MRoseSellsNJHomes

I have been a buyer's agent in Colorado Springs for awhile now and each time I take a buyer into a home, they usually make a comment within the first 5 seconds of entering the home.

I have a theory that each home has a "Vibe" to it and that vibe is noticed immediately.

The questions is- If your home is for sale, which Vibe do you want to portray?

Here they are from the point of view of the buyer looking at your home.

Vibe #1- Home has been neglected and may be bank owned. This vibe shows through the curb appeal (or lack thereof) with the weeds and trashy yard. When you walk inside this home, you usually see immediate repairs that need to be tended to. Often times the heat and lights are off in this home and it gives off a really bad vibe. This home could also be a divorce situation where they just want OUT. This type of home has one hope for getting sold- PRICE. It must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #2- I like to call this home vibe The Outdated Vibe. When you walk in this home, the first thing the buyer will comment about is the ugly color carpet or the old style fixtures. When you walk around this home, it may be clean, but it could have been built in 1970, 1980 or any other time that you FEEL when walking through the home. It may have window treatments that are nice, but in mauve and baby blue. Also, this home could have some really tacky wallpaper in the kitchen and bathrooms. There is really nothing WRONG with this home except the fact that it is living in a time warp. Some buyers can see past this and picture updates, but only if the PRICE is right. By RIGHT, I mean lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #3- This home is what I call the "Weird Layout" Vibe. When you walk in this house you feel it immediately. It may even start from outside the home where you have to take a path to the door that is on the side of the house in a weird location. You may see a coat closet in the dining room or a weird shaped kitchen that doesn't allow any space for standing- much less eating. This home could have a huge formal living room and teeny tiny bedrooms. You wonder what the person was thinking who designed this home. The layout  is not practical for most of the population. Unfortunately, the ONLY hope for selling this one is PRICE. Again, it must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #4- "Old People" Vibe. Now, I am not being mean here, I promise!  I have older parents, and many elderly clients that I dearly love, but buyers have commented to me on this vibe more than some of the others. They say "You can tell that elderly people live here."  When you walk around this home it is usually similar to the outdated vibe. Usually you see TONS of pictures on every inch of the walls and on every table imaginable. The grandkids are cute. However, the house smells a bit like Ponds Cream and usually is decorated with lace and doilies. There is some serious oldantique furniture throughout the home. I think this home is usually a very easy fix if you get a stager involved. It is sometimes hard to convince these sellers that you sell a house differently than you live in it. A stager will help these sellers appeal to all types and ages of buyers and possibly get them as much money as Vibe #5.

Vibe #5- "Smiley Face Vibe" When my buyers walk into this type of home I have seen a visceral reaction from them. They fall in love. They make comments like "OOOHHH, AHHHHH, This is SOOOO Nice." Now, this vibe often comes from brand new homes, completely remodeled homes or a home that has been staged to perfection. It is spotless and clutter-free.  When I walk in a home and feel this vibe, usually my buyer does, too. This home is the one you see when it is sold that brought the higher price. If I take my buyer to look at 5 homes, guess which one they want to put an offer on usually?

If you are asking yourself, "How do I make sure I give off that special VIBE to buyers?" I have your answer. Hire a Realtor that can help you by either suggesting improvements or pointing you in the right direction with a great stager. If the home needs TLC, it is easier to do it as it needs it, but an experienced Realtor can help before you put it on the market.

It is all about making a great first impression and presenting a winning VIBE!

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If you are looking for Real Estate in Colorado Springs call Kristi DeFazio at 719-459-5468

Kristi helps buyers find their dream home in Colorado Springs with that winning VIBE!

Kristi DeFazio

Realtor

RE/MAX Advantage

More about Kristi

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There is a lot of misinformation regarding the Do Not Call (DNC) rules and how they apply to real estate agents.  This isn’t surprising considering there are two federal agencies, The Federate Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulate telemarketing compliance; certainly guidelines from two federal agencies can be confusing.

Real estate agents are subject to both the FTC and the FCC regulations and must comply with all of the DNC rules. 

 

The following post is based upon Arch’s understanding of the rules as they exist today and with respect to how agents can remain compliant when calling call-captured leads, for sale by owner and expired listings. 

DISCLAIMER:  As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for advice of competent counsel.  Further, the content is only general information, which may or may not be correct, complete or current at the time of reading.  Arch Telecom expressly disclaims all liability relating to actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this article.

Question: Can sales calls be made to consumers on the DNC list?

Answer:  Yes, when there is an exception.  The rules:

• When there is an "established business relationship" exception to the National DNC provisions so that an agent may call a consumer with whom it has such a relationship, even if the consumer’s number is on the Registry.
• When a consumer has given the agent express written permission to call, even if the consumer’s number is on the Registry.

Question:  What constitutes an “established business relationship”:

Answer: A relationship between an agent and a consumer based on:

• The consumer’s inquiry or call regarding a product or service offered by the agent, within the three (3) months immediately preceding the date of a sales call; or
• The consumer’s purchase, rental, or lease of the agent’s goods or services or a financial transaction between the consumer and seller, within the eighteen (18) months immediately preceding the date of a sales call.

Question:  If a third-party pays for an agents services, can the third party make telemarketing calls relying on the business relationship exemption? 

Answer:  A third-party may make telemarketing calls on behalf of the primary business, about the products and services the customer inquired about.  However, they may not make telemarketing to consumers on the DNC list regarding unrelated products and services.

Question: Is it permissible to call back leads generated by call capture?

Answer:  Yes it is legal and acceptable business behavior subject to certain restrictions.  Call capture is intended to generate business relationships with prospects by providing a service to allow potential customers to request information 24 hours a day and also documents the inquiry.  This establishes the “business relationship” and therefore can safely be called back even when on the DNC.  The spirit and language of the regulation make it clear that the call is allowable AS LONG AS the resulting sales call is in regards to the services the consumer inquired about.

Question:  Can an agent make calls to for sale by owners on the DNC registry?

Answer: Only when the agent is calling to discuss the potential sale to their represented buyer.  In a February ruling, the FCC, despite significant lobbying by the NAR, denied the petition to make Realtors® exempt from the DNC rules with respect to for sale by owners. 

Question:  Can an agent make calls to for expired listings on the DNC registry?

Answer: In the same February ruling, the DNC rules only allow the agent to call his own expired listings for up to 18 months following expiration if the seller is listed on the DNC.

 

Question:  Are there other compliance issues to be aware of?

Answer:  Yes.  Beyond DNC issues, any sales calls are limited to between 8am and 9PM, and the seller must promptly identify themselves and the nature of the call.  For more information, visit the FTC site at:  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel13.shtm

In summary, any business selling to consumers must remain aware and compliant with the spirit and specific regulations of the National DNC list as well as the Telemarketing Sales Rule and state-specific regulations.  Call Capture, by helping to generate customer inquiries and business relationships, can effectively increase an agent’s ability to appropriately market their products and services.  Additionally Arch will provide fsbo and expired lists (in some areas) and scrub all lists, expired, fsbo or sphere of influence against the DNC.  For information please visit www.archagent.com

 

Making Your First Time Home Buying Experience Successful

Well the run has begun and the whirlwind of first time home buyersis picking up steam all across the country. Every buyer will want to know how understanding and using all of your first time home buyer options comes into play in their personal home buying goals.

BUYERS TAKE NOTE:

What many Realtors and lenders (and therefore buyers) don't understand is that the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is not the only first time home buyer incentive right now. Indeed in New Jersey we are looking at a handful of mortgage options including a $10,000 grant-assistance program, a 4% (of loan amount) grant-assistance program, a tax-prefund mortgage option which allows $5,000 of the $8,000 tax credit to be used for buying a home, and a zero-down (100%) financing option. And that is just in Gloucester County!

Why do I say that Realtors and lenders don't know about these options??

Because I talk to buyers (and Realtors) all the time that know little to nothing about such options. Buyers come to me because their agent or their current lender could not answer their questions about such program options.

BUYERS do not need to miss out!! Ask as many questions as possible! Work with a local agent and lender that know their FIRST TIME HOME BUYER STUFF!!!! Do not settle for a mediocre substitute!

Buyers can also check out: Understanding Seller Concessions | Seller Paid Closing Costs | Seller Contributions | Seller Assist

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail