Comparing Honey Crisps to Braeburns One of the more quizzical looks Realtors get is when they (try to) explain to a prospective home Seller that their neighbor’s house isn’t a “Comp” (Comparable Sold Property). In plain English: it isn’t relevant ” at least directly ” for pricing their home. For the uninitiated, a Comp is one of the...Read More
Qualifying Buyers #101 In the course of holding hundreds (thousands?) of Sunday open houses over the years, I can usually tell relatively quickly whether a given prospect is serious or not. See if you can guess which of the comments below indicate serious Buyer interest: A. “I LOVE this house. Why is it so cheap?!?” B. “What...Read More
“Location, Location, Location” “Context, Context, Context” What can you confidently say about a “For Sale” home whose price was just reduced, days before Christmas? A. The home is now a bargain. B. The Seller is motivated. C. The Seller’s Realtor (listing agent) is motivated. D. The home is better-priced** than it was before. Correct answer:...Read More
. . . And Isn’t Likely to Volunteer “Fake it till you make it.” —Career advice to newbie real estate agents. In a hyper-competitive field where sales bluster is an ever-present temptation, real estate agents aren’t exactly the type to betray ignorance or confess a lack of confidence. And even consummate Realtors with years of...Read More
“List Price: $325k – $350k” There’s a trend afoot — at least amongst some listing agents — to market an upcoming listing within a price range, as opposed to naming a specific asking price. I’m not a fan, for two reasons: One. When the price is given as a range, Buyers immediately fixate on the lower end,...Read More
“What’s Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander” I know of other agents — even some whom I consider excellent** — who use price opinions at least occasionally to inform the guidance they offer Sellers. Personally, I’m not a fan, for two reasons. Reason #1. Something like 90% of the time, price opinions...Read More
