I did a post like this a few months back, I realized since I learn something new every week I most certainly have more to share! Since it has been so long since I posted the first "what I learned" perhaps i should title it "What I learned in Real Estate these last few months......"
Anyway, here goes:
- When a seller goes out of town, you will get showings on their property galore, one of those showings will hopefully bring you an offer.
- You do not have to listen to another agent bully you over the phone. Period. It is far easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar....some agents unfortunately, don't believe this.
- If your listing goes under contract, run by the house & put a "Contract Pending" or a "Under Contract" rider on your sign, you never know who's watching the home & want's to chat about selling their home.
- It's a great time to show homes when it's raining, it cools the city off!
- ALWAYS pack a few snacks in your car when showing homes, ESPECIALLY if you are pregnant & need an extra pick me up in between homes.
- When showing homes & walking into the backyard, keep in mind some back doors lock themselves automatically (oops!), bring someone with you who is able & willing to jump fences to let you back into the home!
AND, last but not least.......
- Docusign.com is by far the most excellent Real Estate tool EVER invented. EVER.
Kristin Moran
Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
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RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner
KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com
Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!
I've been locked in the back yard and that's why I do two things when I show houses. I never close the front door (unless there's a cat, but I won't lock the door), and I always twist the handle of the backdoor several times before going out there to make sure it's not going to lock on me.
I learned I can be on vacation and still do business (of course I knew this prior) but it is funny how you get busy when you are gone! I take my office with me in the clouds :)
Kristin - My second ever listing had a backdoor that autolocked. It also had no gate in the backyard and REALLY tall, overgrown bushes on either side of the house. Nice shoes, dress pants, tie - the whole deal. I got caught in the fence and tour my pants. Everything I had got dirty. I was so bummed, but had to laugh. Then thought about the fact that I was there because I was listing the home - that made everything better.
I have never been locked out, but I am so afraid this will happen to me or that I will leave my own keys and the house key on the inside of the house when I shut the door, that I always leave the house key either in the door or on the stoop outside. This way I can always get back in.
Kristin,
Like Jo says, "As soon as you leave town for a day, someone will want to list their home with you NOW, or an offer will come in on a listing!".
Thanks for the "Thank You" card, picked it up Sunday. You're the first to ever send us one for a referral.
And also Congratulations on getting Kelly and Lee under contract! Dad just let me know and showed me the Shadow Run home on Realtor.com. Nice place for the $$.
Bill
Hi Kristin,
Some good thoughts...........what kind of snacks do you want?
Donna - Great tips! I guess there's a first time for everything, thankfully the front door was unlocked!
Jo - It happens everytime, eh? I LOVE it!
Matt - Bummer! Good that you got the listing, BUMMER you went through that. Certain things always make us think, oh! never do that again, eh?
Bill - You are so welcome! Thank you for the referral! Wow! Good news travels fast, eh? We had a busy couple of days, finally found something that they liked, I am so excited for them! Really nice people, so glad I got to help them find their first home!
Hi Robert! - When i'm starving, i'm easy! I was waiting on a buyer the other day, ran into Walgreen's & ate Swedish Fish, not very filling but I was ready to check out a few homes after that :D.
Watch when you walk out an upstairs sliding glass door and on to the balcony that locks behind you. You wave at folks going by to see if they will come in and come upstairs to unlock the door....but they just wave back. You really are desperate. Thanks to Ceil and my cell phone she came to the rescue.
Wow- I hope all of these scenarios did not happen to you in one day. Hungry, pregnant, locked out in the hot sun, you name it.
I don't trust locks either! I'm not a Realtor but I often am locked out of my Mother's home when I visit, they have one of those sneaky doors to the patio that automatically locks every time, I can't stand it.
"It is far easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar"... =) This was one of my mother's most common sayings/instructions... I really miss her.
I chuckled reading your post, Kristin.
I don't perform bullet #3. Instead I personally and privately let the neighborhood know. I've found that "Pending" signs diminish calls from buyer prospects.
In my clime, bullet #4 just makes things more humid and seller's hate showings on rainy days when folks track additional mud into their home.
I'll keep bullet #5 in mind should I ever become pregnant.
And bullet #6 has only happened to me once. The showing keys now remain in my pocket after that learning experience.
Hi Kristen, I agree Docusign is a fantastic tool, no more blurry faxes to read.
I remember an incident about this time last summer with an agent who was a mean ol' bully.......
Major pain in the butt!