Via Big Stock Photo

Realtors and agents across the country dread the FSBO (For Sale By Owner), and it’s not just because these sellers are playing dress-up and pretending to be real estate agents. There are all sorts of headaches and hiccups that can happen when not working with a professional, and here are the top five:

1. Trust

A FSBO is the owner of the home they want to sell, and they are not a licensed real estate agent. They aren’t bound by the Code of Ethics that Realtors are, and may do and say whatever they want to get their home sold. This is like buying sand from a guy on the beach, or taking nutrition advice from Little Debbie.

2. Documentation

It is required by law for disclosures to be made about the condition of the home, and if any repairs were made. A real estate agent will have access to the database of paperwork and have it properly documented, and know how to pull records to verify there aren’t outstanding liens, assessments, or back taxes owed. A FSBO may not even know this documentation is required, and possibly may try to cover things up.

3. Negotiation

Throughout a real estate transaction, there are so many back and forth negotiations going on you’d think it was a tennis match. This is because real estate agents are hired to best represent their clients, and there are so many complexities involved, including: the offer, closing date, financing terms, comps, appraisal report, inspection report, daily occupancy rate, and more—so it’s best to let the professionals handle it all. FSBOs, on the other hand, are representing themselves and don’t care what you need or want.

4. Finances

It’s easy to assume that a FSBO is broke; otherwise they would’ve hired a professional real estate agent. If the seller is broke, then what happens if the home doesn’t appraise? Or if the inspection report reveals the furnace and roof are on their last leg and need replacing? It’s also easy to assume that a FBSO is just cheap; otherwise they would’ve hired a professional. This may be worse, actually. Do you really want to buy a house from someone who might have also cut corners on their home instead of paying a professional to fix the plumbing, electrical, roof, etc.?

5. Sense of urgency

Anyone who wants to sell their home, and wants it to sell it quick, will hire a real estate agent to get the job done. Maybe the sellers are relocating, or need a larger home and want to move over the summer before the kids go back to school. Or, maybe they’re just really smart and trust a professional to do the job right! You won’t find as much urgency with a FSBO, because most times they have no clue where they’re moving or when. And according to a recent news report, you could even run into problems getting them to vacate after closing!

In summary, why do some people think they are qualified real estate agents and list their homes FSBO? Statistics show that an overwhelming 85% of them do list with a real estate agent eventually, so that speaks volumes. As for the 15% that don’t? Well, most will probably die trying… in the same house that’ll be eventually sold by a real estate agent.

The Bottom Line

There are some wonderful homes on the market that are listed by owner. It’s not that you should necessarily turn a blind eye to them; rather, don’t go into the situation alone. If you don’t have an agent, hire one to represent your best interests. And if you already have one, now is NOT the time to go rogue. Oftentimes the only thing that’s able to salvage a FSBO deal is the help of an experienced agent.

The post 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy A For Sale by Owner (FSBO) Home appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You’ve gotten pre-approved for a mortgage and are working with a real estate agent; you are officially a home buyer! This is a fun and exciting time in your life, and it can become very stressful if you let it. Buyers sabotage their dream of becoming a homeowner all the time, so here’s a list of what NOT to do if you want to live happily ever after.

Mistake # 1: STAY pre-approved

So many buyers get pre-approved for their mortgage and assume that it’s good forever. Not all lenders and real estate agents will take the time to explain the complexities that involve getting pre-approved, and therefore do not educate their client about how to STAY pre-approved. Your job, income, debt-to-income ratio, and credit score are all verified in order to determine if you can get a mortgage, and for how much you can borrow. This will be verified numerous times throughout the process, and up to the day you close on a home, so it cannot change! This means:

• NO new lines of credit can be opened.
• NO more credit card usage.
• NO late payments.

And please, for the love of all that’s holy in the world, do NOT go buy a new car or new furniture & appliances for the house you haven’t even bought yet. Wait until you close, and then you can put yourself into as much debt as you want. After all, it is the American way, right?

Mistake # 2: Dilly-Dallying & Delaying

You look online every day at homes, and your agent emails you with new listings that match your exact search criteria. When a home first hits the market, it’s like a shark tank and tons of agents and their buyers are circling it like it’s dinner. If you want to see a house, then you need to jump on it. I know you’re busy with work, or your kid’s baseball practice, or you need to go grocery shopping, or you don’t have a babysitter. The amount of obstacles are endless, but if you really want something, then you make the time to do it! Use an hour or two of vacation time and leave work early, or delay the errands, and bring the kids if you can’t get a sitter. This could be THE ONE, and you can’t see it on Monday and expect it to still be for sale by the weekend, when you have more time.

Mistake # 3: Writing a low offer.

In most areas, it’s a sellers’ market. That means that the seller has the upper hand because inventory is low and they have little competition. This means that YOU, the buyer, have a ton of competition and potentially dozens of other buyers wanting the same house.

This is not the time to write a lowball offer, “just to see” if you get it. Your real estate agent will run comps to make sure the home is priced appropriately, and they will negotiate for you on everything from the price, to repairs needed, to the date of closing. You need to trust your agent, and if you really WANT THIS HOUSE, then don’t mess around and lose it to someone else who wanted it more. Homes are worth what a buyer is willing to pay, so that sometimes could be less than asking price, or more than asking price.

Mistake # 4: Asking for too much from the seller.

Even if you write a full-price offer and on paper you look like the perfect buyer, you have to assume there is someone else even more perfect competing for the same house. You may need some help with closing costs, or you may not want to close for 60 days because you have to sell your current home first, or you may want the appliances or items that aren’t included in the sale.

Be careful about how much you ask for, because a seller will weigh all the pros and cons, especially in a multiple offer situation, and not necessarily accept the one that was for the most money. Another buyer may offer $5,000 less, but be able to close in 30 days, not need help with closing costs, and not want anything extra.

In the end, it still nets the sellers more money, and less time waiting. Your real estate agent will help guide you on making the best offer, so trust their experience and advice! If you need help with closing costs, it may be wise to not shop at your maximum approved amount, and you may want to start eating Ramen Noodles and PB & J’s for a while to save money so you don’t have to ask for so much.

Mistake # 5: Nit-picking the home inspection report

Every home has issues. Not one home on this planet will produce a perfect score on an inspector’s report. A home inspector will give you a thick report that makes it look like this house is about to blow up with all the code violations and recommended repairs. This does not give you the right to go back to the seller and demand it all be fixed, or try to get them to lower the price.

Depending on the severity of the needed repairs, sellers and buyers can work together to get those fixed or replaced if both agree, but a drippy faucet or few missing GFCI plugs doesn’t constitute you wanting $5,000 off the price of the home. The inspections are done for your protection, and so you know what you are getting into.

All homes are sold AS-IS, and it’s your job as the new homeowner to maintain the home and make any repairs needed once you own it.

Mistake # 6: Having Premature Buyer’s Remorse

Once your offer has been accepted, the appraisal is done, the inspection is done, and everything is hunky-dory – STOP home-shopping!

You are weeks away from closing and becoming a homeowner, and you see more new listings pop up that you think are better than the one you’re about to buy. You’ve invested money into this sale already, and you have a legally binding contract, so stop daydreaming about the “what-ifs” that other homes may offer, and focus on the home that is about to be yours. There’s no better deal out there if you got the house you wanted, and it’s passed all the contingencies.

You’re on the home stretch now, so stay patient and if you must shop online, then look for all the new furniture, paint colors, and updates you plan to do. Hoard the ideas on Pinterest or put things on layaway, and DON’T buy anything until you close. This has been a wild ride, and you really don’t want to start all over again!

The post 6 Ways Buyers Sabotage Their Dream of Home Ownership appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Selling your home? Every seller wants the same thing: to sell their house for the most money possible, as quickly as possible. This is exactly what your real estate agent wants too. That said, there are usually two things keeping this from happening: price and condition.

Price and condition are always the deciding factors for buyers, and they also affect the amount they may offer. Luckily for you, these are also the only two things you have control over!

So let’s take a look at the top five mistakes you may be making if your home hasn’t sold yet.

Mistake #1: Thinking your house is special.

As a homeowner, you are proud of your home. You might even think it’s superior to all others in your neighborhood. This might be because of the time and money you spent remodeling it. Perhaps you hand-picked every slat of Brazilian Hardwood and personally laid it, or chose a ridiculously expensive gold leaf wallpaper that you just had to have. You may assume if you spend a lot of money on bells and whistles, that MUST make it worth more, right? Wrong.

Buyers are looking at your home, trying to envision it as their home. They’re easily distracted by your loud, hot pink bedroom walls and won’t consider that it was a custom color made to match the loud pink zebra comforter and matching curtains. They’re also mentally calculating how much money they need to spend to refinish those hardwood floors, repaint and have that wallpaper removed.

You must understand your house isn’t special to anyone but you, so it’s always best to cater to buyers by showing them your home’s cleanest, most neutral face. You need to clean your home until it shines, ditch the clutter, paint, make needed repairs, and keep up with your landscaping.

You need to trust your real estate agent (not Zillow) on where to price your home. And remember one important thing: Just because you spent $50,000 on a kitchen remodel doesn’t mean you’re getting every penny back (despite what your shoebox full of receipts might be telling you).

Mistake #2: Thinking you’re a salesperson.

As a seller you may think you’re being helpful by sticking around during showings to help agents and potential buyers see how special your home is. You might think the buyer’s agent can’t possibly know how to showcase your home as well as you can, or have any clue what the really important things are to point out.

So you stick around, you smile super big and you’re super nice to everyone. You point out the hardwood floors, custom wallpaper and things that you love about the house, because you are a better salesperson than some real estate agent who has never lived there, right? Wrong!

Actually, you’re not coming off as super nice, but annoying (at best) and more than likely cocky or creepy (hey, just telling it like it is). While gushing over all the things you love, those may be the very things the buyer hates.

The best thing to do is leave the house and give the buyers some space. Buyers want privacy. They don’t want to be cornered into awkward small talk with the homeowner or feel rushed when making the most expensive purchase of their life.

Mistake #3: Thinking they will come back.

Imagine you had a long day at work. It’s a hot, muggy day. Your car’s air-conditioning is acting up, making you stick to your seats on your longer-than-usual commute home. Your kids are bickering and everyone is starving. Then your phone rings. It’s your real estate agent calling with a last-minute showing request… in ten minutes. This is NOT what you need right now, but you want to sell your house.

You have two choices. Option A: plead for the showing to be rescheduled, because you mistakenly assume the buyers and their agent will gladly rearrange their schedule around yours and come back.

Or, Option B, remind yourself that you want your home sold, and these buyers may only have the next hour or so to see as many homes as possible before making a decision because they’re relocating from out of state (or whatever their unique situation may be).

Never, ever, go with Option A.

No matter how you feel or what kind of day you’re having, you need to be accommodating. Sometimes you just have to bend over backwards. Buyers hold all the power because they’re the ones with the money and ability to make your dream of selling come true.

So as you load up your hungry, fussy kids, you smile and wave as you back out of the driveway and head to the nearest drive-through. You’ve made the right decision! You realize you must suck it up and make your house available… even when you really don’t want to, because buyers will rarely come back at a better time.

Mistake #4: Not being willing to negotiate.

So you got an offer on your home, and you accepted it! Congrats! Regardless of how long your home had been on the market or what the final terms are, this is exciting because it means all the showings are over and you’re roughly 30 days away from closing.

After the home inspection, the buyers ask for some repairs to be made, or possibly for you to purchase a home warranty for them or assistance with closing costs.

Most buyers will ask for those things; it’s nothing to get bent out of shape over.

This is where you, the seller, need to be willing to meet in the middle and show the buyer that you’re serious about selling. Otherwise you risk your deal falling apart and being stuck with the house which you’ll eventually shell out more money to fix anyway.

Sure, you can always re-list your home, but it may sit on the market for 30, 60, 90 days or more. Meanwhile you’ll have to deal with more showings, keeping the house spic & span, and losing sleep due to the anxiety of the unknown.

Please remember that this pending sale on your home has contingencies, and it could fall apart for a number of reasons. The appraisal is one contingency; the home inspection is another. Both of them may require you to be flexible and willing to negotiate. If you aren’t and the deal falls apart, then you have no one to blame but yourself.

Also, your first offer is usually your best offer, and oftentimes your only offer. Once you secure an interested buyer, you need to trust your agent and work with them and your buyers to get the home sold and not waste time on bickering over a $100 light fixture or $400 home warranty.

Mistake #5: Pets.

Last but not least, not everyone is a pet lover. Many people are allergic to cats or dogs, or have sensitive noses that can smell urine and stinky litter boxes on the other side of the house.

When you’re selling your house and you have pets, you really need to make the home look and smell as if no pets ever stepped foot in it. Your cat’s favorite spot on the couch that’s coated with 4 inches of matted fur needs to get scraped off (with a lint roller a few hundred times if need be). The food bowls, cat trees, pet toys, pet beds, scratching posts, cat condos, etc. need to be out of sight too. So do the fur babies themselves.

Before you leave, make sure your backyard is free of landmines. You may as well put Whiskers’ litter box in a garbage bag and store it in the garage or closet or someplace out of sight and smell.

When a buyer leaves, they’ll remember their first impression, so you want it to be a good one. Pet odor can be a deal breaker, even if everything else about your home is perfect.

To summarize…

Your home isn’t particularly special to anyone but you, so keep it clean and showing beautifully and as neutral as possible at all times. Don’t try to be the real estate agent (i.e., be sure to leave the house during showings), and take the pets with you! Don’t assume that buyers will bend over backwards to see your house—you need to do the bending, and you need to be flexible with negotiations too.

If you follow this advice, you shouldn’t have a hard time selling quickly and you’ll avoid the unnecessary stress that many sellers endure because they become their own worst enemy by sabotaging their own sale.

The post 5 Ways Sellers Sabotage Their Own Sale appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Via Flickr | George Bush Library | CC BY 2.0

We’ve already covered why your real estate agent is your best friend… but could an agent also be your best choice for President? I think so, and here are 11 reasons why.

1. Real estate agents are great at public speaking.

In fact, they spend at least 75% of their time talking to, lecturing, training, mentoring, and educating their clients and some co-workers. An agent wouldn’t even need a speechwriter because they can speak off the cuff and from the heart. You can trust what they say, too, because they tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Wouldn’t this be a refreshing change in the highest elected politician?

2. A real estate agent would reduce the national debt.

Real estate agents know all about managing money. Since it takes 30-45 days for a sale to close and earn a paycheck, agents learn to spend their money wisely and stick to a tight budget. They already are conditioned to account for money spent on marketing, office expenses, association dues and other things – so that would help when needing to revamp social security, government spending and how often to vacation in Hawaii. They know not to spend carelessly because they have to deduct broker fees and 30% in taxes from their checks, so having been self-employed would be a huge asset when running the country.

3. Real estate agents are always accessible.

They always answer their phones, and can also be reached via e-mail, text message, and various social media platforms, pretty much all hours of the day. It’s important to know that the Commander in Chief can easily be reached and will also “like” your posts and even re-tweet you. But, don’t call on the red phone!

4. Real estate agents are decisive.

They don’t dilly-dally around because they know that time is of the essence. When a situation arises, they would have no problems making tough decisions, like where to hide the Easter eggs for the annual hunt on the White House lawn, and whether to stock Coke or Pepsi on Air Force One.

5. Real estate agents don’t give false promises.

Not ethical ones, anyway—most of which are. Part of an agent’s job is to manage the expectations of a client, making sure to explain all the negative scenarios that might pop up along the way. With all the ups and downs of a real estate transaction, it’s never wise nor ethical to knowingly give false hope. Most agents know this and take this very seriously.

6. Real estate agents have no “quit” in them.

They’re 24/7 work-machines that run on little sleep and lots of caffeine and don’t shy away from hard work. In fact, the more challenging the task, the more it pushes them to work even harder to get the job done right and fast. There’s nothing more valuable to an agent than time, because time is money.

7. No tax money needed for an interior designer for the White House.

A real estate agent would have a ball staging and redecorating the White House because they know what’s hot and what’s not. They would respect the vintage feel, but also offer a creative touch to spruce the place up a bit. No need to contract out.

8. Real estate agents are master negotiators.

Every real estate transaction requires negotiating with all parties involved. This skill set would be instrumental in unifying congress, and the end result would be a happy America. Agents like making people happy, especially their clients. Having an unhappy buyer or seller is unacceptable and won’t generate any referrals in the future, so agents are good at keeping their cool and making clients feel they’re always their number one priority throughout all negotiations.

9. Transparent communication is second nature to a real estate agent.

The American people crave transparency, and they’d receive it at all times because agents are used to sending mass emails to everyone with a quick de-briefing. Agents appreciate clear communication from start to finish from all those involved in a transaction, so you can expect the same treatment from the Oval Office.

10. No one is a better listener than a real estate agent.

Americans want to be heard and to know their President cares about them. Agents spend most of their days listening to clients’ needs and wants, complaints and vents, and pretty much their whole life story.

11. Real estate agents thrive on helping others live the American Dream by becoming homeowners.

How much more American can you get?

My choice for President would be none other than Phil Dunphy. Phil, we need you to run!

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1. She makes you clean your room.

When selling your home, the overall first impression is most important to prospective buyers. Don’t be surprised if your agent reminds you to tidy up before showings, make your bed, and not stuff your dirty laundry in the closet like you did when you were a teenager.

2. She takes your calls late at night.

No matter your age, clients are like agents’ babies and their nurturing instincts kick in when she sees a call come in late at night. She will most likely ask you if everything is OK before you even have a chance to speak.

3. She worries about you when you don’t respond to her many calls, texts, and emails.

You can’t hide from your Mom OR your real estate agent! Remember when you went away to college or worked a late night job, and your mom always wanted you to check in with a quick phone call from time to time? Remember how she’d think the worst when a day would pass after you didn’t return her call and she was seconds away from calling hospitals to make sure you weren’t there? Your agent is wired the same way, so just communicate to prevent any possible panic attacks, ok?

4. She teaches you how to save your money, set a budget, and help you stick to it.

Your mom taught you the value of a dollar when she paid you allowance, and an extra fifty cents to take out the garbage was an exciting bonus! She probably also helped you budget and explained taxes and savings when you started working a real job. You’re an adult now, so your mom probably doesn’t want to be seen as a nuisance meddling with your personal finances… but your agent doesn’t mind!

Your agent wants you to know all the costs associated with any home sale or purchase, and has your best interests in mind. When you want to see homes $50K out of your budget, she’ll reel you back into reality and coach you along the way to find a home you will love—and that you can afford.

5. She makes you do your homework.

Yes, you have homework when you’re buying a home. You’ll want to drive by any homes that interest you. You’ll want to survey the neighborhood, the convenience to schools, shopping and your workplace, and the overall curb appeal. Just like your mom reminded you to study before an exam, your agent will remind you that online photos don’t show everything and you should really check out the area first.

6. She’s a good listener.

Your mom always has time for you and will listen to you whine, complain, and share fears and excitement; she’s always there for you when you need an ear. Your agent is too, and the more you share with her, the better she will understand what you want and need, whether it’s selling or buying a home. Both mom and agent always want the best for you.

7. You drive her to drink.

Why do you think your mom always had her favorite coffee mug that wasn’t full of coffee, and a nice wine collection on display with no dust on the bottles? Or why she brought a thermos to all of your Little League games in the heat of summer? Your agent has the same mug, same wine collection, and same thermos with your name written all over ‘em. Although both have your best interests at heart, there are times that you can be quite a challenge.

8. She drives you around and not ask for gas money.

Mothers log hundreds of miles on their cars driving to and from baseball practice, dance lessons and competitions, after-school functions, summer camp, and to and from the doctor every time you had an ear infection or strep throat. Agents log even more miles, and they enjoy it because it allows quality time to discuss your home-buying wants and needs, hopes and dreams, and occasionally a chance to rock out together when a good jam comes on the radio.

9. She gives you tough love.

Mom kissed your boo-boos, and it broke her heart if you got hurt. But she didn’t hesitate to smack the back of your head if you did something stupid. She would hug you tight and smother you with kisses one minute, and the next be chasing you with a fly-swatter threatening to spank you when you acted up. Agents are the same way (minus the fly swatters), because they will tell you what you need to hear, and not always what you want to hear.

They’ll break bad news and console you when you didn’t get the house. They’ll also give you the figurative head-smack when you need to focus and stop making stupid decisions like buying a new car a week after getting pre-approved for a loan. Or putting off seeing a home that would’ve been perfect for you (and finding out the next day it had sold). Or not doing your homework and wasting an hour of time driving to a house that backs up to a power plant with the county jail next door. Just listen and do everything your agent advises, and all should be hunky dory.

10. She’s both happy and sad when you move on, but ultimately is proud to see you pursue your dreams and to have been part of the journey.

Moms go through “empty nest syndrome” when you leave home, and they cry and cry and miss you more than you can imagine when you’re gone. They know they’ll see you again, and they beam with pride when you leave for college. Or buy your first home. Or get married and move out. But they’re also so sad inside because they know you’re all grown up now and don’t need them as much anymore.

Real estate agents go through this too. After spending weeks or months with a client, bonding with them, creating memories, and sharing in their joy of buying or selling a home, all the phone calls and meetings end when the home closes and they’re no longer needed.

The best thing you can do to make each of them feel better is this:

Call your mom and remind her you love her, and send your agent referrals to remind her she was awesome!

RELATED: 7 Reasons Your Realtor Is The Best Friend You Never Knew You Had

The post 10 Ways Your Real Estate Agent Is Like Your Mother appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You know you’re a real estate agent when…

1. You remember EVERY house you ever sold.

2. You save ALL receipts, especially when meeting friends or clients for lunch. Receipts = write-offs and Realtors love write-offs!

3. When driving around to run errands, you subconsciously track the mileage to and from the grocery store, the bank, and the dry cleaners.

4. When at the grocery store, you see wine on sale and buy it by the case load.

5. When leaving the grocery store, you have to move dozens of open house signs out of the way in your trunk in order to allow your groceries to fit.

6. When you drive through your neighborhood, you slow-roll by any home with another agent’s sign on the lawn, and then immediately look it up in the MLS to scope out your competition.

7. You almost always type in your lockbox code on your microwave.

8. You suck at math and depend on a calculator to provide a seller the breakdown of costs, but you can figure out 3% in your head, in two seconds!

9. You are one helluva negotiator and always get amazing deals at garage sales! You end up winning the bid because you explain that the item is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay, and convince them it’s overpriced.

10. Your phone rings and alerts you with texts pretty much all hours of the day, and this is totally normal. This image is indelibly etched into your brain:

11. You answer your phone, “Hi this is (your name) with ABC Realty, how can I help you?” even though it was your mom, your kid’s school, or doctor’s office calling.

12. You remember EVERY co/op agent you’ve ever worked with. Some, more than others.

13. Your schedule changes day by day and sometimes several times a day, so you rely heavily on your calendar. Trying to squeeze in a quick hair appointment, or find time to go to the bank or return an item you bought a month ago requires some creative juggling and excellent time management skills.

14. When someone asks to see recent photos of your kids, you whip out your phone and have to scroll through HUNDREDS of photos of homes you listed or sold and funny real estate memes, until you can get to them.

15. You have a diverse wardrobe: classy & sophisticated suits for closings, semi-dressy attire for meetings and luncheons, business casual yet comfortable pants and polos for showings, and broken in jeans and t-shirts for inspections or showings to close friends or family that you don’t care to dress up for. Don’t get me started on the shoes!

16. You cringe and feel your blood pressure rise when you hear a commercial for Zillow or Quicken Rocket Loans!

You just read part 2. Check out Part 1 here.

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I was particularly fond of Sophia Sboukis’ response, which you can read below.

I wanted to expound, and below you’ll see I’ve done just that.

The Problem

As agents and Realtors, we have a long list of responsibilities. Some can be very frustrating and downright stressful. At any given time we have to deal with picky buyers, stubborn sellers, or a dry market (sometimes all 3, and more)—but that’s just part of the job description, and the good ones handle it with grace.

The sad reality is that most stress for a Realtor usually comes from the co/op Realtor who is supposed to be working WITH us. See, I’ve talked to (and worked with) many Realtors, and I’ve observed an imbalance within the industry. And it’s quite a nagging problem…

Two Camps of Realtors

On one hand, some Realtors are like extended family: they’re the first to join forces with other Realtors and join associations with them, support them, congratulate them on a sale, and even go to Happy Hour together. There is great camaraderie amongst these Realtors, and we feel like a part of a club where we can vent about our woes and it’s understood.

On the other hand, some Realtors will sometimes turn bi-polar when working with other agents and it’s like working with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I’ve had many transactions with seemingly successful Realtors who were friendly and nice to me in the beginning when the offer was accepted, and then turned into a raving lunatic who bullishly tried to divert blame at every opportunity.

These Realtors don’t typically get along too well with others in the industry, and they don’t realize that their reputation is in jeopardy.

Too many Realtors brag about how many homes they’ve sold, or how much money they’ve made or let their success get to their head. I wish that some of that money could buy common sense though, because I find that some of the most “top-producing agents” are the busiest, and therefore are the ones that fall way behind on simple tasks like returning my phone call or a quick email.

After I call or email again and days go by and I have to reach out yet another time, they tend to get very snippy and use their “I’m super busy because I’m the most successful rock-star agent on the planet” excuse.

I don’t care about any of that. I care about OUR transaction, and if I am waiting on a document or answer to a question, it should be a priority to you as well because you have a client in this too, Mr. Rockstar.

This article isn’t entirely a rant, though, because I’ve had wonderful transactions with other Realtors who were communicative and handled themselves professionally. When an issue arose, we were able to work it out and leave personal feelings aside and focus on the ONLY important task: Getting the home sold.

Those are Realtors that I would LOVE to work with again, so you bet I will bend over backwards to show their homes to my prospective buyers.

I Get It, Though

I understand the disparity of personality types in this business. Not only are we humans inherently unique (obviously), but Realtors are particularly territorial creatures. We’re very protective of our clients, as well as our own credentials (as we should be). We know our own work ethic and amount of time and dedication we put forth, and we expect the same from our co/op agent.

Because we’re self-employed, we’re not bound by traditional office rules or hours. Every Realtor operates his/her business differently, so rarely do our expectations get met.

Sure, it’s easy to judge and complain about them, but we need to treat others the way we want to be treated, bite our tongues, respect one another and work together until the deal gets done.

Which brings me to this…

The Bottom Line (And A Call To Action)

To all the rude, condescending, and elitist real estate agents out there:

Look, we’re meant to work together. There is a Listing Agent and a Buyer’s Agent role for a reason. One represents the seller and one represents the buyer, but they need to work together to make sure the home sells and both parties are represented equally. Too often, Realtors take on a Defense Attorney and Prosecutor role and lose sight of the big picture.

We are allies and not enemies. I hope that more Realtors learn to play nice with one another because this industry is stressful enough as it is without the schoolyard drama and immaturity. We get that from our clients or Zillow reps hunting us down…

…so can’t we all just get along?

The post An Open Letter To Rude, Condescending, And Elitist Real Estate Agents appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Real estate pros work very hard and deal with a wide array of emotions on a day to day basis. Sometimes, we need a little something to unwind, or to perk up, or to celebrate, or to drown our sorrows in. Basically, there’s always a reason for an agent to need a drink, so here’s the top ten list of drinks for hard-working real estate pros. Drink responsibly!

1. The Broker Blues

The time when you don’t have any pending deals. You’re feeling sorry for yourself and wondering why the hell you work in real estate.

Ingredients:
½ oz. Blue Curaco
½ oz. Vodka
A squeeze of lime juice

Directions: Shake with ice and strain into a shot gloss. Repeat, as necessary.

2. The New Listing Lemondrop

When you get a new listing and you’re feeling your inner Superhero coming back, baby!

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Vodka
½ oz. Triple Sec
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
Maraschino cherry

Directions: Mix Vodka,Triple Sec,sugar,and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice; shake well until sugar is well blended. Pour strained liquor into sugar-rimmed martini glass and don’t forget to garnish with a cherry on top! Note: To create a sugar-rimmed glass, take a lemon wedge and rub the rim of the glass. Dip the edge of the glass into superfine sugar.

3. The Red Hot Realtor

Directions: You’re dominating the market. You have homes flying off the streets and clients lining up wanting your help. You’re on fire! This drink is simple, because you don’t have time to make anything complicated.

Ingredients:
1 8oz. glass of 7-up
1 shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

Directions: Mix and drink.

4. The All-Nighter

You’ve had a long day. You spent hours on the phone and computer pulling comps, setting up showings and answering emails. You have offers to respond to and draft, and you know you’ll be up late tonight. The All-Nighter drink has your back. It’s also simple and knows you don’t have the time to measure and bust out a ton of ingredients.

Ingredients:
Red Bull Energy Drink
1 shot of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum
1 shot of orange juice

Directions: Mix and drink.

5. The Home Wrecker

The day the inspection or appraisal kills the deal. You need something STRONG! Also called the Long Island Iced Tea, this is one of the strongest and most alcoholic drinks ever created. It’s also delicious.

Ingredients:
1 shot of vodka
1 shot of rum
1 shot of tequila
1 shot of gin
1 shot of triple sec
1 lemon wedge
Coke

Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the spirits and the juice from a squeezed lemon and shake like hell. Pour into a tall glass, add ice and slowly pour the coke on top of the ice. The less coke you add, the better you will feel.

6. The Double Agent Dance

This is when you’re acting as both the listing agent and buyer’s agent. You know you have a lot of work ahead of you, and that it requires a delicate dance. This drink is also known as The Dancing Goldfish.

Ingredients:
1 bottle of white wine (chardonnay or white zinfandel are best)
12 oz. of 7-Up
12 oz. Peach Schnapps
1 can of mandarin oranges

Directions: Over ice and in a large pitcher, pour in wine and peach schnapps. Stir in mandarin oranges and 7-Up. Serve in tall glass with ice and watch the fishes dance! Keep refilling to keep the fishes alive!

7. The Big O

When you’ve worked so long and so hard, and given all you can, and you finally get the satisfaction of a job well done. The build-up has been intense, and then… you get an OFFER! Also known as a Screaming O (if the offer was at or over asking)! There’s no better feeling in the world.

Ingredients:
1 oz. Bailey’s
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Amaretto

Directions: Makes one shot. Can be doubled for a Multiple O situation.

8. The Hail Mary

When you have a deal hanging by a thread and you need that one last burst of energy or negotiation super power to get the deal done. This is when you need your Hail Mary, also known as a Bloody Mary.

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1 tbsp. lemon juice
½ tsp. worcestershire sauce
3 drops of tabasco sauce
½ tbsp. horseradish
salt, pepper

Directions: Mix everything together and pour into a tall glass. Garnish with lemon or lime wedge, celery stalk, green onion, pickled green bean, rotisserie chicken or anything you have laying around the kitchen.

9. The Superman

It’s closing day, y’all! You did your job, did it very well, and made it look easy. You finally got your hard-earned paycheck and saved the world for your client. Realtors are Superheros, and if this isn’t your drink of choice, then a beer will never taste better than after a closing! Cheers!

Ingredients:
1/2 oz Stoli Blueberi vodka
1/2 oz Absolut vanilla vodka
1/2 oz Bacardi white rum
1/2 oz Malibu coconut rum
1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
Cranberry Juice
Sprite

Directions: Fill shaker with ice add all of the alcoholic ingredients and pineapple juice and shake till frothy. Pour mixture into a tall glass, then add a quick pour of Sprite and top with a splash of cranberry juice. This will layer red, white, and blue into the glass and will rejuvenate your super-hero powers!

10. Love Potion

When your happy clients refer you to a friend or family member and you get to start all over again, and your love for the wacky world of real estate is renewed.

Ingredients:
1 oz Grey Goose Vodka
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz peach schnapps
1 oz orange juice
1 oz cranberry juice

Directions: Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake and serve on the rocks.

The post 10 Perfect Cocktails for Real Estate Agents appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Let me just go ahead and say it bluntly: stop listening to Zillow.

Look, relying on Zillow to accurately determine your home’s value is, at best, a crapshoot. Zillow itself even encourages buyers, sellers and homeowners to conduct other research such as “getting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent” and “getting an appraisal from a professional appraiser.”

Sure, Zillow’s Zestimates® are quick, easy, and free… but so is dating advice from your twice-divorced Uncle Larry. The point? Just let a local real estate professional (who will actually see your home’s unique features in person) determine its fair market value.

Let’s dive in a bit further, shall we?

First, I don’t believe that Zillow is inherently evil. In other words, they don’t set out to intentionally mislead the general public. In fact, they do have their positive points. Nevertheless, what is the net effect when buyers and sellers use Zillow? They often get inaccurate information, rely on it (even swear by it, ugh!), thus causing migraines for Realtors and agents everywhere.

See, for those of you not working in the real estate industry, you assume that Zillow is a trusted resource to find out what your property is worth. You assume the information is factual, based on homes that have sold in your area (also known as comparables or “comps”), and therefore are to be considered true market value. I’m here to explain to you why this website is feeding you misinformation and why it should not be trusted.

To put it simply…

The fine folks at Zillow don’t have the slightest clue about your market. There are approximately 43,000 zip codes in the United States, and each one has variables that affect property values, such as: school district, knowledge of declining or flourishing areas, property taxes, proximity to interstates, hospitals, attractions and shopping, and bodies of water to name a few.

Let’s pretend that you live in a 3 bedroom, brick ranch with basement in “Perfect Town, USA”. When you plug your address into the search bar on Zillow, you will see a bunch of dots near your home. Those dots represent other homes that have sold, have foreclosed, or that are for sale or for rent. When you click on the dots, it will show you what the home sold for and the dot on your own home is just an average (also known as a “Zestimate”) of what all the others sold for, regardless of how it compares to yours.

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Let’s say that half of those homes are colonials, are vinyl sided and not made of brick, don’t have a basement, or have 4 bedrooms or more, or are on the water, while yours is across the street from the water. Those are huge differences in the world of real estate, and especially to the appraiser who will seal the fate of what your home will inevitably sell for.

Zillow does not account for the condition of your home.

Your home may have been recently remodeled and has as updated kitchen and bathrooms, a new roof, new windows, new furnace, etc… and some of the homes being used as comps are stuck in the 1980’s.

It could also be the opposite and you may see an inflated value put on your home because others in the area have sold for more because they are new construction or have been renovated. Just because your neighbors’ homes sold for $500K doesn’t mean yours will too.

Appraisers need to compare apples to apples, so unless you live in a neighborhood where all the homes are identical cookie cutter houses, don’t ever expect to sell for what your neighbors sold for. Values change with every season, and the only true indicator of what your home is worth is the buyer. A Realtor can run a thorough comparative market analysis (CMA) for you and give you a pretty accurate value and suggested listing price, but what a buyer is willing to offer you is ultimately what your home is worth.

What a buyer is willing to pay is based on many variables too, including the location, the updates and amenities your house includes and how much competition you have. If you live in an area where it’s a sellers’ market, it means you have little competition and more buyers in the area than homes for sale. This is when you want to list your home, and can expect top dollar, as indicated by the buyer!

This doesn’t mean you ask an outrageous amount, because anything over-priced will not sell. If you live in an area that is a buyer’s market, then you need to compete with many other homes for sale and can expect your home to sit on the market longer. No matter what city you live in or how the market is in your area, one thing remains the same:

Zillow is not correct and you need to call your Realtor today to find out the value of your home! It takes a few minutes, it’s FREE and, most importantly, it will be accurate!

The post Zillow Explained… And Why It’s Not To Be Trusted! appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.