Wednesday, June 30, 2010

It Really Is Simple...Pricing Your House to Sell!

I read an article last week that discussed the merits of pricing a house too low.  Is there such a thing?  Pricing too high is common and brings obvious results (no buyer interest).

Much has been written about determining the best offering price for your house.  Pricing is determined by the seller's goal (time table, willingness to negotiate, desire to really sell, etc).

So, after all the comparative market analysis is done. After all the discussion of seller costs such as taxes, real estate fees, etc, it comes down to this.

Price at the point to get the buyer you want

What is the price point? Only you, the seller, knows for sure however it is hard to sell unless you stimulate buyer interest!

If you are in need of professional real estate services in Viera and Rockledge, Florida, call me, Gary L. Waters PLLC, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge at 321-693-3850 or email meFor a free, no obligation market analysis, send me an email!

Please visit my blog, Observations of a Viera Florida Realtor.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Why You Need A Realtor Who Has A Blog

Contrary to popular belief every real estate agent does not have a blog.  Some have no idea what a blog is or where to find one.  Blogs are powerful tools. 

What is a blog?  Although not an official definition, I like to think of a blog as a tool that enables one to get exposure – to get a product or service in front of the target audience.

Or, to simplify that…
 Big Leaps On Google!

Marketing real estate in today's world requires a clear and ever present Internet presence. Research has demonstrated most buyers find their house initially on the Internet.  Research shows that buyers and sellers find their real estate agent on the Internet.

If you are going to sell your house, you need a real estate agent who knows how to use the Internet to achieve results, to get attention, to place your market in front of your buyer prospect pool.


In Viera, Suntree and Melbourne, Florida, call me at 32-693-3850 or email me, Gary L. Waters PLLC, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Someone who thinks logically, provides a nice contrast to the real world.

Someone who thinks logically, provides a nice contrast to the real world.   The real estate world has, at times, been illogical. 
When real estate prices were going through the roof and lenders were financing anyone who could fog a mirror, the logical had vanished!
In real estate the logical “someone” may just be the seller of a house.  Or, it could be the real estate agent they have hired to sell their house or condo.
In a perfect real estate world it would be both - an ideal match.
When you get ready to place your house on the market it is time for the emotions to be placed on a back burner. Logic will prevail as long as you keep focused on the process.  After all, you are selling a brick and mortar structure – not your memories which last forever!

In Brevard County, Florida call me to discuss how we can logically market your house or condo in a sometimes illogical marketplace – the Brevard County Florida real estate market!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

There are Three Kinds of People When it Comes to Real Estate Agents

In my humble opinion, real estate agents can be categorized as:
  1. Those that make things happen. When working with sellers, have a listing prepared correctly, priced right and sold in a time frame that meets the sellers needs!
  2. Those that watch things happen.  When working with sellers, can identify all the properties that are selling and stands idly by waiting for another sunrise!
  3. Those who don't know what's happening.  When working with sellers, typically place a sign out front, throw a price up that the sellers decide is what they want, and goes on to the next listing appointment. Never hear from them again until they need a listing extension!
If you are looking to sell your Viera or Rockledge, Florida home and need a real estate agent to make it happen, call me at 321-693-3850 or email me.

Gary L Waters PLLC, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, serving buyers and sellers in Brevard County, Florida.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and call me if you are moving to Brevard County, Florida!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Which is For Sale...Your House or Lifestyle?

When you place your Florida house or condo on the market you need to concentrate on selling your house or condo. Why?  Because the prospective buyers have already decided on Florida's lifestyle! 

Buyers should not need to be able to "profile" the seller.  They should not be able to tell you are a  football fanatic by seeing football memorabilia everywhere?  A kitchen counter cluttered with appliances and gadgets is obviously the home of a gourmet cook.  The counters need to be cleared to show the counter sapce useable!

The garage full of "tools and equipment"  Sure a super handyman lives here but you need to have the buyer prospects know how space is available for "their stuff!

Remember you are really selling your house not your lifestyle.

I will concede there are properties where you are selling a lifestyle with the house.
  • In a 55+ community like Heritage Isle in Viera Florida you should be promoting the lifestyle as well as the house.
  • Selling your golf course community home such as Baytree in the Suntree area of Melbourne Florida?  Then, you are throwing in your lifestyle. 
  • The same can be said of a place on the Indian River or along Cocoa Beach
Location, amenities and area all support the marketing of your house.

There are other houses in the same neighborhood  where buyers can get your lifestyle when they purchase a nearby home - not your home.....prepare and sell your house first!

Interested in selling your Brevard County condo or home?  Let me use your lifestyle as a marketing tool and sell your house!

Gary L. Waters PLLC, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne, Florida.
Email   me for a free, no obligation market analysis.

Behind Every Foreclosure or Short Sale....

…is a person, a family, a set of circumstances – not  just a brick and mortar house or condo!

Life is not fair. Life is not easy. People lose jobs. People lose loved ones. Families break up. People sometimes make bad choices.

And sometimes these result in having to sell their house or condo as a short sale. Sometimes these circumstances result in losing a house to the foreclosure process.

Regardless, the person will remain after the transaction. The person who will need support and understanding.

If you are facing loss of employment, possible foreclosure, then perhaps a short sale is a consideration. Believe me when I say I can understand!  Call me to discuss if a short sale is a potential solution.  If you don't want to call me, at least call your lender!

In Viera, Suntree, and Rockledge, Florida, call me for your real estate needs, Gary L. Waters PLLC, Florida licensed  real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge Florida.

Email me or call directly 321-693-3850.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Fear and Faith: Two Sides of the Same Coin

I was thumbing through some magazine and an article caught my eye – actually a sentence that said something  "fear is believing in the unseen" as well as "faith is believing in something unseen."

How does fear and faith relate to real estate? Every transaction, be it a short sale or a regular standard sale or the act of shopping for a new house or condo involves both.

Regardless of the role one plays, there can be fear or faith. I have seen them both, however...
You Choose Which Side of the Coin You Will Believe!

Friday, June 11, 2010

HOAs - You Either Love'em or Hate'em!

I heard some lady call in to a morning talk show this week and express her position that the housing market went down hill because code enforcement is so popular.

Not sure of the reasoning here but it probably is somewhere along the lines of "1+1 should equal 3 if I want it to be so!"

I heard another caller this morning complaining about all the rules and how an owner should have the ability to whatever they desire to “their house!”

There are areas in Brevard County where you do have such freedom – within reason.

Two of the most popular areas Viera and Suntree, both planned unit developments in central Brevard County, have rules that limit things like house color, trucks in driveway, parking on the streets, etc. Each individual must judge the merits of associations and decide whether they can live within such restriction.

It is something you have to accept to purchase in these areas.  

I do realize that some developments have more stringent rules than others and differing enforcement efforts. If you are looking for a home in an area with no association rules, let me know. There are plenty of them.

Call Gary L. Waters, PLLC Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida for assistance with buying or selling your Brevard County Florida house or condo!

PLEASE READ MY OTHER BLOG FLORIDA HOMES FOR SALE.

Monday, June 7, 2010

The Four Step Method to Selling Your House

W. Edwards Deming proposed in the 1950s that business processes should be analyzed and measured to look for variations that cause you to not meet the customer requirements.

Selling your house or condo is a business process. It should be treated as a business process - not a social event. Your real estate agent (working in concert with you, the seller) should use a similar approach.

Dr. Deming used a PDCA cycle - Plan, Do, Check and Act.  Marketing your house or condo involves steps that follow the approach.
  • Plan.  Selling your house or condo is not a whimsical decision.
  • Do. Interviewing a real estate agent. Signing the listing agreement. Making your property available.
  • Check. Get feedback. How many people are looking at your house? What are they saying. Where are the leads coming from?
  • Act.  Revise when necessary. Modify the marking plan. Check for results.
Selling your house or condo is a business process. Treat it as such.

Gary L. Waters, PLLC, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida.