Archive for the tag 'realtor'

Successful Open House Tips

Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate April 9th, 2012

Having a Successful Open House – Tips for Buyers, Sellers and Agents!

It’s that time of year again – Spring! And that means let’s sell some real estate people! If you are a seller, you are making your home SHINE! If you are busy buyer, you are out to find a DEAL! And if you are a Realtor (like me), you are pulling out ALL THE STOPS to sell some houses over the next few months! I find a key to my summer marketing plan are OPEN HOUSES! I’ve found better traffic and more buyer’s ready to buy than any other time of the year! Good for us all!

Here are a few OPEN HOUSE TIPS to make every one’s efforts a success, whether you are a buyer, a seller or a fellow Realtor!

Open House Tips for Sellers:

  • Don’t just Spring clean…DEEP CLEAN!
  • Refresh the landscaping front and back.
  • Good time to pressure wash and remove all the dust, dirt and cobwebs.
  • Refresh your home’s price, if needed. Sometimes only a small adjustment can make a BIG difference.
  • Talk your open house “up” to neighbors, co-workers and friends.
  • Have a flexible Sunday time, 1pm – 4pm or 2pm-5pm work best in the Augusta market.

Open House Tips for Buyers:

  • Ask questions! It’s a great time to have an agent knowledgeable about the home to answer your questions right away.
  • If you are working with a Buyer’s Agent, tell the open house agent.
  • Open closet and cabinet doors, get a good look while you are there, if you are interested in the home.
  • Give the open house agent feedback on the home. An organized open house will have feedback cards available for you to complete before you leave.

Open House Tips for Realtors: (some of my MUST DO’s)

  • Schedule the open house at least 2 weeks in advance and start PROMOTING anywhere and everywhere, online, social media, blogs. Blanchard and Calhoun also has all of their week’s open house online by Thursday!
  • Invite the neighbors. Make the open house a special event for your seller and the neighbors! Hand delivering invitations to the seller’s closest neighbor’s is a classy touch.
  • Put all directional signs out by Wednesday or Thursday of the open house week.

 

For a successful open house it takes a team effort and the Realtor, the sellers and the buyers play a key role! Whether you are buying or selling this Spring or in the future, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Real Estate Negotiation 101

Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate February 18th, 2012

Real Estate Negotiation 101

This is the part of the deal I salivate over, as an agent! If you are buying a new home all the pounding the streets looking at home after home is complete. If you are selling your Realtor’s marketing plan has paid off!

So let’s get down to business! If you’ve never bought or sold a home before the real estate negotiations can be intimidating. It doesn’t have to be if you remember these tips and have a knowledgeable agent on your side.

First, try your best to keep your emotions out of the negotiations. In my experience as a REALTOR, this is the hardest part for buyers and sellers. Think big picture and don’t get ‘offended’ by the offer, if you are seller, but instead remember the real estate climate we are in- a buyer’s market. It’s what buyers are conditioned to do in today’s real estate market and think, if you are buying a home after selling you will then have the same want to make an aggressive offer on a home.

Second, know that there are other hidden terms and motivations at play with both buyers and sellers. A good REALTOR can be valuable here if he/she has done their job and tried to uncover any hidden terms or motivations. These could be things like divorce, job loss or a job transfer. Make sure you and your agent do your ‘homework’ and get the scoop!

Thirdly, always have a plan or strategy for how to get to your desired price and terms. Your agent should be able to guide and advise you in developing the best strategy to achieve your negotiating goal. Mix this plan with a large dose of patience and understanding. You should strive for a win-win outcome, don’t come off as greedy or uncaring. Buyers and sellers like to do dealings with people who are caring and honest.

Lastly, work with all parties to problem solve through the terms and conditions of the sale. If a buyer wants to buy and a seller wants to sell all parties should work to find a solution. 99% of the time one can be found, it just may take some work.

Bonus tip – Make sure as a buyer or a seller you have your walk-away price and terms in mind. There comes a time when the deal just will not work for a various of reasons. Timing, financial, etc… Know what this is BEFORE you begin the negotiations. 

Want to talk about your next move and want a negotiation pro in your corner? I would like to talk to you!

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