If you work with buyers you know many of them find the home of their dreams but are reluctant to "pull the trigger" and write an offer.  Making that commitment can be difficult.  They use a number of excuses such as we need to sleep on it, there is one more house we want to see next weekend, I want to talk with my Mom and Dad first and so forth.  Great Buyers Agents will often put things in perspective by asking;   "If you delay your decision and decide in a couple of days to make an offer and I have to tell you that this house is under contract, are you going to be happy with that?"  The answer is almost always NO!  For them, the fear of loss is greater than the anticipation of gain.                                                                                                     ... 04/03/2009

It's easy for an agent to get caught up in all the hype.  Even experienced agents in this shifting market search for ways to improve their business and sometimes get away from the things that have made them successful. When we first got into real estate, every agent gave us different advice.  One said work FSBO's, another Expired Listings, others Farming and so forth.  We tried them all and nothing worked.  It didn't work because no one told us we had to be consistent in our efforts so after 90 days or so we gave up. We identified that the problem was lack of training and leadership with our office.  We made a move and today we've finally figured it out and have focused on new ways to perform these task (the ones that work for us) in a more efficient and effective manner.  We learned th... 03/28/2009

So often we see agents get off their game plan with "Petty Things" that end up ruining their day.  A lot of it comes from getting caught up with "Water Cooler Talk" and has nothing to do with running their Real Estate Business! Then, to make things even worse, they grab hold of the "Sweaty Things" and share them with the rest of the office.  This in turn disrupts everyone else's day. Talk about Killing Productivity!                                                                 03/28/2009

If you are truly in the Real Estate Business and you are running a business (not a hobby), failure is not an option.  However, if you have not changed your business in these shifting times failure may be the ultimate outcome. Change is difficult, but it must come as the market changes.  Expensive printed advertising has been replaced with ZERO Budget Marketing.  Cash on hand and Cash flow has taken priority over "you have to spend money to make money" and new strategies have been implemented to increase revenue while reducing expenses. If you are not sure what these strategies are or how to implement them you should ask your owner, broker or team leader.  If you are not satisfied with their answers or they simply don't work, you should seek out those who do know and move your license.  ... 03/28/2009

The landscape of Real Estate has, and will continue to change.  Small real estate companies are merging, being acquired or going out of business.  Large franchises are closing offices and many are in financial difficulty with insurmountable debt.  Most have fewer agents and have lost market share.  Many will not make it through this housing crisis.  House On Fire! Most owners of these companies don't share financial data with the agents, closed book company, so the agents don't know the degree of financial trouble they are in.  They simply wake up on morning and find that their company no longer exists. In some cases you can smell the smoke and then there are flames.  Some will depart at the first signs of a fire, while others will vanish in the flames.  Simple question, will you be lef... 03/28/2009

We have been asked by our local MLS to distribute this warning regarding a scam.  Please also feel free to pass it on.  Columbia, SC - With so much news about economic stimulus packages and the country's economic recovery plans, consumers are hoping some of this stimulus money will funnel down to them. This is the perfect opening for con artists to try to scam the vulnerable. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) has received numerous reports of scams using the stimulus package - each with a different twist - to steal personal information and/or money. One of the more brazen twists uses President Barrack Obama's image to persuade consumers. SCDCA has received a number of forwarded emails from alert consumers who are suspicious of the offer. The mail, featuring a phot... 03/24/2009

There has been a lot of "Buzz" about foreclosures and short sales.  It is estimated that as many as 40% of home sales will fall into one of these categories in the next 12 months.  As many agents change the focus of their business to take advantage of these opportunities others stick to the core business. Either way, it's Opportunity Time for all who strive to have a successful real estate business, both now and in the future.  We believe those who survive this downturn will be stronger and more dominant when things improve.  While others leave the business, those who succeed will increase market share.  If they do it right, their market share will grow as the market grows and their future success is only limited by their desire, commitment and passion to succeed. It truly is "Opportuni... 03/22/2009

We believe that most home owners don't understand how the $8,000 tax credit will benefit them.  The Government believes that first time buyers will purchase existing homes which will allow existing home owners to move up to larger more expensive homes and so forth. This domino effect will therefore reduce inventories and stimulate the housing market and pull the economy out of the recession.  It makes sense in that $100K homes would be purchased by first time home buyers allowing those sellers to move into $200K homes and so forth.  The only problem with this plan is that they are counting on these first time buyers to be credit worthy and have saved the money they need for down payments and closing cost.  However, many of these potential purchasers are part of the "got-to-have-it-now" ... 03/22/2009

Many of you may remember when you had a Hometown Bakery and about 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon all remaining baked goods would go on sale.  It helped the owners clear out inventory and purchasers would take advantage of the lower prices.  Usually if you didn't make your purchase by 4 p.m. all of the really good ones were gone. That is the current Real Estate Market!  And buyers need to get their shopping done early before all of the really good one's are gone.  Just think about it; Prices are Great, Interest Rates are Great, and the Inventory is abundant.  In this Shifting Market things change at a rapid pace and this opportunity will not last forever.  For first time home buyers there is even more incentive as they have to close on their purchase by December 1st or lose their $8,000 tax ... 03/18/2009

When you're moving to a new area it can be a pretty daunting task.  You really need to have someone you can trust in your new location that knows the area and is qualified to answer all of your questions or at least get you going in the right direction.  You also need to do your homework prior to the move. There are several key areas that will affect you bottom line in terms of money when purchasing your new home: •·         Learn about the culture of the new city's real estate market.  It's crucial to know whether homes in the new location typically sell close to the asking price or substantially below.  Know what items normally convey.  Learn about local taxes as it's related to your purchase and make sure you investigate zoning and neighborhood use restriction. •·         Believe it ... 03/17/2009

Two Irishmen were sitting in a four engine plane flying back from a shopping trip to Paris when the captains voice came over the loudspeaker. "Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the engines appears to have failed. There's nothing to worry about but we will be 15 minutes late in landing at Gatwick."Five minutes later he said, "Nothing to worry about, ladies and Gentlemen, but one of the other engines has failed, and we will now be an hour late."A moment later, "Er...sorry about this ladies and gentlemen, but the third engine has also given up the ghost and we will now be two hours later than expected."One of the Irishmen tapped his friend on the shoulder. "Good heavens, Patrick, do you realize that if the other engine fails, we'll be here all night?"   03/17/2009

Tonight we're having our bi-monthly Thank You Tuesday.  We invite agents (from all companies)that we've had transactions with in the past (or hope to in the future) for some appetizers and a drink to "say thank you for all you do to make the real estate transaction a success and for bringing the standards of our Industry to the highest level of Professionalism."  It's been a great success in the past and it's really nice to be able to share ideas and experiences in a relaxed environment.   03/17/2009

My interruption of the 60 MINUTE interview with FED Chairman Bernake is that the recession will be over by the end of the year and we will see a strong economy in 2010 with sustained growth for the future.  Does this mean we've hit bottom? He points the finger of failure to the financial markets that took huge risks in lending money to people who were not credit worthy and investors purchasing these securities in the Sub-Prime market.  I don't believe anyone would dispute that the lack of regulation and the practices of these companies is at the core of the problem and better regulation and supervision is needed.  However, is it possible we are going too far in the other extreme? There are many "credit worthy" people who are turned away from lending institutions.  These are not only hom... 03/17/2009

According to the National Association of Realotrs and Baylor University School of Business the 2008 Survey of Buyers and Sellers revealed the following traits that consumers look for when:  Choosing a Realtor: Buyers and Sellers chose their Realtor® based on •·         Honesty and trustworthiness •·         Reputation (referrals) •·         Friend, relative or neighbor •·         Knowledge, caring and good listener •·         Only 4% were chose because of their company affiliation  Seller Services: Why Sellers used a Realtor® •·         Establishing Fair Market Value •·         Internet Marketing Capabilities •·         Handling Contracts •·         Positioning the home in competitive markets •·         Negotiations •·         Contract to Closing (inspections and repairs)  Attracting Bu... 03/16/2009

Although the Upstate (of South Carolina) has not been exposed to the same fate as many other parts of the country, we are in a Buyer's Market.  There's a surplus of new and existing homes and there are fewer potential purchasers for the homes that are available.  It is indeed a great time to purchase. Unlike a Seller's Market, with low inventories and lots of potential buyers, you have to do more than place a sign in the front yard.  You have to properly position your home based on the competitive offerings with the right price and the right product. For the sellers, they face a challenge in positioning their home in order to get it sold in the shortest amount of time and at a fair market value.  Most home owners don't understand that they must get their home "Pristine" both inside and ... 03/16/2009

We're really big golf fans.  We love to play, we love to watch it and we love to go to tournaments.  We're really excited that Tiger is back.  He may not be completely back on his game but what does everyone expect after not playing for months.  Even so, he still brings a lot of excitement to the game when he pulls off spectacular shots. For all you golf fans out there, enjoy the tournament this weekend. 03/14/2009

Our friend's daughter is getting married today.  It's rainy, cold and just messy outside.  I hope that they are able to look past the bad weather and cherish this day for what it represents.  We of course wish them a wonderful beginning as they start a new journey together.  Some might even consider the rain a blessing.  I know I do! 03/14/2009

I know a lot of people think that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day but I must disagree.  First of all, I have a son who was born on the 13th; so how on earth can that be unlucky!  Yesterday we put a house under contract that although it was a gorgeous home on a breathtaking lot, it was still in a price range with a four year supply.  We had it on the market for 6 weeks.  I could go on and on about good things that happen on Friday the 13th but I won't.  Like everything else it's just a state of mind!! 03/14/2009

It's only in the last 6 months or so that we've recognized the value of staging.  We have a number of vacant listings and staging makes a lot of difference on that first impression.  We understand that the point of staging is to de-personalize a home so that a buyer can envision themselves living in the house but a vacant home is too extreme. Vacant homes feel cold and uninviting, especially in the winter when it's cold outside and perhaps not too sunny.  It doesn't take a lot either.  For the homes that are still occupied it has also made a huge difference.  I would love to hear about your staging experiences; good or bad! 03/14/2009

Art Auction and Oyster Roast to Benefit Glenn Springs Academy When - Tonight - March 12, 2009 from 7pm - 10pm at Carolina Country Club Pavilion.  Tickets are $30.00 and include entertainment, food, beer and wine.  There will be chili too for those that don't like oysters.  Live music by Blind Vision and a silent auction from local artists.  To purchase tickets call Glenn Springs Academy at 864-583-4367 ext. 124.  03/12/2009