I need to give out some High-Five's.
High-Five to Andy Yates for tech support and inspiration this week.
High-Five to Macy's at Northlake Mall. Is it new lighting? Did they rearrange? What is it? I don't know, but it looks 10 times better and I can stand to be in there again.
High-Five to Sullivan for offering to help with my open house.
High-Five to Inman Park for putting on a kickin festival, and helping me have terrific traffic at my open house.
High-Five to Milton Watts for always having a hammer in the trunk of his car.
High-Five to www.expresscopy.com for turning around my flyers and having them at my door in less than 48 hours.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Why would I want to look at my house from outer space?
Have you seen Google Earth? It's a free program that you install on your computer. It takes about 10 minutes and you don't even have to re-start it afterwards. Once it's installed you can enter an address and then see satellite pictures of that location. You can get pretty close, for example, when I google-earthed my house I could tell which of our cars was parked in the driveway. Of course, we don't have any trees over our driveway, which helps me get a good view.
So, why would your real estate agent suggest that you install such a program? Because sometimes even when you drive through a neighborhood you can't see everything. I worked with a couple who wanted to buy in the Thomas Jackson school district in Atlanta. We thought we'd found the perfect house for them. They went home and google-earthed the property and discovered that they were less than a block from a water treatment facility. When we started asking the neighbors we discovered that the facility is quiet, but often creates a mildly foul odor in the neighborhood. It's still a terrific house, and lots of people wouldn't care about that occasional smell. But these folks did, so I was very glad to have that information.
So, before you buy, take a look from the sky.
There's a link to google earth in the top left of your screen.
So, why would your real estate agent suggest that you install such a program? Because sometimes even when you drive through a neighborhood you can't see everything. I worked with a couple who wanted to buy in the Thomas Jackson school district in Atlanta. We thought we'd found the perfect house for them. They went home and google-earthed the property and discovered that they were less than a block from a water treatment facility. When we started asking the neighbors we discovered that the facility is quiet, but often creates a mildly foul odor in the neighborhood. It's still a terrific house, and lots of people wouldn't care about that occasional smell. But these folks did, so I was very glad to have that information.
So, before you buy, take a look from the sky.
There's a link to google earth in the top left of your screen.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Where should I get a loan?
I am getting a lot of loan questions lately, so I thought I'd spend a few minutes on the frequently asked questions around mortgages and mortgage professionals.
1. Does it matter who I work with as long as I get the best rate?
Yes. I want you to get the best possible rate too, but more than that I want you to be able to close on your house. If you can't close because your mortgage guy dropped the ball, it doesn't matter how good of a rate he quoted you. If you can find someone who offers a guarantee about your closing date and good faith estimate, that's a good sign that they won't drop the ball.
2. I like my bank/credit union, can't I just use them?
You certainly can. Include them in the short list of people you call to compare rates. In my experience, banks and credit unions are your best choice for short term loans for cars, home improvement projects, etc. Mortgage bankers do better with the long-term loans.
3. I don't want to compare rates, just tell me who to use.
I like Fairfield Mortgage, and James Williamson and Robbie Crozier in particular. They have a $1000 guarantee about closing costs and closing dates. They are always up to speed on the market, what new loans programs are out there, and what the current rates are. They always take time to answer my questions. Plus, I have a good relationship with them, so if we hit a snag with your closing I know how to get in touch with them quickly and easily.
4. I got qualified online. Can we go look at houses now?
No. This answer has three parts.
A. Unless this online service checked your credit, and considered loan programs specific to your situation and location, you are going to need to talk to a lender. You're so close! Just take 10 minutes and call a lender, then give them my phone number and have them call me. It's that easy!
B. Why are we such sticklers for this? As a Realtor, I have made a commitment to be fair and honest. If there isn't a real chance that you can buy a particular house, I can't show it to you. Think about it from the seller's perspective... you get a call from an agent, saying that she wants to show your house on Saturday morning at 10 am. So you spend Friday night getting it clean, you make arrangements for the neighbor to walk the dog, and you take your kids to McDonald's for breakfast so that the house will be empty. Then when your Realtor calls the other agent to ask how the buyers liked the house, the other agent says, "Well they can't actually afford to buy it, but they wanted to look around a little." As the seller, how would you feel about making all of that effort, with no chance of it selling you home? I have an obligation to the home-owner to make sure that you can buy her house, before I take you into it.
C. You are going to have to submit either a proof of funds exhibit or a pre-qualification letter with an offer, so you might as well go ahead and talk to someone now. If you submit an offer with an on-line qualification, they will laugh at you, and me. And I don't like to be laughed at.
If you have a mortgage question I didn't answer, send it my way. If I can't answer it, I'll ask James and Robbie.
1. Does it matter who I work with as long as I get the best rate?
Yes. I want you to get the best possible rate too, but more than that I want you to be able to close on your house. If you can't close because your mortgage guy dropped the ball, it doesn't matter how good of a rate he quoted you. If you can find someone who offers a guarantee about your closing date and good faith estimate, that's a good sign that they won't drop the ball.
2. I like my bank/credit union, can't I just use them?
You certainly can. Include them in the short list of people you call to compare rates. In my experience, banks and credit unions are your best choice for short term loans for cars, home improvement projects, etc. Mortgage bankers do better with the long-term loans.
3. I don't want to compare rates, just tell me who to use.
I like Fairfield Mortgage, and James Williamson and Robbie Crozier in particular. They have a $1000 guarantee about closing costs and closing dates. They are always up to speed on the market, what new loans programs are out there, and what the current rates are. They always take time to answer my questions. Plus, I have a good relationship with them, so if we hit a snag with your closing I know how to get in touch with them quickly and easily.
4. I got qualified online. Can we go look at houses now?
No. This answer has three parts.
A. Unless this online service checked your credit, and considered loan programs specific to your situation and location, you are going to need to talk to a lender. You're so close! Just take 10 minutes and call a lender, then give them my phone number and have them call me. It's that easy!
B. Why are we such sticklers for this? As a Realtor, I have made a commitment to be fair and honest. If there isn't a real chance that you can buy a particular house, I can't show it to you. Think about it from the seller's perspective... you get a call from an agent, saying that she wants to show your house on Saturday morning at 10 am. So you spend Friday night getting it clean, you make arrangements for the neighbor to walk the dog, and you take your kids to McDonald's for breakfast so that the house will be empty. Then when your Realtor calls the other agent to ask how the buyers liked the house, the other agent says, "Well they can't actually afford to buy it, but they wanted to look around a little." As the seller, how would you feel about making all of that effort, with no chance of it selling you home? I have an obligation to the home-owner to make sure that you can buy her house, before I take you into it.
C. You are going to have to submit either a proof of funds exhibit or a pre-qualification letter with an offer, so you might as well go ahead and talk to someone now. If you submit an offer with an on-line qualification, they will laugh at you, and me. And I don't like to be laughed at.
If you have a mortgage question I didn't answer, send it my way. If I can't answer it, I'll ask James and Robbie.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Where have you been?
On the phone and at my desk, mostly. I went to a fantastic training event on Thursday, and that was tremendously helpful. Also got to spend some time in the car with three of my favorite Decatur agents, Rob and Becky Vinson of The Vinson Group, and Emilie Markert, who has been Markerting Decatur since the 1980's. I felt very lucky to get to hang out with such wonderful people, who also happen to be excellent agents. I just try to soak up as much wisdom as I can.
In other news, does anything beat a Chick-Fil-A sandwich? I've had two this week and I seriously can't think of much I like better. Also, Decatur has a new Mexican restaurant, El Tesoro. It's on Church Street where Jakes Ice Cream was a few years ago. I usually have an immediate bias against Mexican restaurants that do not provide complimentary chips and salsa, but I gave this place a try anyway. I was very happy with it. I got The Burro with black beans and Andy got the salad with pork. Mine was good, but his was stunning. The chips and salsa were plentiful and included 2 very different salsas, for under $2. So, I'm not too mad about that. We had excellent, helpful, speedy service. I recommend that you try it for yourself.
In other news, does anything beat a Chick-Fil-A sandwich? I've had two this week and I seriously can't think of much I like better. Also, Decatur has a new Mexican restaurant, El Tesoro. It's on Church Street where Jakes Ice Cream was a few years ago. I usually have an immediate bias against Mexican restaurants that do not provide complimentary chips and salsa, but I gave this place a try anyway. I was very happy with it. I got The Burro with black beans and Andy got the salad with pork. Mine was good, but his was stunning. The chips and salsa were plentiful and included 2 very different salsas, for under $2. So, I'm not too mad about that. We had excellent, helpful, speedy service. I recommend that you try it for yourself.
Friday, April 11, 2008
What are buyers looking for?
This is a partial list that I share with home owners to help them get their home ready to put on the market. If you have ideas or additions, please send them my way. Hope you find it helpful, gentle readers.
What are Buyers looking for?
There's no way to generalize what will please every buyer, but there are some general trends that can help you get more buyers interested in your property. Here are a few tips.
Buyers like homes that are easy to see:
1. Make arrangements for aggressive pets to be out of the way. House hunters often leave a house quickly because of a dog snarling inside the front door.
2. Doors should be easy to open. Make sure that loose doorknobs are tightened, and sticky doors are corrected.
3. Be aware of odors, particularly pet odors. Keep litter boxes cleaned. If you need to cover a bad odor, avoid perfume smells, and try to create homey smells by baking cookies or a cinnamon cake.
4. Make it as easy as possible for agents to show your home. Listings that say "Courtesy Call Owners" will get a lot more showings than those that say, "24 hour notice required."
Buyers like homes that are ready to move in:
1. Appearances matter. Paint any soiled areas. Pay particular attention to the front door, trim, and railings. Consider having your carpet cleaned
2. Clean the gutters of leaves and debris.
3. Fill in your yard with fresh pine straw where needed.
4. Take a look at the ceramic tile in your bathroom. Clean or re-grout if needed.
5. All toilets should flush, no faucets should leak. A $.25 washer can be an excellent investment.
6. If you have kids, take a good look at the paint in your halls and stairwells. A “Magic Eraser” or fresh coat of paint will pay for themselves when you sell your home.
7. Make any obvious repairs that might distract a buyer. Holes in screens, stains in ceilings, garage doors that don’t work will all distract a buyer from the good qualities of your home.
Buyers like well-lit homes.
1. Be sure drapes are open.
2. Replace low-wattage light bulbs for brighter ones.
3. When preparing for a showing or an open house turn on lights, especially in hallways and darker rooms.
Buyers like homes with lots of space:
1. Your closets should be neat and organized. Bulging and messy closets give the appearance that there is not enough storage space.
2. Arrange your furniture to enhance the flow of your house. You might understand that the chair is in the middle of the floor because it’s the best view of the TV, but I buyer tripping over it might think that it’s a bad floor plan.
3. If you have too much furniture in a room you might want to store some of it so that buyers don’t think that there is not enough room for their furniture.
Buyers like homes with nice features:
1. If you have an attractive dining room or kitchen area, call attention to it by setting the table.
2. If you have a working fireplace, make a fire for showings and open houses when the weather is cool.
3. If you have a patio, front porch, or deck, show it off with a table and chairs. Buyers will include that square-footage when they imagine the usable space in the house.
What are Buyers looking for?
There's no way to generalize what will please every buyer, but there are some general trends that can help you get more buyers interested in your property. Here are a few tips.
Buyers like homes that are easy to see:
1. Make arrangements for aggressive pets to be out of the way. House hunters often leave a house quickly because of a dog snarling inside the front door.
2. Doors should be easy to open. Make sure that loose doorknobs are tightened, and sticky doors are corrected.
3. Be aware of odors, particularly pet odors. Keep litter boxes cleaned. If you need to cover a bad odor, avoid perfume smells, and try to create homey smells by baking cookies or a cinnamon cake.
4. Make it as easy as possible for agents to show your home. Listings that say "Courtesy Call Owners" will get a lot more showings than those that say, "24 hour notice required."
Buyers like homes that are ready to move in:
1. Appearances matter. Paint any soiled areas. Pay particular attention to the front door, trim, and railings. Consider having your carpet cleaned
2. Clean the gutters of leaves and debris.
3. Fill in your yard with fresh pine straw where needed.
4. Take a look at the ceramic tile in your bathroom. Clean or re-grout if needed.
5. All toilets should flush, no faucets should leak. A $.25 washer can be an excellent investment.
6. If you have kids, take a good look at the paint in your halls and stairwells. A “Magic Eraser” or fresh coat of paint will pay for themselves when you sell your home.
7. Make any obvious repairs that might distract a buyer. Holes in screens, stains in ceilings, garage doors that don’t work will all distract a buyer from the good qualities of your home.
Buyers like well-lit homes.
1. Be sure drapes are open.
2. Replace low-wattage light bulbs for brighter ones.
3. When preparing for a showing or an open house turn on lights, especially in hallways and darker rooms.
Buyers like homes with lots of space:
1. Your closets should be neat and organized. Bulging and messy closets give the appearance that there is not enough storage space.
2. Arrange your furniture to enhance the flow of your house. You might understand that the chair is in the middle of the floor because it’s the best view of the TV, but I buyer tripping over it might think that it’s a bad floor plan.
3. If you have too much furniture in a room you might want to store some of it so that buyers don’t think that there is not enough room for their furniture.
Buyers like homes with nice features:
1. If you have an attractive dining room or kitchen area, call attention to it by setting the table.
2. If you have a working fireplace, make a fire for showings and open houses when the weather is cool.
3. If you have a patio, front porch, or deck, show it off with a table and chairs. Buyers will include that square-footage when they imagine the usable space in the house.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What took you so long?
Sorry. I got a bit swamped. So, the caravan was slow, but good. The coffee and muffins were well received, so next time I'm doing a caravan in a house without a kitchen, I'll probably do that again. So, what am I up to now? Contract negotiations, keeping in touch with interested folks who visited the open house, and working on my spring newsletter.
In other news, I have sent my car to Birmingham to be serviced by my dad's mechanic. Why not choose a mechanic in Atlanta? Because I have not yet found one that I feel good about. I'm pretty sure the last mechanic who changed the break pads just lied. If you have a mechanic to recommend, I'd love to hear about it. In the meantime, when you see me in my parents long white Buick, just laugh and wave.
Also in other news, I'm very sneezy and watery because of the pollen. If you see me and I'm teary and wiping my nose, don't worry. It's just the southland in the springtime, where the pollen falls with confidence and reason.
In other news, I have sent my car to Birmingham to be serviced by my dad's mechanic. Why not choose a mechanic in Atlanta? Because I have not yet found one that I feel good about. I'm pretty sure the last mechanic who changed the break pads just lied. If you have a mechanic to recommend, I'd love to hear about it. In the meantime, when you see me in my parents long white Buick, just laugh and wave.
Also in other news, I'm very sneezy and watery because of the pollen. If you see me and I'm teary and wiping my nose, don't worry. It's just the southland in the springtime, where the pollen falls with confidence and reason.
Monday, April 7, 2008
How did it go?
The open house went well. There was some interest in the property, which is always the top priority. I met some neighbors who just wanted to get a peak inside, as well as a few real estate folks - investors, agents, and contractors - and some other regular buyers. All in all there were 18 folks through the door, which is not bad considering I didn't have time to advertise it other than balloons and signs.
Next, an agent caravan on Tuesday. A caravan is when a listing agent throws an open house for other agents. Why would you want other agents to see your house if they aren't looking to buy themselves? Good questions.
What sells a house? The first thing people usually say is "location," and that is a huge part of a home's value. But that's not what sells a house. Staging? Curb appeal? Pricing it right for the market? These are also good guesses, but not what sells a house.
Agents sell houses. It's true that there are homes that are so unique, or so unbelievably well decorated or designed that they can practically sell themselves. But 99% of the time, agents are the ones who connect buyers with availably properties, and that's how you sell a house.
And that brings us back to agent caravans. The idea is to get agents (and therefore a connection to buyers) into your listed property. It often happens soon after a property goes on the market, but I'm going to do one to show off the progress that's been made. Sometimes the listing agent will provide lunch or dessert to the agents who come see their listing, as a way of getting more people through the door. This house doesn't have any appliances so I won't be providing lunch. I'm going the coffee and dessert route. I'll be picking up a big container of Starbuck's new blend, Pike Place, and serving my almost famous chocolate muffins from 12 - 3 pm. Sounds good, yes? I'll let you know how it goes.
Next, an agent caravan on Tuesday. A caravan is when a listing agent throws an open house for other agents. Why would you want other agents to see your house if they aren't looking to buy themselves? Good questions.
What sells a house? The first thing people usually say is "location," and that is a huge part of a home's value. But that's not what sells a house. Staging? Curb appeal? Pricing it right for the market? These are also good guesses, but not what sells a house.
Agents sell houses. It's true that there are homes that are so unique, or so unbelievably well decorated or designed that they can practically sell themselves. But 99% of the time, agents are the ones who connect buyers with availably properties, and that's how you sell a house.
And that brings us back to agent caravans. The idea is to get agents (and therefore a connection to buyers) into your listed property. It often happens soon after a property goes on the market, but I'm going to do one to show off the progress that's been made. Sometimes the listing agent will provide lunch or dessert to the agents who come see their listing, as a way of getting more people through the door. This house doesn't have any appliances so I won't be providing lunch. I'm going the coffee and dessert route. I'll be picking up a big container of Starbuck's new blend, Pike Place, and serving my almost famous chocolate muffins from 12 - 3 pm. Sounds good, yes? I'll let you know how it goes.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
What did I tell you?
Special thanks to Jared, who last night at the show said, "So, what do you do all day?" I never expected blogging to pay off so quickly!
Today is all about preparing for tomorrow's open house. First, I've got to run over and make sure everything is in shape to have it, then I can get started with staging and preparation. This house is fantastic, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths in delightful Inman Park. It's been going through a pretty significant renovation from a duplex back to a single family home for the past 15 months. It has custom cabinets and granite in the kitchen, a huge back deck, enough yard for kids or a dog to be happy, and a fantastic front porch - with a swing! I love it, but it has had some hard times getting finished. So, even though it is not in tip top shape I'm hoping to have it open tomorrow between 3 and 5 pm. Stop by and see me at 738 Lake Avenue, right at the bottom of Waddell Street.
What does "not in tip top shape" mean? Well, it still needs light fixtures and some shower/bath fixtures, there are cans of paint in the closets, and there's some construction stuff in the back yard that needs to be hauled to the dump. It also doesn't have appliances yet. But, I think there might be some folks who would rather pick out their own appliances and light fixtures, so if a buyer came along tomorrow it might be a win-win for everyone.
Have I mentioned that I really like open houses? I'm usually exhausted by the end because it takes all of my extrovert energy to be outgoing and hospitable for a 2+ hours, but I have met some of the nicest people at open houses, agents and buyers. I think everyone who walks through the doors of an open house is looking for the best in that house. It might not be the right house for them, but everyone is hoping to see something interesting or innovative to add to their house-hunting knowledge. There's just good energy there, plus, sometimes you sell the house!
Today is all about preparing for tomorrow's open house. First, I've got to run over and make sure everything is in shape to have it, then I can get started with staging and preparation. This house is fantastic, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths in delightful Inman Park. It's been going through a pretty significant renovation from a duplex back to a single family home for the past 15 months. It has custom cabinets and granite in the kitchen, a huge back deck, enough yard for kids or a dog to be happy, and a fantastic front porch - with a swing! I love it, but it has had some hard times getting finished. So, even though it is not in tip top shape I'm hoping to have it open tomorrow between 3 and 5 pm. Stop by and see me at 738 Lake Avenue, right at the bottom of Waddell Street.
What does "not in tip top shape" mean? Well, it still needs light fixtures and some shower/bath fixtures, there are cans of paint in the closets, and there's some construction stuff in the back yard that needs to be hauled to the dump. It also doesn't have appliances yet. But, I think there might be some folks who would rather pick out their own appliances and light fixtures, so if a buyer came along tomorrow it might be a win-win for everyone.
Have I mentioned that I really like open houses? I'm usually exhausted by the end because it takes all of my extrovert energy to be outgoing and hospitable for a 2+ hours, but I have met some of the nicest people at open houses, agents and buyers. I think everyone who walks through the doors of an open house is looking for the best in that house. It might not be the right house for them, but everyone is hoping to see something interesting or innovative to add to their house-hunting knowledge. There's just good energy there, plus, sometimes you sell the house!
Friday, April 4, 2008
What else do you do all day?
Here's the second installment of what a day looks like. Since this morning I have:
17. Had a coffee meeting in Decatur
18. Stopped in for a chat with one of my favorite brokers
19. Had a lunch meeting in Buckhead
20. Shopped for and bought a large mirror, candles, towels, etc. to stage open house this Sunday
21. Fielded calls about showing my listings (Love that)
22. Quick nap (by Friday I pretty much have to have one)
23. Cup of tea
24. Check e-mail
25. Reply to e-mail
26. Help Andy pack up and leave for his show (tonight, Smith's Olde Bar, see you there)
27. Put Emilie's directional signs out for her listing on Hillcrest - 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and for $349,900 you get to be my neighbor. That's a steal, don't you think? Seriously, it's a great house in a terrific location. But I digress...
28. Pray for rain to wash some of this pollen away
29. Sweep off patio in preparation for the answer to my prayer
30. Check Emilie's messages (again, I'm not a stalker)
31. Blog
Which brings me to now, which is 5 pm. I have a few more things to do before I put on some lip gloss and head to Andy's show. But that will have to wait for another blog. In retrospect, this wasn't the best day to give you a play by play narrative, but it will have to do. It's been a good day. Hope yours was as well.
17. Had a coffee meeting in Decatur
18. Stopped in for a chat with one of my favorite brokers
19. Had a lunch meeting in Buckhead
20. Shopped for and bought a large mirror, candles, towels, etc. to stage open house this Sunday
21. Fielded calls about showing my listings (Love that)
22. Quick nap (by Friday I pretty much have to have one)
23. Cup of tea
24. Check e-mail
25. Reply to e-mail
26. Help Andy pack up and leave for his show (tonight, Smith's Olde Bar, see you there)
27. Put Emilie's directional signs out for her listing on Hillcrest - 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and for $349,900 you get to be my neighbor. That's a steal, don't you think? Seriously, it's a great house in a terrific location. But I digress...
28. Pray for rain to wash some of this pollen away
29. Sweep off patio in preparation for the answer to my prayer
30. Check Emilie's messages (again, I'm not a stalker)
31. Blog
Which brings me to now, which is 5 pm. I have a few more things to do before I put on some lip gloss and head to Andy's show. But that will have to wait for another blog. In retrospect, this wasn't the best day to give you a play by play narrative, but it will have to do. It's been a good day. Hope yours was as well.
So, what do you do all day?
I dread this question because there's never really a short answer. And even when I go through every detail of the day it's hard to explain just how long it takes me to do some of these things. But, I will try. It's 9:25 am and I've been up since around 6 am. Here's a quick overview of the day so far.
1. Cup of coffee (Sumatra)
2. Turn on heater under desk
3. Check Emilie's Messages (I'm not stalking, she's out of town and asked me to check)
4. Create a brochure with information about Inman Park for open house on Sunday
5. Make to-do list to prepare for open house on Sunday (staging, candles, water bottles, etc.)
6. Cup of coffee #2 and granola bar
7. Check e-mail
8. Reply to e-mails
9. Search MLS for Sunday open houses for my buyers
10. Chat with Andy for 1.5 minutes
11. Look up smart phones that are compatible with my lock box key
12. Lament the shamelessly small number of phones that are compatible with my lock box key
13. Stretch
14. Warm up 1/2 of cup of coffee # 2 and eat some yogurt
15. Search properties to show on Monday (Yes, I sometimes work ahead)
16. Blog
So, what took the longest was the brochure about Inman Park. That was probably an hour, but totally worth it.
1. Cup of coffee (Sumatra)
2. Turn on heater under desk
3. Check Emilie's Messages (I'm not stalking, she's out of town and asked me to check)
4. Create a brochure with information about Inman Park for open house on Sunday
5. Make to-do list to prepare for open house on Sunday (staging, candles, water bottles, etc.)
6. Cup of coffee #2 and granola bar
7. Check e-mail
8. Reply to e-mails
9. Search MLS for Sunday open houses for my buyers
10. Chat with Andy for 1.5 minutes
11. Look up smart phones that are compatible with my lock box key
12. Lament the shamelessly small number of phones that are compatible with my lock box key
13. Stretch
14. Warm up 1/2 of cup of coffee # 2 and eat some yogurt
15. Search properties to show on Monday (Yes, I sometimes work ahead)
16. Blog
So, what took the longest was the brochure about Inman Park. That was probably an hour, but totally worth it.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Why don't you look like a real estate agent?
When I told Andy that I wanted to go into real estate he said, "Are you going to get a red blazer and grow out your fingernails?" It's a common misconception that agents have to wear their company colors all the time, with matching Lee Press-On nails.
I'd have to say that none of the agents I know fit this description. I have yet to see any of my RE/MAX colleagues in red blazers. I do own one suit jacket - it's a nice sandy gray color from Ann Taylor. My finger nails are, as always, bare and clipped close to my finger tips. I don't think Andy's disappointed.
I do get some interesting comments when I'm out and about wearing my RE/MAX Executives Name tag. Most of the time people ask me about the market. But more than once I've heard, "Aren't you a little young to be in real estate." This might be true. Agents work so hard, with such odd hours (at least the good ones do), that it would be hard to be a mom or a newlywed and keep up the pace. Maybe that's why the stereotypical agent is past child-bearing years. But, with new technology - on-line MLS searches, blackberries, cell phones, wi-fi - it is possible to work hard and still be available to your family, so maybe that stereotype will change.
Does it hurt or help that I don't look like an agent? I think it probably helps.
I'd have to say that none of the agents I know fit this description. I have yet to see any of my RE/MAX colleagues in red blazers. I do own one suit jacket - it's a nice sandy gray color from Ann Taylor. My finger nails are, as always, bare and clipped close to my finger tips. I don't think Andy's disappointed.
I do get some interesting comments when I'm out and about wearing my RE/MAX Executives Name tag. Most of the time people ask me about the market. But more than once I've heard, "Aren't you a little young to be in real estate." This might be true. Agents work so hard, with such odd hours (at least the good ones do), that it would be hard to be a mom or a newlywed and keep up the pace. Maybe that's why the stereotypical agent is past child-bearing years. But, with new technology - on-line MLS searches, blackberries, cell phones, wi-fi - it is possible to work hard and still be available to your family, so maybe that stereotype will change.
Does it hurt or help that I don't look like an agent? I think it probably helps.
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