Listing Agents and Sellers

by HOLLY HURD

One of the Most Important Lessons for Listing Agents and Sellers

Whenever I take a new listing, I counsel the sellers about making sure their home is show ready.  Often times, I advise painting a neutral color, or getting new carpet.  Not all sellers heed the advice, or quite 

frankly, have the funds available to complete the task. Still, it is incumbent on me to make sure their home presents well when photographed.  Likewise, the sellers need to understand the importance of keeping it in whatever tip top shape they can manage during the listing period.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Sure, it may be frustrating for sellers who are chomping at the bit to hit the market ASAP so they don't miss the current market demand, but my best advice is to get the preparation done and THEN we'll hit the market.  If I'm taking a vacant listing, I will not take photos until I can lightly stage the property.   Photographs are very important.

Currently, I'm following a listing in my marketplace that has been sitting on the market for well over seven months.  Mind you, we're in a market where it might take a max of thirty days for a well prepared and well photographed home to go under contract.  The price seven months ago didn't seem too far out of reach, but the seller is now listed lower.  The points of failure to date come from a lack of understanding that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

The first listing agent had this vacant listing and did not take photographing, or even lightly staging the home seriously.  There was nothing in the photos.  And the photographs look to be taken hastily at night, at the eye line of a four year old.  Lots of floor.  In the nearly six months that the first agent has the listing, those horrible photographs were never once updated.  The agent did not see the importance of taking the photographs during the daylight, or showing the home from an average person's point of view (not from near the floor.)  And why bother ever placing some pops of color like towels in the bathrooms, wall hangings on the walls?  

When the first listing ended, I reached out to offer my services.  Nope.  The seller chose another agent.  Well, I am not the only agent that understands how to sell a home in Northville, Michigan..  I was excited that the seller wised up and watched the listing when it came back on the market.  Yet, agent number two seems no better.

The listing hit the market with a handful of photographs , that were at least taken during the day.  However, not a lot of time taken in the task and it showed.  The remarks indicated "professional photographs" were expected as soon as the home was carpeted and painted.  Why in the world was this listing hitting the market AGAIN, with a lackluster appearance?

Finally, after having the listing active for two months, the second agent was able to get the professional photographs, showing off the carpet and paint updates.  Unfortunately, the seller has also been whacked with another price reduction.  It makes me cringe to see this kind of stuff.

My performance as a Northville,Michigan Real Estate Agent is largely due to understanding that my sellers and I don't get a second chance to make a first impression.  Need to carpet and paint, but want to hit the market NOW?  My advice is for you to do the prep and THEN we'll hit the market.   Have a vacant home that needs some fluffing?  I'll take my own light staging items in and give the house more inviting, not only for the photos, but for actual visitors.

As evidenced by actual troubled sellers in Northville, Michigan, hitting the market at time of year with the highest demand with your proverbial pants down, is not going to help you sell your home.  Do the preparation and have the best product to show, then hit the market.  When you hire me to sell your Northville, Michigan home, I promise I won't do anything to compromise you when it comes to making the absolute best first impression. 

http://hollyhurd.smarthomeprice.com
CHECK OUT THE LINK ABOVE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Holly Hurd~
Is a REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Northville, Michigan 48167
#1 Firm in MICHIGAN
hollyhurd@hotmail.com
Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at:
www.Northvillehomes4sale.net
Holly Hurd ~
Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well.
Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #homerocks#YourHomeNorthville Michigan Real Estate Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167 #realtor #realestate#realestatemarket #realestateforsalemi #hometown #hollyhurd#home #homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy #buyingahome#buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #northvillemi #sellyourhome#sellingyourhome #smalltown #shop #bhhs #berkshirehathaway#moveinmichigan #greattimetobuy #puremichigan #SOLD

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Knowing When You are Ready to Sell Your Home

You know you are ready to sell your home when...

you no longer call it home but "this 'ol house". Sometimes a seller can become a hindrance to the sale of their house by clinging to their home. Perhaps it was your first home or your children were born there or... the list can be long.

One of the best recommendations for sellers is to begin disassociating from the house. It is always best to start thinking of it as a house and not home. Mentally pack up the memories and begin planning the new ones you will make in your new home. Physically packing up the memoirs and pictures can help significantly.

Are you ready to sell your home house? Contact a local real estate agent like me Holly Hurd that knows your neighborhood to help you plan the process of selling and buying houses. And start making plans for your new home.

~ Holly Hurd~ 
Is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
in Northville, Michigan 48167 
#1 Firm in MICHIGAN 

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #homerocks #YourHome 

Northville Michigan Real Estate
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167

#bombogenesis #realtor #realestate #reaestatemarket#realestateforsalemi #hometown #hollyhurd #home#homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy #buyingahome#buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker#northville #northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome#smalltown #shop #cbwm #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan#greattimetobuy #greattimetosell #sold 

Home owners are moving every 5-7 years. Are you one of them?

Home owners are selling their homes and moving every 5-7 years. People buy their homes, and fix them up, spend time decorating and get emotionally attached to their homes. Yet, its been said, that home owners sell their homes every few years now.

People and families are interested in more modern amenities. Some outgrow their home and need a bigger home. Another reason could be a job transfer that makes them sell their homes. People that are now in a relationship and want to combine incomes to buy a home together, or an unfortunate split opting for a smaller home or condo. 

Over here we have the empty nesters, that would also consider a smaller home, or even a home with a main level master bedroom or one level home without stairs, thats easier to keep clean and maintain. A new trend is also for couples to live in close proximity to their families, to help with the kids and have support, or what now becomes the multi-family home, having their parents move in. 

Whatever the reasons are, and as simple as cashing in on the equity and buy a less expensive home, or pay for a college fund, home owners have different motiviations to sell their homes more frequently.

Are you thinking about selling your home? Do You Need A Realtor?

If you're looking to sell or buy a home, you should make sure you have a professional realtor on your side.

A real estate profressional will take stress off during the home selling/buying process. Not only do they have thorough knowledge of your new neighborhood, but they also will research and schedule home showings for you, so you have one less thing to worry about!

If you are ready to buy your new home, relocating, PCS orders in hand, moving up or downsizing, I would love to help you find your new home!

~ Holly Hurd~ 
Is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
in Northville, Michigan 48167 
#1 Firm in MICHIGAN 

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #homerocks #YourHome 

Northville Michigan Real Estate
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167
#bombogenesis #realtor #realestate #reaestatemarket#realestateforsalemi #hometown #hollyhurd #home#homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy #buyingahome#buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker#northville #northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome#smalltown #shop #cbwm #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan#greattimetobuy #greattimetosell #sold

The agent thought she was helping me out.....

The agent thought she was helping me out.....

This past week a client of mine referred me to a friend that had attempted to sell her Northville,Michigan home with another agent. By the time she called and left me a voice mail me she had already cancelled the listing with the agent. She was clear that I was the agent to get her home sold. She asked me to call ASAP as she needed to get the home sold.

Before I called her back naturally I was curious as to why the home hadn't sold so I checked out the MLS canceled listing. Holy smokes the pictures did absolutely nothing to sell the home. There were terrible and clearly the home hadn't been staged, at all. There was a lot of bright paint colors throughout out the home, bright colored furniture poorly placed, huge nutcrackers (looked like Christmas) and a lot of trinkets everywhere. The patio was full of pots and I mean a lot of pots with nothing in them. The lovely patio showed so poorly and the front entry was a mess. And I noticed one other item as well, the co-op fee for another agent to bring in a buyer was quite low. 

The seller and I met and first talked about what was going on and why did she want to sell (or not sell).  Her husband had passed away suddenly several years earlier and it was time for her to move closer to her son and grandson on the other side of town.  She simply couldn't handle the financial costs and the upkeep of the home any longer. She had already put down a deposit on an apartment and was moving within weeks.  Yikes! We needed to first get this home in sell-able order as fast as possible and  then get it sold ASAP.  

We talked about the changes that needed to happen, the bright colored paint needed to be neutralized, the home should be staged properly, the patio cleaned up and the front entrance immaculate.  We absolutely had to make the best first impression to potential buyers and there was no time to lose as her budget was tight. The price of the home wasn't really the issue per market conditions and once the home was back in excellent condition it should sell fairly quickly all things being equal.

I asked her why the co-op fee to a buyers agent was so low.  She said, the agent was just trying to help me out. Unfortunately that had done her no good in fact it more than likely deterred agents even further from showing the home taking into consideration the condition of the home etc. The co-op to buyers agent should be remedied as we want to attract as many buyers agents as possible.

The seller is on board with all of the needed changes and the home
will be ready to be back on the market within a week

It hasn't been an easy week for the seller as this was last home she shared with her husband and she felt like she was removing all traces of him and their life together. I've helped many clients over the years through trying emotional times. I'm grateful that I understand both the value of caring about their well being and getting their home sold as well. Some may think real estate agents care only about selling homes but that is far from the truth. Caring about our clients throughout the selling process and afterwards is all part of being an excellent real estate agent. And isn't that what our clients deserve?  Of course they do. 

The agent thought she was helping me out.....

Holly Hurd is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel in Northville, Michigan 48167
hollyhurd@hotmail.com
Selling a home or Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today atwww.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs

Northville Michigan Real Estate 
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167#realtor #realestate #reaestatemarket #realestateforsalemi#home #hometown #hollyhurd #homesforsale#historicnorthville #buy #buyingahome #buildingahome#buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker #northville#northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome #smalltown#shop #cbwm #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan#greattimetobuy #greattimetosell #sold #mls #idx