Real Estate Agents, will you do what it takes?

Let's Do It!

          I've seen the numbers I know very few house's are selling. If you haven't got out of that typical mode of real estate thinking, it's time. By that I mean sitting in front of your computer waiting for the phone to ring. Prospective buyers are few and far between. The banks aren't handing out mortgages like before. Isn't this gonna be the third or fourth "Summer of recovery". The President isn't going to do anything, he's totally devoid of ideas. He's still on the spending money money kick. To get a new President with fresh ideas is still a year away. Will the new Mayor Winnecki be able to do anything, I thought he would have some big innovative changes, a sweeping new program, but really nothing from him this week. So far I'm disappointed, and I voted for him. So what to do?
                                    
          Every real estate agent knows the first rule of real estate is to really work that first offer, it may be the only one you get. That way of thinking is the answer. I want you to think of the listings you have now. Perhaps their dogs and your thinking I don't even care about that crappy little house. But your answer to having a great year is to make them listings pay.
          When you are done reading this article I want you to go to your listings, take out a pad of paper write down what needs to be done to that property in order to make it better. Don't worry about whose gonna do it, or whose gonna pay for it. Just write down what needs to be done to that property to place it in good condition. To make it sale, to make it shine, to make it better than it is. Some of it may be big stuff, and some small. Here is a list,
                    The Outside
                    Pressure Washing, driveway, front of the house 

                    Pick up the yard
                    Haul off junk/trash
                    Clean Windows
                    Repair Cracked Glass                                  
                    Repair Screens
                    Curtains throw them out or wash
                    Fence, tear it out and dump it,  or
                    repair it
                    Clean/repair gutters
                    Paint the shutters
                    Out Buildings, wash'em paint'em
                    Garage door, is it straight, windows clean
                    Lawn mowed, hedges trimmed, flowers?
                    Real Estate sign, clean and straight
 
                    The Inside
                    The smell, the smell, the smell 
                    Paint ( even just a fresh room or two can be a great improvement.
                    Great for the smell also, it's much better to smell paint                                           than that musty smell
                    Garages Swept and windows clean, get rid of any oil stains
                    Carpet, cleaned
                    Windows cleaned
                    Drywall repaired
                    Stove, oven and microwave cleaned
                    Lights, chandeliers cleaned
                    Ugly wallpaper removed or painted over.
                    Light bulbs everywhere they go. Light switches cleaned

           These are just a few, I'm sure you can come up with a lot more.
           Now, how do we do it. If the customer can pay for it that's great. Work with her/him or whoever to hire people, supervise them and so forth to get the work done. But what about foreclosures, or sellers who are broke, or just do not want to put any money into their properties. In that case take off your dress, put on the overalls, load the vacuum, mop, cleaning materials, pressure washer, and so forth in the car and head on over to do what ever you can do. Put in some sweat equity. Hell, put in a lot of sweat equity. Lets face if you are in the real estate field right now you got time on your hands. So go to your houses arrive early and stay late. When you are trying to be a success do whatever you have to do. Figure a way to make the best of what you have. Treat those properties as your babies. Water the lawn, and as soon as it's spring put a pot of flowers on the porch. Stain that fence. You can often buy cheap stain and paint at various places around town.
          Perhaps you can work out a deal with the home owner. But if you are waiting for someone else to take charge of your listings it's not gonna happen. And remember, when the other people in that neighborhood see you doing something to the house they'll remember ( you do have signs on your vehicle right) you.  There's no downside to this, whatever you do to make your listing a little bit better is good for you, and will result sooner or later in more sales.
I strongly urge you to do  "WHAT EVER IT TAKES".

Speedy's Pro Clean - Pressure Washing,  is offering a "Free Driveway Cleaning" you can sign up here. Real Estate agents Too! Good Luck! 
http://www.speedysproclean.com/About-Speedy-s.html