I'm sorry I've lapsed into infrequent blog updates. I'm up to my eyeballs in work stuff, and awed by the tools and information I have to work with here. It's the polar opposite of the Asheville market that I still adore and miss every day. I have so much more to absorb, and so many more wonderful sources of information at my disposal, but which are themselves tools I have to master, it's stupefying. I really do miss Asheville and I am in touch with my former colleagues there, and I keep up with my favorite places and people on Facebook. But work-wise, being here is like being on a different planet, and I am learning a whole new skill set on top of the stuff I'd barely had time to absorb in AVL. The market is interesting and nowhere near as grim as the national media may make it sound. There are some fantastic deals to be had, and prices have actually adjusted to where a young family earning teacher-sized paychecks can buy a nice home. My daughter and her husband are very aware of this, and Girlmama and I have taken to house hunting whenever we can work in a mutually free afternoon. For me, it's previewing, for her, it's a leisurely house hunt. They aren't ready to buy yet, but when they are, they will be well prepared.
I will never be the smoothest, slickest, sales-iest person a customer will meet. I drive Baby the Hardworking Subaru, not a Lexus, and my listing presentation is woefully lacking in pizazz because I hate that stuff about talking about the Awesomeness that is Me and Selling Myself! I hope to present myself as someone who is straightforward and competent and who follows up and returns phone calls. I will never pretend that I know everything about everything but I know how to find answers when I'm stumped, and I am well aware that all of this is a huge freaking deal to the client. I will treat it that way. That's my entire mission statement. See? Lacks salesy-ness.
But becoming that person who knows the market and has the answers and is confident that she can do right by her customers is eating a whole lot of hours, mostly spent online when not showing houses or hosting open houses, and I actually have to peel my butt away from the computer and do other things. I haven't knit a stitch in a long time, and Supergirl's replacement afghan will be ready by next fall, and the blog is getting neglected again. Sorry!
I wish my house was up for sale over where you are instead of where I am. Your mission statement suits me down to the ground. Then after you helped me sell,you could find me my dream house at my dream price! Courage, Grasshopper. You'll be up to cruising speed before you know it.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to work with an agent who is Selling! Awesome! Me! The hyped-up sales people set me so on edge I can't work on them. I want the knowledgeable, confident, straightforward agent. Good luck with your efforts!
ReplyDeleteI think your mission statement is awesome. After having many real estate professionals not return calls, send reams of houses that won't work, etc. my parents have decided to spend their twilight years in the hood. They have a lovely house, but the neighborhood is no longer a lovely suburb. There are weekly murder reports, neighbors who sell themselves for drugs, etc. Just keep being you and people will love that!
ReplyDeleteAaack, Amy! I hate to hear about stuff like that! Would it be helpful if I hunted down an agent that specializes in working with seniors in their area?
ReplyDeleteKnitika - I don't want to make this a work blog, but I nearly died listening to a webinar on how to do an awesome listing presentation the other day - the presenter apparently spends a good 20 minutes just talking about himself! Oh, and present everything in a leather binder! He had some good ideas too, but those just jumped out at me as a big WTF?
ReplyDeleteWhen I am the customer, I want to know what you are going to do for ME, and that leather binder screams, "I am EXPENSIVE!" which in this market would just intimidate a seller who is already about to hear bad news.
To be fair, I got the impression that he made his megabucks in a much more expensive market and in easier times than here and now, and obviously that worked for him, but...I can't do that, and I think he might want to rethink his advice and adjust it to this market.
After almost two years of not-so-serious looking, I just bought a new car from a saleswoman who seemed to have the same philosophy---she came across as though she would really like to sell me a car, but there was absolutely no pressure at all. I think that approach works better with buyers like me, who are frightened off by the I! AM! AWESOME! YOU! MUST! BUY! approaches that allot of salespeople seem to use. Good luck---I am sure you will get allot of clients through word of mouth once you get the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteBrenda in Iowa.
Like everyone else - I wish you were local! We had one of those top of the market realtors. And we were seriously looking. but we ended up not buying. There's something about a realtor ignoring me while we're walking around a house (and while he takes other client calls) that turned me off buying (and we won't be using him again when it comes time to upgrade my fiance's condo).
ReplyDeleteCatherine, if that is really at all possible.... well, it would be awesome. My dad has lived in the same few blocks since 1923. He's difficult; but I'd be willing to meet with someone and see if we could make a go of it. If you'd like to email me, please do at whiteflash93 at hotmail dot com. Not having to call and tell them to stay in the house because two murderers are on the loose would be great. (He doesn't stay in the house.)
ReplyDeleteAmy, I emailed you, if you don't get it, check spam. I'm willing to give it a try, maybe we can find somebody.
ReplyDeleteOh, we're supposed to look all busy and important, so people will be excited to work with US! Not being a narcissist (and most of the really good, nice agents I know are like me) I don't get that. That's where I think the I'm the Hottest Thing in Town! marketing strategy fails. I may be wrong, we'll see. But I'd rather be the "I actually have time to give a damn about you!" agent. Maybe I'm naive. We'll see.
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