Author Archive
The Best Laid Plans of Mice & Men…
My clients were the kind of folks who plan carefully. Their home had been staged to perfection. Lights on. Cookies on the counter. A contract was received just in time. Everything went smoothly. Closing was set for Friday morning
On a Wednesday afternoon I received an urgent call. […]
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?
About five years ago we worked with some clients coming to Austin, Texas, from California. I was a little shocked by their choice of mortgage - a 100%, interest-only loan. At the risk of sounding a little backwater, I asked them, Why would you not want to pay off your loan? Their answer […]
Real Estate Negotiation: Best Strategies
An important part of our job as Realtors is to help our clients negotiate for the best deal on a house. Your confidence and professionalism in this area will make your service memorable to your clients. Here are some strategies to help you guide your clients through the negotiation process.
1. Constantly re-establish […]
It’s Back to the Future for Real Estate
The serious decline in housing sales in many parts of the country is well documented. This downturn was preceded by several years of rising home prices in many areas. In some cases, prices rose beyond levels that were supported by local salaries, and were clearly not sustainable. The driving force that fueled […]
Real Estate Ads - Writing Tips We Need to Know
As Realtors, a routine part of our job is to write ad copy for newspapers, brochures and internet sites. Our goal is to create a favorable sense of the property and intrigue a potential buyer. However, it is easy to cross the line into false statements or discriminatory language. Although we may […]
10 Tips for Better Seller Representation
As Realtors, our fiduciary relationship with our clients requires a high level of good faith, loyalty and confidentiality. We have a duty to protect our clients’ best interests. Here are some tips to improve the representation of your seller clients.
Please note that these are only based on my personal experience as a […]
Real Estate Websites: 21 Ways to Turn Away Visitors
Have you surfed real estate sites lately? Many still make some fundamental mistakes that tend to drive visitors away, rather than offering a rich experience that people will return to.
A visitor who has come back to your site several times is well on his way toward picking up the phone or sending an […]
Eight Ways to Add Value to Your Home
“Two story brick traditional with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, island kitchen, and large deck!” Sound familiar? We often talk about houses in terms of room count, along with a list of finishes, such as tile floors, granite counters, or faux paint. While this vocabulary conveys certain facts, it does not provide […]
7 Potential Re-sale Problems
The selection of a home is an emotional decision, and it should be. You should tap into your emotional knowledge when choosing a home. Many personal factors will influence your selection of a place where your family can live comfortably and safely.
However, at some point in the future you may need to re-sell the […]
Build Green for Lifelong Savings
Green building is a design process that grows out of a connection with the natural landscape. It is a set of informed decisions that considers the site and materials to reduce the cost, maintenance, and energy usage of the home. Conservation is central to the green building approach. Green homes are healthier, safer, […]
