Zillow Advice: Pro-to-Pro - Dear Realtor:

Thanks Betina, now if I could ...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:55:00 GMT

Thanks Betina, now if I could just sell the old home I'd be golden.

Dear BJsDad,It was good that ...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:55:00 GMT

Dear BJsDad,

It was good that a few photos did the trick and got you into the house. So often the photos can be photoshopped or from ten years ago or something else tricky. I agree with you, take a few truly great shots and let the buyers imagination run wild. They will be so excited to actually see the house, it helps build anticipation. It is proof that "less is more". Good luck with the new home.

Sincerely,

Betina

When I bought my home a few ...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:06:00 GMT

When I bought my home a few months ago I started with the MLS flyer supplied by my agent. Fortunately for me the photos piqued my interest enough to actually look at the home. We were stunned when we actually saw the home so we placed our offer and bought it. Interestingly enough it was only after the closing that I realized we had viewed a virtual tour and several photos on a previous listing with no interest. It seems that fewer photos and fewer details caused us to want to look at the actual home. Now that I have my current home listed my listing has what I believe to be enough photos and detail to tease and pique a buyer's interest enough to want to view the home in person. The actual home and lot are much more attractive than any 2D image can convey.

Please check the mls brief ...

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:54:00 GMT

Please check the mls brief ,make sure there is a virtual tour as well as photos the more the better .I have had buyers that say do not call the seller" they should know that I only want to see this and that and their home obviously is not so why does it say it in the mls they wasted my time " opinion only buyers side ... and if they say do not call we can't .

With so many homes on the ...

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:05:00 GMT

With so many homes on the market and so few buyers it very well ould come down to who does or does not have exposed food on their counter or visible undergarments within eyesight.

One other thing to consider is you will receive far less feedback and far less constructive feedback as your own agent.

Wow Chas, I don't like your ...

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:41:00 GMT

Wow Chas, I don't like your advice. There isn't enough information here to determine if the OP should sell short. What I'm gathering is that the OP wants to downsize. The answer for most people who want to sell for personal instead of financial reasons (and I mean missing mortgage payments) is to not sell at all.

Hi; One of the first ...

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:09:00 GMT

Hi;

One of the first things you have to learn in this biz is not to take anything personally. True buyers will look past some clutter, especially if the home is currently occupied.

Unfortunatly, it's very, very difficult for people to get mortgages right now. It sounds like you are doing everthing right. If you are at a break-even point, equity wise, and really do need to sell, I would consider doing a short sale. You would need to hire a Realtor who specializes in shorts, as they are very difficult and time consuming.

Good Luck!

Charlie

I am with a flat fee broker, ...

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:20:00 GMT

I am with a flat fee broker, so I am the listing agent so to speak. I sit and wait for the showings like GetSusan.

We are in such a competitive area and there are so many new homes that buyers and Realtors think that occupied homes need to "look unoccupied" to compete. I am trying to downsize and keeping 5000 sq ft looking like it is not lived in is unrealistic and stressful and a full time job. I see the remarks that are made by showings such as clutter needs to cleaned up and out of sight, flower beds are not manicured to my buyers taste, the laudry room should be free of laundry. Wow, Wetdawgs, I can imagine the comments I would get if I left, God forbid, exposed FOOD in my kitchen! (Yes I have had comments about a loaf of bread on the counter. I think it comes down to the expectations and I have to remember that a buyer that loves my house is not going to be the one that dismisses it because of a pair of socks.

I realize the dry by's and cancelations are just because the buyers doesn't like the street.

I will get over this or I will go insane!

I feel your pain. I ...

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:39:00 GMT

I feel your pain. I have reduced my life to living in the den w/a 6 mo old puppy and I sleep on the sofa there to help keep the rest of house clean. Now that I am a FSBO "agent" I stay ready for showings--and at a moments notice. Sometimes buyers are here from out of town and call literally at my front door. No doubt w/children it's really difficult trying to keep the house ready for showings. I can only imagine the stress that must present.

But I must say that every agent has called me ahead of time and called when they needed to cancel, even when their buyer didn't show. This I really appreciated. Hang in there, hon! As I keep saying, "This too shall pass."

As a realtor, I have several ...

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:09:00 GMT

As a realtor, I have several people that call to make an appointment to see a home. I make the appointments, drive out to the home, and the person just doesn't show. I wait and wait and for whatever reason, they no longer answer their cell phones. I feel terrible for the home owner, but what can you do. All I can do is apologize to the home owner, as if it was my fault (I was there) and keep going.