Mama Liz's Blog: JL Boney, III Columbia, SC Real Estate (Russell and Jeffcoat)

  Everyone wants to be liked, it's just part of human nature. I'll bet that you can scour the Earth and never find anyone who wakes up in the morning and says, " I hope someone hates me today."And more than we want anyone else to like us, we want clients and potential clients to like us. That means business my friend.

 But guess what, liking what you have to say in the long run can create a lot of future problems for you and your business. Telling people what they want to hear just to get the listing will only come back to bite you down the road. Every seller wants to hear that their home is worth a ton of money and you can sell it in no time flat. But if that's not the case, then you need to be the voice of reason that explains otherwise.

 Sure your chances of getting the listing might improve when you tell the what they want to hear, but your chances of the house not selling at having an angry client also increase drastically as well. So here's a wild idea, tell the truth. It may not make you the most popular guy at the time, but you'll keep your integrity and you won't waste your time or the seller's.

 There are simply times when being a Realtor, our any other form of sales person for that matter, will require you to use the "N" word. As dreaded as it may be and I have seen many people who just can't say it to save their lives, you need to learn the proper use of the word NO.

 It can be one of the most difficult aspects of this business to learn,but knowing the right time and place to use that little two letter word can save a lot of hassle and heartache. No one likes to take a pass on a new listing, that means you have no chance of selling it and no chance of receiving sign calls as a result of said listing. But if the seller is completely unreasonable and you just know that things will not turn out well, then with all due respect why put yourself through the headache of fighting a battle you were going to lose from the very start.

 If a buyer is not willing to take the proper steps to make a purchase, then all you're really doing is offering a free tour. I request that all buyers speak with a lender prior to showing them homes for sale in the area. They need to know where they stand, what their price range is, and if they can even buy a home. This is good for them and myself as well. There is no more need to waste their time than it is to waste mine, and a lender can sum things up for us pretty quick.

 Frankly, some of the best decisions I have made since entering this business is saying no in certain situations. Buyers and sellers that I have passed on to another agent or passed up altogether. Like it or not, this is a business and you have to treat it like one. How many businesses do you know that want to fail at turning a profit because they took on too many bad investments?

 If you are trying to sell a house these days, then you have likely come to the realization that they are not flying off the shelf. Though we are seeing activity, in Columbia, SC new home sales drive the market, and new home communities will always be your largest competition. There's nowhere you can put a house on the market that isn't close to a new home community here.

 That doesn't mean that you can't get it done. In fact, it's entirely possible to compete with builders as well as the other resales around you. You just have to come to another realization.

 You need to get serious or you need to get comfortable. If you truly want to sell your house, then you need to do the things it takes to accomplish that task. If you are not willing to do what it takes, then you may as well make yourself at home, because you won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

 These days with a reduced number of buyers on the market, you have to make you house as attractive as possible. If you're not willing to do this, then you have little if any hope of selling your house.

1- Price it right -Price is far and away the most important thing in selling your house. You have to put the right price on it or the house may not even show much less sell. Buyers know what's out there and how far their money will go.

2- Condition - If price is the most important part of the puzzle, then condition is a close second. Fresh paint, new carpet is yours is damaged, fresh landscaping, and a clean house is a great start. It sounds like a lot, but if you're not willing to do what it takes, then there's no need to even try. If a buyer can get a brand new home for cheaper than they can buy your house that's not in great condition, then guess where that buyer is headed every time?

3- Depersonalize - It's part of the process of going neutral and allowing the buyer to picture themselves living in the home. They don't need to see a thousand family photos or your collection of 50 rooster figurines in the kitchen. You can put those up in your new home, but if you really want to sell, then this isn't your home anymore.

4- De-clutter - This is another incredibly important factor. I live in a house myself and I know how easy it is to accumulate more stuff than you really have room for in your house. I also know how easy it is to pack up all that stuff and put it out of sight and out of mind. It doesn't leave a good impression of the house when you have too much stuff crowded around all the rooms and it makes the place look smaller than it actually is in the end.

 These are just a handful of things that you can do to give yourself the best chance at selling. If you have really made up your mind that you are ready to move on, the you need to take it a step further and go through the motions necessary to make that happen.

 Write a post about lead generation and working leads and you will inevitably read at least one common comment. You will read someone saying that not all leads are created equal. Some will go on to say that they will not waste their time with a non responsive person and that a lot of Internet leads are a waste of time.

 Well guess what, not all of them are created equal and not all of them will work out. That goes for all leads no matter where you obtain them. Whether it's a sign call, a referral from a friend or another agent, or whether it's an Internet lead. In the end, they will not all work out, but some of them will and that's exactly why you work the leads. Because some of them will become prospects, then customers, then clients, and finally some of them will be come sales. You can't get sales without clients and you can't get clients without leads.

 You can give two Realtors the exact same leads, and one will outsell the other. It's because one Realtor will truly work the leads and not every Realtor will do that. Your competition reduces tremendously when you do the job right, because there are only so many people who will do that, and the rest have taken themselves out of the competition.

 You have to make the call on each and every one of them and you have to follow up with each and every one of them. You may very well waste a little of your time by leaving messages and sending emails that will never get a return response, but how do you know until you try. One thing is for sure, you will lose 100% of the business you don't try to get.

 If you're looking for a new home community in Forest Acres, SC with a little character, the you're in luck. We are currently in the process of building the model home for Rockbridge Village which will be one of the first new home communities in the Forest Acres area in quite some time.

 We are excited as we mover ever closer to the grand opening later this year. Rockbridge Village will feature Carriage Homes built by Soveriegn Homes, a local Columbia builder with a stellar reputation for quality building and excellent customer service.

 Rockbridge Village is located off of Rockbridge Road in Forest acres and is within minutes of downtown Columbia, SC. It's also right next to the well known Rockbridge Country Club. As if all this wasn't enough to spark your interest a little, then we will get back to that community character that I was speaking of earlier.

 The picture to the left is part of the walking trail that is open to all home owners with Rockbridge Village. And like all walking trails, this one comes to an end, but this one has an end worth seeing.

This is Spring Lake, and it's the end of our trail in Rockbridge Village.

 I talk to a lot of agents and salespeople in general who are a little more than depressed about the current market. It's understandable as frankly, times are hard for a lot of folks. But there are some tried a true methods that will bring you success in virtually any market and most of them are common sense.

 10 - Make the call - I know how hard it can be sometimes to pick up that 20 pound phone and make the call. The last thing you want to hear is another no, but you have to reach out to people if you want new clients. So when you get a lead, use it, and make the call.

 9 - Follow up - When you make the initial contact with someone, try to assess their needs and see how you can help. Most Realtors fail at follow up so if you do it right, you remain ahead of the pack.

 8 - No lead is a waste of time - Every lead is worth working so do the best you can. One thing is for sure, if you don't work a lead it's a wasted lead. That doesn't mean it would be a waste of your time to work it and there's only one way to find out.

7 - Do what works - If you notice something you are doing is creating opportunity for you, then keep at it. Whether it's open houses, blogging, first time home buyer seminars, or just talking to anyone that will listen. If it works for you then keep doing it and it will keep working.

6 - Be consistent - What ever you do to advertise yourself and your business requires consistency for success. You yourself need to be consistent in your efforts to promote your services.

5 - Learn the value of time - Time is a valuable thing and you shouldn't waste it. Spend your time during the day managing your business and making efforts to draw in more business. If going home for a two hour nap in the afternoon doesn't benefit you, then skip the nap and hit the bricks.

4 - Stop fearing failure - One the fastest ways you can fail in this life is to constantly fear that you will fail. It's called a self fulfilling prophecy and that's not a road you need to travel down. At some point in life, we all fail, but that's usually the first step toward success. Edison said that most people fail because they didn't realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

3- Be available - No one works 24/7, that's a myth that Realtors like to spread around. But, that doesn't mean you strictly work a 9 to 5 schedule either. You have to be available when your clients are available.

2- Don't second guess yourself - If you make a decision, then stick with it and move on. Second guessing yourself gets you no where and it helps no one. It's the rest of the world's job to second guess you and why with unemployment so high would you want to put others out of a job. Let them do their Job and you keep doing yours.

1 - Get over rejection - Rejection is not a fun part of life, but it's part of life none the less. This business will make that fact painfully obvious at times, but you have to press forward. Some will say no, but some will say yes and that's why you ask the question. If I told you how many ladies told me know compared to the those whose number I got, you'd likely wonder why I didn't give up dating a long time ago. It took me a year and a half to get my wife to date me. Notice I said wife. We've been together for 9 years and married for three. You have to be persistent in life and in business, and in the end it pays off for both.

 One thing is for certain today, people like convenience. People love the advancements in technology that allow them to do their shopping from their living room, and run through the drive thru to pick up dinner. It makes things easier for many people, and of course there is our favorite thing, convenience.

 But real estate is and always has been a people business. In the end it is people that you are here to help. People buy homes and sell houses and it's their best interests that you are here to protect. And since you are in a people business, and it's people that you represent, then in the end you have to be around people. Every time you interact with people, it creates an opportunity to get to know someone and a chance that they or someone that they know may need the services that you provide.

 I know how nice it can be to pull into the gas station, pull out the old debt card, and pay at the pump. Then jump back in your car, drive away, and go on about your life. But when you do this, you don't interact with people. You don't walk in, talk to the cashier, or anyone else who may be waiting in line as well. Like I said, you never know who will need your help or where you will meet them.

 The same can be said for anything else that has a drive thru. I know what a hassle it can be to get out of your nice comfortable car to walk into a place, but there are benefits to doing such a thing. First and foremost is your opportunity to interact and engage other humans. And even if you don't meet your next client, you benefit from a few extra steps in your day and burning a few extra calories. So since you represent people, try taking every chance to put yourself in front of people.

 My Grandfather watches the Price is Right all the time. It's been one of his favorite shows for as long as I can remember and I had to endure it many times as a child. There was one particular game that was played by contestants that comes to mind when I think about real estate. Remember the game where there was a row of products and the contestant had to pick the right price for each product and if they got it wrong they lost?

 Well guess what, that says a lot about pricing a home for sale. You have to pick the right price if you want it to sell. Otherwise, you get to hear that incredibly annoying buzzer and the sigh of the crowd that lets you know you just lost. That buzzer represents your home for sale expiring from the market.

 If you don't price your home right, then there is little to no chance that the home will sell. Especially this day and age. Other sellers have learned how to be realistic and more importantly, they are not playing games. They are attempting to sell a house. So if you want your house to sell, I strongly suggest that you think long and hard about the Price is Right and how many people walked away disappointed because they didn't get it right.

 As always, pricing a home for sale is something of a guessing game. But you can be prepared by taking a look at comparable homes that have already sold in the area. Based on those homes that have actually sold, you can come up with a realistic price that will give you the best opportunity to avoid the sound of a sighing crowd and a blaring buzzer as you walk away empty handed.

 Nothing in this life lasts forever, not agony or opportunity. There are a lot of people out there today who are in agony due to the current market, but there are also a lot of people out there who have an awesome opportunity as well. No down turn in the economy, including the Great Depression, has lasted forever. So the good news is that at some point, those who suffer today will find relief.

 The flip side to that coin is that those who balk on the opportunity of today will miss out on their chance to take advantage of today's market. There are several key factors that make now an excellent opportunity to become a homeowner.

 Mortgage rates are at historic lows. They can't stay there forever and at some point they will rise.

 Home prices are down. For the most part, across the board homes are now cheaper than they have been in a long time. At some point those prices will rise.

 Inventory is up. Due to a decreased number of buyers in the market, the number of homes for sale is up. This gives you plenty to choose from in your search and less competition depending on the home.

 Yes, nothing lasts forever. Those who suffer today will get better tomorrow and those have an opportunity today will watch it slip away in time. Obviously if you are not ready to buy a home or you're incapable of doing so, then the opportunity doesn't matter to you. But, if you are capable and you have been thinking about doing so, then you need to seriously consider getting off that fence and seeing what opportunities lie before you.

 I believe it's time that someone shares with you a huge secret that seems to be lost on a lot of people. It may very well seem like a simple solution to a lot of problems of today, but I can assure you that it's an often overlooked epiphany. It's something that I can credit my Mother for sharing with me a long time ago and it has served me well over the years.

 It's a secret that if more people took the bull by the horns and took to heart, might make their economic standing a little better. I know you're thinking that maybe I'm blowing smoke here, but I promise that if you follow one simple rule, your life could be a little better. Are you ready to learn what this drastic measure to improve your situation is?

 IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEN DON'T BUY IT!

 Learn the difference between what you want and what you need and if you don't need it and you can't afford it, then don't buy it. It's simple, but it's profound, and far too many people cast this common sense solution aside in pursuit of objects that are not a necessity. If you have a family, they need food and shelter. But if there are only three of you, then you don't need a huge home with 5 bedrooms. You just need a comfortable living space with a payment that you can afford.

 You need food on the table and heat when you and your family are cold. You don't need a 52" flat screen and a sound system. I assure you that as hard as it may be to believe, you can live without either one, I have done it my entire life. Your needs are basic, but far too many people mistake things that they want with things that they truly need. Keeping up with the Jones family is not a bright idea, because these days the Jones family is broke and covered in debt. So why would you want to be in the same shape?

 I've had a credit card since I was 18 years old. I got it for emergencies and to help establish credit. I am now 29 years old and I have yet to use that credit card. Not once, not ever, not never. If I was in an emergency and there was something that I NeededI would use the card, but most people don't use their credit cards for that purpose. They use their credit to run out and buy a bunch of crap that they are perfectly capable of living without, because they think they need it.

 Unfortunately there are many people out there today who are out of work and desperate, and this post is not for them. When you're scratching to survive and provide for your family, then all bets are off and you do what it takes. But for those out there who have a job and their head above water, use a little common sense. You can drop below water a lot faster than you think, and that's just it, you have to think. So if you can live without and you can't afford to truly buy it, then do yourself a favor and pass on it. Try actually saving money until you can buy it.