Tonight, I watched Million Dollar Listing and I saw a couple who were having a disagreement over buying a home. This struck a nerve with me. After, being in Real Estate for 12 years, and helping couples buy homes, and being in that situation myself , I thought how do people get exactly what they want when purchasing a home without it becoming World War III in a relationship?
When I meet buyers, I ask them, lets picture it is 90 days after the closing, where do you picture yourself? Describe to the smallest detail, what you see? The home, the neighborhood, everything that they are looking for. Then I inform them that they might get form 90 to 95 percent of what they are looking for. I ask them where are they bendable...One of the toughest situations is where, I ask that question and both people tell me something different. I know at that time, they have not talked or communicated their needs to each other.
I recommend that couples should sit down with a pad and an adult beverage ( I love a glass of wine) and write down what is the perfect home and then your partner see what you wrote. Ask open ended questions of each other, find out what is truly important for each one of you, when it come to the features of the home. Truly Listen! This way when you start seeing homes, you know what each other wants. One of the things, is that when a couple agrees and compromises, on what type and style of home, both people feel that they are heard and more excited about the process. I love it when both people feel at the closing that they bought a home TOGETHER!
I welcome your thoughts on this.....
Jeffrey R. Carlson
RE/MAX Masters
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Some steps to take to help win in a multiple offer situation...
With inventories low lately and I believe this is going to be the standard for a while, I wanted to give some tips to help you present the best offer in a multiple offer situation.
I have tried all of these in the past and some of them help my buyers to get the home in this situation.
1. Have the your Realtor ask if it is possible to directly present the offer to the sellers with the listing agent being there. Another option, the Buyer's Agent can arrange to meet the listing agent and give them the offer directly. In an age of scanning and sending the offer right to the Listing Agent, this helps humanize the offer. The buyer's agent can tell your story and why you love the home.
2. Type up a letter presenting why you love the home. This also connects the buyer to the seller.
3. The less contingencies, the better! Price is only one aspect of an offer...shorten the inspections, ask what closing date the seller is looking for...Ask your Realtor...what is the best offer we can present?
4. If you are getting financing, make sure that your lender has all the documents, and ask them how fast can we close the loan? What are the contingencies you have to satisfy to get the loan approved and can I do this prior to an executed contract? Also, make sure that the loan person knows that an offer is going out and the name and number for the listing agent so they can talk to them in a timely manner...
These are just some tips that can help you in a multiple offer situation...
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me...
I have tried all of these in the past and some of them help my buyers to get the home in this situation.
1. Have the your Realtor ask if it is possible to directly present the offer to the sellers with the listing agent being there. Another option, the Buyer's Agent can arrange to meet the listing agent and give them the offer directly. In an age of scanning and sending the offer right to the Listing Agent, this helps humanize the offer. The buyer's agent can tell your story and why you love the home.
2. Type up a letter presenting why you love the home. This also connects the buyer to the seller.
3. The less contingencies, the better! Price is only one aspect of an offer...shorten the inspections, ask what closing date the seller is looking for...Ask your Realtor...what is the best offer we can present?
4. If you are getting financing, make sure that your lender has all the documents, and ask them how fast can we close the loan? What are the contingencies you have to satisfy to get the loan approved and can I do this prior to an executed contract? Also, make sure that the loan person knows that an offer is going out and the name and number for the listing agent so they can talk to them in a timely manner...
These are just some tips that can help you in a multiple offer situation...
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me...
Monday, October 14, 2013
The season of giving is coming....
I have been thinking of last Thanksgiving and what happened that day to me...
That morning I got up and went across Broadway Street in West Palm Beach to the store to get a cup of coffee. I put on some sweat pants and a baseball cap since I just got up and wanted my coffee! I had not even shaved or taken a shower. When I was coming across the street from the store, a young lady stopped me and said that she was volunteering for the Union Mission Baptist Church and they were serving Thanksgiving Dinner to all the homeless in the area. She insisted that I go over and gets some food. I told here that I was NOT Homeless and had plans for Thanksgiving Dinner with friends. She said I was in denial and took me by the arm where they were serving dinner. I met some Homeless People and the Volunteers that were serving. I felt so Guilty for being there. But it gave me a unique perspective of the people who needed help the most. I saw children with parents who needed help...I saw families..I saw the face of the homeless here in West Palm Beach.
I have passed by this church almost every day and I see the Church give free meals all the time but really did not give it a second glance till that Thanksgiving. I have been thinking lately with the Holidays coming up. I know that as we pass Halloween, we focus of family and friends, but I think, we also need to focus on giving to those who are less fortunate than we are. There are food drives, there are Toys for Tots, there are loads of charities, that you can volunteer your time and money. I believe this year there are alot of people who need our help and also know there is Hope out there.
Are you going to give this year? Are you going to provide hope to those who need it the most? Are you truly thankful enough to give to those who need it? I know if you do a Google search for your town, you can loads of places that you can donate food, time and money to help those who are less fortunate than you...All I ask is one act of kindness to those who need it the msot...
Jeffrey R. Carlson
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Getting a Home Ready for Sale!
Now, after being in Real Estate for 12 years...I know most sellers, think for a couple months prior to listing their home, about getting their home ready for sale.
Well, the first thing you should do before putting your home up for sale is, of course to call me, so I can come over and see what work has to be done to the home.
But, if you want to get a head start, these are the tips that I recommend...
1. Declutter the home...All the stuff that you have around the home needs to go. Whether you hold a garage sale, or pack it up and store it...it all needs to go. The kitchen counters need to be as clear as possible. I tell sellers, unless you use it on a daily basis, store it away and have a uncluttered kitchen.
2. Depersonalize the home..Take down all family pictures, take down all stuff off the refrigerator. Buyers want to come into a home and picture it as their home. If you have pictures and other stuff that is about you, then they focus on that.
3. Repaint, Fix, and Clean...Repaint walls that need it a Neutral Color, Clean Carpets, fix things that are broken or need fixing..I have seen buyers get turned off due to wall colors or start deducting from the sales price what they have to do to the home.
4. Focus on Curb Appeal..A buyers first impression is when they drive up to the home. We live in South Florida, so spruce up the front with some new flowers, make sure the lawn is taken care of and if the home, needs a fresh coat of paint...take care of it.
5. And last, I want you to act as if you are the buyer! That means walk through your home, like if you were the buyer. What turns you off to the home? Does the rooms seem like they have nice flow to it? Does furniture need to be rearranged? Does some rooms have too much furniture and some pieces need to be removed? Does each room show its best?
Now, I will be happy to come over and help you with this process to get your home ready for sale, so that you can get top dollar for the home and that it will sell in a reasonable time period!
Jeffrey R. Carlson
RE/MAX Masters
561-284-6946
Well, the first thing you should do before putting your home up for sale is, of course to call me, so I can come over and see what work has to be done to the home.
But, if you want to get a head start, these are the tips that I recommend...
1. Declutter the home...All the stuff that you have around the home needs to go. Whether you hold a garage sale, or pack it up and store it...it all needs to go. The kitchen counters need to be as clear as possible. I tell sellers, unless you use it on a daily basis, store it away and have a uncluttered kitchen.
2. Depersonalize the home..Take down all family pictures, take down all stuff off the refrigerator. Buyers want to come into a home and picture it as their home. If you have pictures and other stuff that is about you, then they focus on that.
3. Repaint, Fix, and Clean...Repaint walls that need it a Neutral Color, Clean Carpets, fix things that are broken or need fixing..I have seen buyers get turned off due to wall colors or start deducting from the sales price what they have to do to the home.
4. Focus on Curb Appeal..A buyers first impression is when they drive up to the home. We live in South Florida, so spruce up the front with some new flowers, make sure the lawn is taken care of and if the home, needs a fresh coat of paint...take care of it.
5. And last, I want you to act as if you are the buyer! That means walk through your home, like if you were the buyer. What turns you off to the home? Does the rooms seem like they have nice flow to it? Does furniture need to be rearranged? Does some rooms have too much furniture and some pieces need to be removed? Does each room show its best?
Now, I will be happy to come over and help you with this process to get your home ready for sale, so that you can get top dollar for the home and that it will sell in a reasonable time period!
Jeffrey R. Carlson
RE/MAX Masters
561-284-6946
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Crossing the Finish Line....
“Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph: a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.”
I have been thinking this morning as I sit here and work through all the little tasks that I have to do in a day...
2013 has been a year with loads of obstacles, falling down, and finding out what is truly important to me...It would be easy this year to blame others and the circumstances that has occurred to me when it comes to not reaching the finish line... But....
One thing, I think we all love in movies, like Rocky, Rudy, and many other movies, is that when we see others go through adversity, and come out the other side winning, is that we truly want that for ourselves. I heard this in a seminar from Brian Buffini and this is so true!
We want the Victory! We Crave the Victory!
But, it is the path that we take that truly defines who we are and when we struggle, fall down, hit obstacles...how we deal with that is truly how we define ourselves. It is easy to blame others, circumstances, and events, when we fall and hit the obstacles, but in the end, it is up to us to cross the finish line. I truly believe in my heart, that if we have a clear vision, A REALLY CLEAR VISION, we can achieve anything! It might take a little bit of time. But we can do it! One last thing, do not expect nor desire a pat of your back or someone else to say Good Job! That needs to come from within and I believe you need to find a way to celebrate in your own way when you do cross the finish line.
But, it is the path that we take that truly defines who we are and when we struggle, fall down, hit obstacles...how we deal with that is truly how we define ourselves. It is easy to blame others, circumstances, and events, when we fall and hit the obstacles, but in the end, it is up to us to cross the finish line. I truly believe in my heart, that if we have a clear vision, A REALLY CLEAR VISION, we can achieve anything! It might take a little bit of time. But we can do it! One last thing, do not expect nor desire a pat of your back or someone else to say Good Job! That needs to come from within and I believe you need to find a way to celebrate in your own way when you do cross the finish line.
Jeffrey R. Carlson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)