You Got the Listing...Now What?

You Got the Listing...Now What?

So today I am going on a listing appointment. I have spoken at length with the seller, taken copious notes  and gained lots of information about her need to sell, the condition of the home, a description of the home, including recent updates, why she bought the house and the reason for selling.  I ask for a copy of the deed, title policy and a spare key for me. This is all done before I meet the seller.

I have a list of every home on her street, when it sold, how long it took, what it sold for and comps for the neighborhood.  I have all the public records, assessor's map, the listing history, tax records etc.  When I arrive, bond with the seller I need two questions answered before I will consider taking on a client.

Are you 100% sure you want to sell your home?

Are you 100% sure you want to use me?

When I get positive answers to these questions, my work begins.  Because of the stress in selling real estate I incorporate counseling  and here are a few posts on the subject.

There Are No Emergencies in Real Estate.

There is Stress Selling a Home.

High Stress When Selling a House!

 

Moving Can Be An Emotional Roller Coaster!

Photos and measurements are taken at this time while the listing is being signed and initialed.

Suggestions on how  to get the home ready is discussed. Very few home are show ready at this stage. Here is a simple suggestion to get started...De-CowPie Your Home the Rome Way .

I spend enough time with the seller to make sure their questions are answered and they know how I work.

Within the next 24 hours, the listing is placed in the Multiple Listing System (MLS). I  write a "Coming Soon" post and do the copy for my weekly advertisement. I will call a few agents who may have buyers for this home.

.......a few hours later

  I GOT THE LISTING

Had to leave to go on this listing appointment and I do have a signed agreement! We bonded and my two questions were answered. Oops left my camera and when I called the seller...she asked : "Is my house sold yet?"

It is after 11:30 pm and the contest is over in a few hours. My temporary sign is in the ground and I will order a full post sign holder. I took some preliminary photos for my "coming soon" post, will be going back for better photos when the light is better and there is more time. I am writing copy for my advertising, placing the home in the MLS and sending this photo for my weekly ad.

                            

                                     

6811 Cherokee Dr. Baltimore MD 21209

 You Got the Listing...Now What?

In Baltimore All HomeRome Listing Appointments Are Made By Me

 In Baltimore All HomeRome Listing Appointments Are Made By Me!

One of the most important things I do in my business is  make my own appointments.     Not a coordinator, not a Centralized Showings and not an assistant. This is the service I give to my clients. Sure if it is a vacant property a Lockbox with  'show anytime' is fine for many. If I have taken the responsibility to list the property, I will take the responsibility for getting agents and buyers into the property.

                                                                                                                  

Most agents are quite surprised how easy it is to show one of my listings. A phone call, an email, a text..they  all work. Immediately or within a very short time, you know it you have an appointment and can move on to your next task.

For a short while, I was trying to follow the logic of having the property available 24/7... but guess what?

This is not how I choose to sell real estate. Just this week at a settlement table the young agent and her buyer expressed appreciation. You see she had called on a property of mine that was not quite right. I suggested another, a totally renovated condo that was in the same price range. Within hours this property was under contract. Love at first sight but there was no chance  if I had not been making my own appointments.

There are many other reasons to make my own appointments. I know my clients, I know how to reach them, I know how to get them ready for a showing. If they are not available or if there is no lockbox then I meet the buyers or plan B is put in place.

Many agents have a follow up system either electronically  or an assistant who makes calls.

When I make the appointment, I am aware of when the property is being shown, I have the seller call me when the buyers leave or if they have not shown up on time. It only takes a phone call to keep a seller happy!

Most agents appreciate my making the appointments. I can answer questions about the property and the seller's moving flexibility.

 Many buyers agents ask me to keep them in mind. I know what they are looking for. It is not unusual for me to run an ad for a specific property for their buyer.  When I get a new listing, I give those agents a call right before it hits the MLS.

Just this morning an appointment was scheduled for 11 am.   A call from the buyer's agent at 10:50 with a cancellation. The agent was a delight  (rapport had already been established). She said she would stop by to preview even without the buyer. I was able to call the seller right away explain the cancellation and let her know the agent was still coming by. Without that call, this seller could have  wasted  her Saturday morning. It was raining, she was out of the house with the pets and just waiting to return.

I am not suggesting you make your own appointments but....

In Baltimore All HomeRome Listing Appointments Are Made By Me!

Listing Appointment..Miniature Village..a Fun Afternoon in Baltimore!

Today I went on a listing appointment and found this miniature Village. These homeowners are in the process of getting their home, of 42 years, ready to go on the market. It will take a bit of time to decide what to do with everything, divide it up among the family and what to take with them. One of the things that will not be moving is the room below full of eye candy. Not sure if I will get the listing..they are interviewing another agent or two.

But I had a fun afternoon in this former bedroom which now houses this complete train garden in a miniature village setting. It is a wonderful collection by a couple who have worked on this in partnership. He built the suspended railroad bridges and she hand painted all the buildings. There are many stories that go with this amazing collection.
                                           

              

Much of the exhibit is motorized. Take a close look at the bumper cars in the picture above. They were all moving!

                                         
  The same for the ride above..notice that the umbrellas are down near the ground and then again up top.


                 
The buildings were all painted by hand. Lots of eye candy in this collection.

      
The swings on the ride above are moving. We had to stop the prop on the hot air balloon above to see it...and yes those teacups are going round and round.

                                
   Same for the Ferris wheels above.


                                                     

And what village can be complete without a First National Bank?

When I get the listing, I will show you the house but for now... the miniature village will be my treat for tonight.