Jonathan Osman's Discussions

Sorry for all the frusteration. Its important to find out what actually happening in the market and find out which homes are selling. Ask your agent to tour the homes that are newly under contract to see how things are stacking up. Sometimes is a waiting game and some buyers are buying all the "hype" that real estate is bad everywhere. Here in Charlotte NC, for example, real estate is appreciating 5-8% a month (second best in the country) but our days on market are up slightly because buyers here are thinking thngs are bad here too...and that's just not so. If you don't need the money out of the house today, consider renting it and moving on. In a year or so, your market may shift into a better situation to sell. Looking forward effectively is tough and it requires that you sit with your real estate professional and find out why homes are selling. If its because your local economy is dying, not a good move but if its because there's just a lot of inventory, a break from the market can do some good

I've heard of this practice but I have never and will never do it. I've allowed sellers to cancel at anytime without penalty and its the best solution. Usually, someone asking for upfront fees or admin fees or cancellation fees are not confident in their customer service skills or their listing marketing plan. Be the real pro - prove your value not by forcing the seller to work with you because of financial penalty

The National Association of Realtors says that over 80% of buyers are finding your home online however just because your home is online, doesn't mean that its been seen by buyers. Its important that the agent you work with have an internet market strategy as well as offline and agent 2 agent. Ask them to see what their listings look like online? Are they buried without a photo or are they showcased with multiple photos, etc. What sites are they on?Remember - most MLS listings are online through some portal called IDX. The question is where they are placed and how will your home standout.

Wow. That's just bad practice. We use the electronic boxes to restrict access and protect our clients privacy. Can you imagine the damage that could be done if a buyer were to get ahold of a listing with your lockbox code on it? Welcome to a burgulary or home invasion if they had bad intensions. Even if that listing has left somewhere unintentionally. What are these people thinking?

Here in Charlotte NC.  I present all offers in person if the seller is local or via the phone / email if they aren't.  I include a CMA to update what the market is doing.  If the offer is close and requires only one change, I will contact the agent with a verbal counter on that item.  If the offer is not acceptable by any means or there are multiples, I instruct the seller to write "rejected" on the cover with the date and time with their initials, which I send to the buyer's agent.    When you're dealing with a bank in the purchase of a foreclosure or short sale, its mostly done via telephone and not quick whatsoever.