10 Hallmarks of a Great Realtor

This is my 100th real estate blog....and there always seems to be something to write about!  Here I'm going to simply brainstorm what I consider 10 hallmarks of a great Realtor.

1.  Flawless communication; always follows through and connects when promised, always keeps you in touch with the process of your sale or listing. 

2.  After sale service; not just in it for the sale, a great Realtor is a resource for life and always available after the sale for questions, concerns or any helpful purpose.

3.  Doesn't oversell you on budget; because you can afford a more expensive home does not mean that you should be "house poor."  A great Realtor will value your lifestyle and advise you to buy the right priced home to give you maximum freedom.

4.  Talks candidly about NOT buying a particular property; a great Realtor is all about protecting you and your family and will be very forthcoming if they perceive an issue with a property.

5.  Looks to the long view; while matching you with the right property at the right time, a great Realtor also is looking down the road on your behalf and thinking about the resale value before you even buy the home!

6.  Is well connected; a great Realtor has made many trusted working connections that can serve you in your move -- everything from inspectors, lenders, legal teams, movers, cleaners, stagers and more.  These are not "cold" referrals, they are proven and trusted professionals.

7.  Is well respected by colleagues; a great Realtor is highly professional with colleagues, supplying all information needed to speed along your sale and respected for their negotiating prowess.  A great Realtor NEVER uses a snotty or know-it-all tone.

8.  Works in areas of strengths; a great Realtor will refer you to another great Realtor if you need something out of their area of expertise; i.e. out of the area they know or buying a commercial interest if they work primarily in residential.

9.  Is empathetic but forthcoming; a great Realtor feels your pain, whether financial or personal, however their job it to guide you with truth, not sugar coat market conditions or likely challenges.  We stick through thick and thin as your ally but will not mislead you to make you feel better.  A great Realtor never advises pricing a home well above what they know it will sell for just to get the listing (and later keep pressing for price reductions).

10.  Is select in their clientele; a great Realtor knows the value of long term relationships in business so is not rushing around for "1 hit wonders" to add to their sales volume.  They invite clients who understand value over gimmicks.  There is nothing more satisfying to a great Realtor than repeat and referral business; sometimes over the generations of one family.  Does your family have a great Realtor??

www.OkanaganHome.ca   Beth Marks the Spot!

If plumbers used social media like Realtors do

I often find it amusing that many in the real estate profession use social media as a way to promote themselves and their work.  It got me wondering what if plumbers used social media the same way some Realtors do.  Maybe it would go something like this:

Wow, what a busy month!  I've had two lines snaked, 14 toilet installs, one septic back up and several firm deals to move along.  When you need a great plumber, just call!

Just installed!!  This unique double toilet was just installed!  Do you have need for a great and leading edge plumber?  Call me!

Is your toilet in a slump?  Might staging be right for you?  Sometimes by eliminating clutter around the biffy, the biffy looks bigger.  Call me when you need the right staging ideas!

Do you have an extended family?  Tired of standing in lines?  Call the plumbing who is an expert on strata toilets!  You won't even have to landscape with this low maintenance design.

 



Here is a testimonial from more satisfied customers:

Until we met this plumber we thought all plumbers were only in it for themselves.  But we found a friend in you.  Your recommendations for just the right toilet tissue have helped us beyond measure.  We will not hesitate to recommend you to all of our friends! 

 

Why your overpriced pig will never fly.

When it comes to home pricing, of course you and your Realtor (any great Realtor) want you to receive as much money as possible for your home.  That being said, if you have in mind a wildly inflated price for your home a smart Realtor will run the other way rather than market your home if you insist on unrealistic pricing. 

A salesperson only interested in using your listing to drum up more business might well take the listing with the full knowledge you won't sell at your wildly high price -- but they might get some spin off business from your listing; perhaps a buyer will call first on your home and the salesperson can sell them something at market value.  In the business a wildly high price on a property puts the property into the unpleasant, slang category of being an "overpriced pig."

Why will your overpriced pig never fly?  Because even with the very best marketing, even with you receiving an offer from an uneducated buyer, unless that buyer is sitting on a mountain of cash they will not be able to get financing if your home is well above market value.  As an aside, anyone I've known with the ability to do cash offers is working with a full service Realtor who would have already advised them on the comparables.

Not only does a buyer have to agree on your price but so also does the lender's appraiser!  So even if your buyers LOVE your home, the bank shares no such infatuation.  They will say "we'll lend you fair market value and no more."  The home inspection also plays into value, but that's another blog!

Realtors often hear, "well, we'll price really high, but someone can always make us an offer."  But, guess what?  They don't make you an offer, because they don't look at your home.  Yours is the home that makes all other comparables look great!

I would invite you to repeat the experiment I've already done.  Ask any real estate investor if they use the services of a full service, top rate Realtor.  Without exception, the ones who have been most successful will answer you that they absolutely do.  So, if we accept this fact, please know that as one such Realtor, my buyers are very savvy about market value.

Seller's I've worked with might tell you that I asked them this question, "do you want to list your home or do you want to sell your home?"  Because, unless we enter into another cycle of unprecedented price escalation there is no sense in "testing the market."

In a balanced market overpriced pigs just never take wing.  Trust me when I tell you, it will be an exercise in frustration for you to have your home on the market at a much higher than fair market rate.  Don't allow yourself to be used by anyone willing to take the listing at that price; because they would not be working in your best interest but only looking after their own side agenda.

By all means, you can price "optimistically" with the willingness to adjust your price if necessary; but don't believe that pigs will ever fly.

Take your self-serve and shove it!

Dear Jimmy Pattison and all like minded banks and businesses,

Kindly take your self service mentality and shove it!  No, thank you, I don't want to go to my little local grocery store and have the privilege of paying full price AND checking myself out and doing my own bagging.  Thanks just the same.

Thank you RBC for the privilege of doing all my own banking through the machine AND being charged for the privilege.  What's that you say?  Get me on online banking?  Oh, guess I'm causing wear and tear on your bank floors and you would prefer not to see me?  But the charges remain.  Gee, thanks.

Locally here is my advice to each and every godforsaken-no-service option in the entire North Okanagan.  Go to Fisher's Hardware (no, I don't own shares)!  Walk in and get a refresher course in what customer service and satisfaction looks like.

Newsflash:  customers love service, they love knowledgeable people and they like being out and about seeing their neighbours and clients not stuck in some lonely home office doing all their self service banking, investments, insurance, shopping and self diagnosing illness.

We are enriched by interactions with warm bodies and bright smiles of those we share the town with.  We learn from one another and hear great ideas.  The isolation of self service is disgusting.

And, to anyone sharing the real estate world with me...don't you dare give half-assed service while taking a healthy commission.  And to any buyers or sellers if you're going to work with a half -assed model you may as well do it yourself.

Come on people.  Let's ask for excellence in the workplace and offer it in return.  Let's not be in such a hurry to run back to our shelters and view the world through a computer monitor.

Let's hear it for the businesses that support the community, each other, their customers and never ever flake out to the dud models of little value.

Do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?

Years ago a dear friend and retired psychologist, Dr. Grant Johnson, asked me this question, "Beth, do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?"  To which I replied, "YES!"

This one line continues to occur to me often, and I found myself repeating it to my son, a young adult, just last night.  He was ranting about how "stupid" requirements were for something he was attempting to do with a government office.  He was so annoyed at the process that he simply stopped moving forward.  I gave him my assessment that he would be very foolish to abandon his efforts due to being annoyed at the government!  Ha!  The all time litmus test:  "Do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?"

How often do we easily and quite justifiably find flawed processes, stubborn people, ridiculous bureaucracy and other annoying circumstances?  On general principle alone one feels justified in withdrawing and indulging in righteous indignation!  The fools!  The idiots!  How dare they?!

The trouble is, of course, we shoot ourselves and our goals in the foot while we're at it.  We might be right -- but we sure as hell ain't happy!

I see that occur occasionally in home negotiations.  In a transaction the better part of a million dollars a sale can be derailed over a 300.00 microwave.  Really.  And, at that stage, it is of little comfort that I'd buy a new microwave.  It becomes the principle of the matter between buyer and seller.

Once again, someone might have a moral victory but a horribly timed dream home failure!

The higher we get, when we're "getting up on our high horse" the greater the fall back to earth.  My secret notion is that if most of us could hear a recording of ourselves when we're ranting about some unfairness or other, we'd melt in embarrassment!  Shake it off, my friends, move forward.

Here's a little song he wrote, and you can sing it note for note...."don't worry; be happy!"  Or, as another wise one said:  "Don't sweat the petty stuff or pet the sweaty stuff."

What did you think I said!?

One simple statement has served me so well as a parent, professional and friend.  I read it in a parenting book along the way and it goes like this:  "When I said (fill in the blank), what was your understanding of that?"

Time and again, when I ask this question, I am so surprised by the answer.  I thought I was clear in my communication; but we all listen through our own filters, fears and hopes.  Meaning often, what we say is not what someone hears!

Communication is an art form.  It really is.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter a whit what I mean if what I mean is not understood.  Rather like the very vital distinction between intent and impact.

How often do you hear or say, "I didn't mean to make them feel bad."  True enough.  But, whatever the impact was on the other person is, in fact, what was communicated.  That was the impact, regardless of intent.

The only tool we have, my friends, when wondering if we've communicated clearly is to ask.  To ask without defense, without challenge.  "Did I make myself clear?  Do you have any questions?  Do you know what I mean?  Does this make sense to you?"

Open ended, kind questions are so powerful.

The worst communicator is a ranting dink head.  Never mistake overpowering anyone with a win.  It makes for two losers.

Was that clear?  Are we on the same page?  I hope I've effectively communicated with you.

It is very satisfying to "be heard" and to hear....clearly and fully.  Here's to more art and less assumption in communication.

Contrary to popular thought!

When the popular winter choice is to be nestled into a warm house with a good book a wise buyer, contrary to popular thought, is out looking for their next home.
When the popular choice is to withdraw a listing over the cold months of winter a wise seller, contrary to popular thought, is fully marketed and available.

Why?  Its really quite simple.  Supply and demand.

The best time to market your home is when there are fewer available.  Someone always has to move and rather than having dozens in competition with your listing why not have just a few?
And, you buyers....rather than compete with hoards of spring shoppers, why not pick up your dream home when it's priced well and available?

As with many endeavours, it is a great idea to buck trends.  Typically everyone waits to take their cues from the masses rather than pioneering a trail best for them.

Take for instance, a standing ovation.  The authentic one simply bursts out and someone in the audience just jumps up.  The forced one involves audience members looking about to see if anyone else looks like they're going to stand up.  Or, they feel sorry for the only performer not to receive a standing O, so decide to start one.

This might seem an obscure parallel!  But, you get my drift.  Don't wait to see what everyone else is doing!  Do what is timely for YOU.

Strike when opportunity is ripe; and that is very often when everyone else is sitting on their hands wondering what everyone else thinks.

Suspiciously good news!

Isn't it interesting how when hearing good news, especially from someone in sales, it is looked upon with suspicion.  What makes us trust bad news and mistrust great news?

Now, give a morsel of bad news on the issue of real estate and most will nod their heads in agreement, "I knew it would turn bad."  Here in Canada, our national news reports real estate indicators nation wide based on the markets in Vancouver and Toronto.  So, relentlessly, year over year, decade over decade (as the prices have trended upward making a fortune for many) the news will caution:  The Bubble will Burst!

Some poor schmoo has been sitting on his hands waiting for the right time to invest in a home for himself and family.  But the news has NEVER told him it was a good time.  So, he's been paying a landlord hundreds of thousands over decades with nothing to show for it but regret.

Along comes an educated, square shooting Realtor who actually uses facts and statistics over time as a foundation to say:  It's a great time to buy!

It's a great time to buy??  Oh, the heads tilt, the arms cross.  You can almost hear the thinking..."what's she trying to sell us?"

Oh dear.  You caught me.  I was trying to save you tens of thousands before the market starts really climbing again.  I was trying to let you know how much fine inventory is now available at very fair prices so you don't have to settle for a home you don't love just because there are so few to choose from.

But, hey, what do I know?  You've listened to the news.  Surely, one way or another the world is in tatters.  Why bother playing?

Rubbish!  Rubbish I say!  Get in the game.  "THEY" are always looking on the bad side as a given and the good side as suspicious and to be avoided.

Recently I was reading in "The Rotarian" a report that in the 1990s two thirds of Americans were convinced that crime was wildly escalating.  When in fact between 1990 and 1998 murders were down by 20%!  The reports however, on national news, were up 600% on murder; even excluding the O.J. Simpson trial.

When you are looking for real estate news ask a real estate professional.  A great Realtor will always give you the insight you need to make happy decisions (or to lessen the pain on harder moves).

There really is SO much good news!  Believe it!