. If that's just not possible, hire an inspector to go look at the property and provide you with an assessment. Again I agree, always try and view the property yourself, and that goes for all parties concerned, time and time again, people end up selling because one of the partners did not view the house, and they just don't want to live there. 15. Trusting Everything a Real Estate Advertisement Says Don't assume every ad is fact. Learn to decipher real estate lingo. For example, cozy means small, and as-is means it's a fixer-upper. If there are a lot of exclamation points in an ad, it means they are there just to take up room because there is so little to say about the place. Follow the old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Well said 14. Picking the Wrong Agent Treat meetings with agents like a job interview because that's really how it works — that person is going to be working for you. Talk to your friends who've sold houses and had a good experience with their agent, and go to open houses and observe how that agent interacts with other people. It's also a good idea to meet with the agent in their office. It allows you to see how organized they are, what kind of environment they work in and whether that's conducive for them being able to do a good job for you. There are many reasons to choose a Realtor. because they are your cousin, or friend, are not sometimes the best reasons, buying or selling a house is one of the most stressful times in your life, right up their with death and divorce, also there is alot of money at risk, yet time and time again, people are not careful with whom they choose to represent them. Do yourself a favor, call and interview at least three Realtors, including the cousin or the friend, look at this as a business decision, and choose wisely with your head, not your heart. 13. Not Hiring an Agent There's a lot more to selling a house than just putting a sign on the front lawn. If you don't have an agent, you will not get on the multiple-listing service (MLS). That means that other agents are not going to know that your property is for sale. Another thing to consider is if you are willing to show the house each time someone wants to come by and look at it? If you do plan to sell your house on your own, always have a lawyer present at a closing. It's really important to have someone on your side who understands all the complexities. Real Estate is more than showing a house, you want an Realtor, because of what happens after they show the house, discussing and overcoming the buyers objections and concerns, all the forms, providng the comparables, answering all their many questions day and night, pointing them in the right direction, lenders, inspectors etc., that is why you are paying a Realtor, not just to open the door and let someone look inside. 12. Buying the Most Expensive Home on the Block The most expensive house will only depreciate in value over time, rather than appreciate, which is what you want. Also, those houses are often not the first house to sell because they are usually overbuilt to the neighborhood. It's absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy to find out what the price point should be. Again all research is a good thing.
11. Not Setting a Realistic Budget Just because the bank pre-qualifies you for a loan amount of $400,000 doesn't mean you can afford to make that payment every month. Before hitting the streets for a house hunt, you should sit down and make a monthly budget of what you spend every month. Come up with a number that you are comfortable spending on your mortgage payment, aside from those other expenditures. An easy way to do this is to take a third of your gross income and have that figure be the number you spend on the house. It is also a good idea to have six to nine months of mortgage payments in the bank, plus a little extra if you have any repairs that you might need to do. Makes good sense. 10. Visiting the House Only Once It's important to visit a house more than once because the neighborhood itself may be very different, depending on the day of the week and the time of day. It's also a good idea to go home and think about it, even sleep on it, before you go back again. View the house at different times of the day, what is the morning traffic like, what does it look like at night, again make your decsion using your head, not your heart. 9. Not Being Pro-Active at Closing The best thing to do when going into a closing is to get all the paperwork ahead of time. All that information should come from a mortgage broker or banker. They have what they call a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) One form that lists out all the charges, and you can legally get it in your hands 24 hours before closing. Schedule the closing for in the morning, so you have a fresh mind and plenty of time to go over everything and ask questions. The final walk-through is another imperative part of the process. You may want to have a home inspector accompany you. Again your Realtor should help you every step of the way, right up until you have the keys in hand and even after that.
8. Doing Major Renovations/Remodeling Before Selling Minor upgrades usually have a higher return on your money than tackling major renovations before placing a home on the market. The main reason? Huge construction projects always cost more than you think they will, and they also take longer than you expect. The best place to spend money is outside. Research shows that increasing the curb appeal often returns the most value on your money. It's what gets buyers inside the house, after all. Another good question for your Realtor, they should be able to tell you what return to expect on dollars spent. 7. Skipping the Loan Pre-Approval Step When you are pre-approved, the bank is saying, "we will give you a mortgage of up to this amount, so now all you have to do is find your home." Some sellers only allow realtors to show their house if someone has a pre-approved letter. That indicates that the shopper really is serious about buying a home. Do not skip the pre approval. 6. Falling in Love With the First Property You See Many homebuyers, particularly first time homebuyers, fall into the trap of falling in love with the very first house that they see. You need to at least look at three more houses in the area to get an idea of what the comparables are in that price range. You want your realtor now to show you homes comparable to what you saw. At the end of the day, re-evaluate. There is that number three again, just like you should look at three houses, you should interview three Realtors. 5. Buying a Home Without a Professional Inspection There are a lot of things a home inspection can reveal about a property that are not visible to the naked eye. Be sure to hire someone that comes with a good referral basis, that's been in the business a while and knows what to look for. Look up the American Society of Home Inspectors and get a list of qualified home inspectors in your area. Once you find an inspector, insist that they compile a written report, complete with photos. Photographs are important because there are areas a home inspector will go that you might not look at. Again, always hire a professional home inspector, no exceptions. 4. Overlooking the Extra and Hidden Costs Buying a home is not just about the money that you spend up front; it's about all the rest of the money you have to spend beyond that. Find out what the property taxes are, what your water bill might be and what a standard electric bill is in that home, especially if you have electric heat vs. gas heat. You also need to factor in furnishings you may need to purchase before you can move in. Your realtor should help you with this. 3. Buying What You Want, Not What You Need Look at the space that you are already living in. It will help you to realize what you have been missing and what you need in your next home. Make a list those of needs and then ask your agent to start shopping these needs. On average, Americans live in a house for about nine years. Remember, you can always trade up a few times before you find the ultimate home. Again use your head, not your heart. 2. Setting Too High of a Sale Price As a seller its really important to do your research, and in order to come up with your sale price, look up what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Figure out what the going price is and try to put yours right in the middle of that, unless you have something extra special to offer. It is always better to price a home sharply than to start too high and have to reduce. Once you reduce, it always looks like something is wrong with the home. You can not stress this enough, I know, the neighbor said you should get this, people have approached and said, if you ever sell call me and I will buy it. You have put x amount of dollars into it, and you are not going to give it away. But in reality a property is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept, not a penny more or less. And usually when it comes right down to it , all the people that gave you all that great advice, don't show up with check in hand, talk is cheap. so when you overprice your home, all the buyers that receive the listing on automatic email, that their agents have set up to advise them of what is new on the market, and don't look because they feel that it is priced too high, don't receive notice of the price reduction, unless the agent manually resends the listing. and you have lost the most important time when a house comes on the market, the first couple of weeks. 1. Failing to Showcase Your Home and Make Small Cosmetic Changes When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think about it from the viewpoint of the house hunter. Make minor enhancements to the house and maybe hire a professional stager to come and arrange your furniture. Staging is about decorating your house for the buyers' taste, not yours. A great place to start is with the front of the home and the main entryway. Home staging is designed to increase the potential selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market. Yes, Yes, Yes. I hope you have enjoyed the 25 tips, as presented by HGTV, and Buy and Sell Right, the comments in italics are those of Buy and Sell Right and are only an opionion. We would be happy to help you BUY and SELL RIGHT we are always just a phone call or email away. No pressure just great customer service......... with a smile.........until next time....Judy Pinchin
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At Buy and Sell Right, the Right choice for all your Real Estate needs, we also believe it is a time for reflection and getting back to the true meaning and goals of our lives. Providing outstanding customer service is just one of our goals. We are always just an email or phone call away. No pressure just great customer service, and always with a smile.......Judy This article was reported and written by Jay MacDonald for Bankrate.com. Published July 2, 2008 The hard times of the '70s were also a period of reflection and recalibration. The latest downturn is an opportunity to return to the family dinner table or the garden. Chicken Little and I differ on the coming recession. He hears the R-word and immediately thinks "financial ruin. "I hear "recession" and think "disco!" If you are old enough to have worn a mood ring, Earth shoes or bell-bottoms the first time around, you probably recall the stagflation days of the 1970s with a bemused mix of humor, national pride and nostalgia. The forecast was just as dire back then, and for good reason. In 1975, inflation topped 14%, unemployment approached 6% (but doubled that in some locales), and fuel and food prices were headed skyward. Most of us would be well into the Reagan years before our wallets grew appreciably heavier. The funny thing is, I don't remember the sacrifice. We drove used cars and lived within our means, since car leasing and credit cards were not yet widespread. We rented and shared apartments, since the average home mortgage rate hovered around 10%. We shouldered none of the financial burden of such modern conveniences as cell phones, high-speed Internet or fitness center memberships. No one wants a recession, of course. It can cause serious economic pain for millions. However, economists tell us there are some reasons to actually welcome and perhaps even embrace a recession. After all, a recession is the ebb part of the natural ebb and flow of the U.S. economy. Just as surely as hot markets cool and bulls turn to bears, capitalist economies take a breather every so often to pause and reflect. If they didn't, these corrections would be far crueler. So, let's smile, lift our half-full cups of regular unleaded and toast these 10 very good things about impending bad times. Family dinners Want to start a revolution? Try eating dinner together as a family. Recessions tend to foster family mealtimes as the pin money that drives fast-food meals and overscheduled lives dries up. Nothing could be better for America, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (See "Commodifying the family dinner" on MSN Money's Smart Spending blog.) Research has shown that family meals promote a healthier and more balanced diet, foster better communication and ward off teen suicide, eating disorders and substance abuse. But no, we can't make your little sister stop kicking you under the table. Shorter lines at the pump It seems like only yesterday we witnessed the thrilling rush-hour road rage exchanges at every metropolitan gas station across America as gas hogs great and small furiously jockeyed for the pumps. Not anymore. Ever since gas topped the magical $4 tipping point, you can fill up, wash the windows, check the oil, enjoy a leisurely roller-cooked hot dog and a 32-ounce giant gulp and even grab a power nap before the next customer appears in your rearview mirror. Can curb service of Red Bull and Slim Jims be far behind? Less junk mail Thanks to the presumptive recession, many of us have recently glimpsed the back of our mailboxes for the first time in years. According to the Chicago research firm Mintel Comperemedia, credit card direct mail volume has dropped 19% since October. Last year, credit card issuers cut their mailings to current customers by nearly one-third (30%). That will free up delivery space for the junk mail we enjoy receiving: coupons. More coupons When the going gets tough, the tough clip coupons to help maintain their lifestyles. A February survey by ICOM Information and Communications in Toronto found that 67% of Americans are likely to use coupons during a recession, regardless of their income. Traffic to online coupon sites is growing rapidly, with page views up 38% to 281 million in March compared with the previous year, according to the research firm comScore. New Web tools and online communities can help you find the best grocery deals in town. MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston shows us her favorite tools for cutting your grocery costs. Restaurants in particular typically resort to buy-one, get-one-free offers and other discounts to fill their tables in hard times. Peter Meyers, marketing vice president at ICOM, says coupons can save the average family 25% on their grocery bill, or $2,400 a year based on an $800 monthly outlay. How's that for an economic stimulus? Free fitness What's the official vegetable of good times? The couch potato, of course. But as gas prices skyrocket, alternative modes of transportation are once again gaining traction. When you ride a bike, walk to the bus stop or hoof it to the train station to commute to work, you get a free workout along with saving gas money. You can extend your free workout in other ways. Throw in a little cardio (by skipping rope, jogging or rowing) and add some upper body (with push-ups, sit-ups and free weights) and you can save the $35 to $40 a month that CostHelper.com estimates we spend on average for a single fitness club membership. Bargain SUVs Not all prices go up in a recession. Case in point: gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. Once gas approached the $3.50 mark, prices of new and used SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans plummeted. Ford and GM recently announced plant closures and production cuts at their truck and SUV facilities in response to the swift public migration to fuel-efficient compacts and hybrids. If you've long coveted an SUV, make your move now. Heck, you may drive away with a year or two of free gas in the deal. Business startup opportunities What do Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Disney have in common? They all started during economic downturns, as did more than half of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In fact, entrepreneurial startups by laid-off and downsized employees, managers and executives often help get the economy growing again. Recessions are a great time to open your own shop: Wages are down, rents are cheaper, competition is scarce and goods and services can be found at a discount. There's no better time to become your own boss. Growth in gardening A recession is the perfect time to get back to nature. Bid your lawn service adieu and put your mind and body to work tending your grounds yourself. The benefits are numerous. Regular gardening provides cardio and strength training, improves flexibility and relieves stress. These health benefits help fight heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. The fruits and vegetables you grow also encourage a healthier diet. And the money you save by doing the mowing, raking, pruning and mulching yourself will more than pay for your equipment, fuel and next year's plantings. Musical inspiration Do economic downturns inspire great music? A case can be made that hard times help produce heartfelt anthems that cut through the anesthetic musical drone of the day. This has been true of everyone from Woody Guthrie to Bruce Springsteen to the Clash and even Kurt Cobain. Given the current state of popular music and its obsession with an affluence that is quickly disappearing, the climate would seem right for the emergence of new artists who can rekindle passion and urgency in American music. New perspectives Perhaps the greatest boon of a recession is the time to reflect and reassess the true meaning and goals of our lives. For instance, it's doubtful that today's green movement would be where it is today without the small-is-beautiful mental reset of the '70s. If history is any indication, we humans are inclined to resume our consumption full speed once the economic engine starts rolling again. But our progress toward a more sustainable future comes in increments during those times when we are forced to do without. We may not yet be ideal stewards of the planet, but we're making progress. Temporary setbacks like recessions prompt our collective course corrections.
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Some interesting facts from the National Association of Realtors 60% of the average home owner’s wealth comes from their homes’ equity, it’s like a savings plan you didn’t know you had. You might be wondering if buying a home right now is a smart financial decision. The fact is, homeownership is key to building long-term wealth, no matter when someone buys. Studies show that, over time, most homeowners will steadily build equity. For example, during the past three decades, home values have increased an average of more than 6.0% per year. Of course, owning a home is much more than a way to gain a financial edge, it’s also where you raise a family and create life-long memories. On an average the value of a home nearly doubles every ten years. Now that’s what you call home sweet home. If you have been waiting for the right time to buy a home, you should know the facts about homeownership. Give us a call at Buy and Sell Right Realty. The Right choice for all your Real Estate needs, to find out if homeownership is right choice for you, and to get a copy of our report 10 Steps to Home Ownership, systematic steps to help you buy a home.
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I am sure you have all heard the saying, they are not making anymore waterfront, so I strongly believe that waterfront is a good investment now and will continue to be a good Real Estate investment. There are many types of waterfront, level, good for swimming, good for fishing, the capabilities of having a dock, deep, shallow, weedy, clear, you get the picture, but no matter what type of waterfront you have there is a buyer, it just might take a bit longer to sell. (really that is true with all real estate, time & money can sell just about anything, well a little marketing doesn’t hurt, and maybe a good Realtor….there is no real mystery to Real Estate, perhaps that is why we have so many For Sale By Owners, where the mystery does come into play, is in the dealing with all the little things that go with selling Real Estate…disclosure forms, agency, all the forms….lead-based paint addendums, seller property information statement, the offer to purchase form, contingencies, I could go on but maybe that should be another post…and that is why most times it just makes good sense to hire a Realtor, just like you would hire a lawyer, accountant, doctor, financial consultant, sometimes there is not enough time in a day to do everything ourselves, and that is why we hire the professional, because that is what they do for a living day in and day out….okay I will leave that issue now for another post…..) there are just as many different types of buyers as there is types of waterfront. The buyers who will look at only waterfront that has great swimming, the waterfront buyer that wants privacy, no visible neighbors on either side, and of course the buyer that wants it all. We have a secondary home market here in the River community, a lot of waterfront homeowners have their permanent residence elsewhere, so a good portion of our waterfront properties, have three season cottages on them, so when you are looking at waterfront property, make sure it meets with your needs now and in the future, will it always be a second home, or would you like it to become a permanent residence, does the property have the capabilities of becoming a permanent residence. Life is always changing and what we have now, or think what we want now is not always what we end up with, but like I said in the beginning, they are not making anymore waterfront, so in my opinion it will always be a good investment now and in the future. If you have any questions about a piece of waterfront you would like to sell, or if you are interested in buying…..which could lead my to another post about a great piece of waterfront that I have listed for sale in Chippewa Bay, 470’ of natural waterfront, nice little three season cottage, but it does have a drilled well and septic, and the possibilities for building expansion, place for a dock, and views that are fantastic. I have attached some photos to this post, so like I said before if Buy and Sell Right, can help you with any of your Real Estate needs, we are always just an email or phone call away, and I promise no pressure just great customer service always.........with a smile...Judy Pinchin
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Well I am sure we have all wonder what has happened to customer service, did we ever have it, is there some company or store that you have had great customer service with, you can probably remember the ones where the service was not so good. One of my pet peeves is when you are in a service store, or any place where you expect customer service, and you are waiting at the counter, employees usually look at you but no one wants to acknowledge you. A simple “has anyone helped you”, or “someone will be right with you”, they just look at you, ignore you and go about their business, perhaps it is not in their job description, but a simple acknowledgment that they know you are there, would make you feel better. Then you have the stores that are always asking you if you found everything you were looking for, but when you say no they can’t help you find it either, but at least they are polite and are willing to try and help you, well sometimes. I was in a book store on the weekend, looking for a book for my dad for father’s day, and I wasn’t having much luck, now a few salespeople, well 2 asked if they could help me, but when I tried to explain what I thought I wanted to find, a non-fiction book, perhaps a biography, I didn’t get much assistance, but at least they asked, they just didn’t take it a step further. I did find what I was looking for eventually, on my own. Now just for clarification by customer service, I don’t mean the store that has the sales clerk, that pounces on you the moment you walk into a store, and then continues to follow you around and harass you. I am referring to employees that try to help you, when you want help, and acknowledge that they see you standing at the counter, when the person that is supposed to be at the counter is not there. You know the service, that makes you say, that was a helpful person, that was a knowledgeable person, I would use that service again, and I would come back to this store again. Would you use the same Real Estate Agent again, were they helpful, were they knowledgeable, did they do everything they said they were going to do, and more, was it the best experience you could hope for, did you sell you home or buy a new home and say thank you, you made what could have been the most stressful experience in my life, enjoyable, and you did a wonderful job, great customer service. I would use your services again. If not, WHY, with all the choices out there, why just settle for poor customer service, at Buy and Sell Right Realty, customer service is our top priority, and our easy exit listing agreement is just one of our ways to say if you are not happy for any reason,(we are totally confident that you will be happy)you can shop elsewhere. Buy and Sell Right, the Right way to sell Real Estate.
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Good morning everyone I am not sure what my pet peeve is this morning perhaps it is too early and I haven’t had my second cup of coffee yet, I did read an interesting article on the internet this morning about Moshe Kai Cavalin, a ten year old boy, after two straight-A years of community college, he’s set sights on the stars. When asked why he likes books when everyone else his age finds them boring, he said knowledge is power, and I have to agree. The more information you can arm yourself with the better, and perhaps Real Estate should be like that as well, Real Estate has always been a business of secrets, we have information that only we have access to and you (the consumer) needs to jump through hopes to get it, tricky ways to get your phone number, your email, etc, we like you to sign up for free reports, don’t forget if you didn’t read my last post my reports will be free no sign up required, just click and download, I hope to have this complete by the weekend, so there will be no secrets in my business, if there is something you want to know, just ask, no pressure. I just checked the Real Estate hot sheet, that is a tool that Real Estate agents have that shows them the daily activity on the market. For the period of June 1 to June 5, there have been 58 new listings, there have been 31 price changes, and 37 deals have actually closed. Our hot sheet takes in Jefferson-Lewis counties. So remember knowledge is power, arm yourself with all the information you need to make the RIGHT choice when it comes to Real Estate, I am here to answer any questions you may have. Make it a great day. With a smile………Judy
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If any of you are wondering why I went with a 4 1/2% total commission rate, by the way commission rates are not set by the industry, it was basically just like the title suggests, it was a figure that I thought I could live with and still run my business in the black. I would do it for nothing, if I didn't need to eat. They say when you have a job that you love and are passionate about you would do it for nothing, making money is just a bonus, and that is basically how I look at Real Estate, I have been in this game for 15 years, so I must love it, or I am just plain crazy, I love putting together a fantastic marketing plan, I have been told some of my ideas are really good. I love finding a buyer for the perfect house after showing them 1 or 100. I started Buy and Sell Right Realty,a couple of months ago just on that premise, allowing consumers to Buy and Sell RIGHT, I have a home office, very little overhead, all the advantages of the world wide internet, and 15 years experience, what could go wrong. The fact that everyone knows someone in Real Estate, and almost everyone is an expert hasn't deterred me, and if you are one of those consumers that think you have to pay more to get more, think again, I have seen snow pictures on the MLS in June, I have seen virtual tours that don't work, we have more agents that don't have web pages, then those that do, some don't have cell phones, some are part-time. So I will continue on doing what I love, helping people with one of the most important decisions of their lives, and sometimes the most stressfull. If you are a customer that needs to list your home, remember I have been told I have good ideas, and one of them is saving you money, my website is full of free reports, and soon they will be downloadable without you having to provide me any of your information, you will be able to download them in a pdf file, or word document. So my pet peeve on this blog, is why people put up with so many wrong things in the Real Estate Profession, I see it every day and ask myself Why? I would be interested in your comments, have you been happy with your Real Estate choices. Until tomorrow, when my pet peeve is??????
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Well I have thought about this long and hard, and sometimes when your gut says go for it you have no choice. So I am going to voice my views, my opinions, my advice, and anything else you as a community would like to know about, Real Estate or otherwise. If you would like to post community events, pictures, stories etc. just let me know and we will add it. I often wonder if consumers really read and understand what they sign. Do tenants read the Lease agreement fully and understand it, do you read your mortgage document fully and understand it, do you read the listing agreement with your Real Estate agent and understand it. Point in question do you understand sub agency the part of the listing agreement that reads:
AGENCY (For Agency definitions, please review the Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Relationships form.) 6. _____________ SUBAGENCY By initialing the line preceding this paragraph, I authorize you to offer subagency to the participants of the MLS. I realize that I could be liable for the misrepresentations, if any, of subagents. If I incur a loss as a result of misrepresentations of subagents, I may be entitled to bring legal action against responsible subagents for reimbursement of such loss. I agree with you that the compensation to a selling subagent in a transaction shall be ____________ percent (%) of the gross selling price or _________________ dollars ($). Do Sellers initial this clause being fully aware of what they are doing, do they want to be liable for a misrepresentation, maybe because of line I may be entitle to bring legal action allows them to feel a bit better about this. But when we have Broker Agency
BROKER AGENCY By initialing the line preceding this paragraph, I authorize you to offer broker agency to the participants of the MLS. As a general rule, those agents owe fiduciary duties to your agent and you. However, unlike seller agency/subagency, you are not vicariously liable for their conduct. I agree with you that the compensation to a selling brokers agent in a transaction shall be____________ percent (%) of the gross selling price or _________________ dollars ($).
So I wonder did you initial this part of the listing agreement and fully understand it, I hope so, but if by some chance you are not quite clear on this issue, perhaps you should talk to you Real Estate agent and have it clarified, or better still run it pass your lawyer.
Until tomorrow when I am not sure what other pet peeve I will have to question myself about and wonder does this bother other people as well.
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