Feb. 15, 2007 - The Post Card

As I stated at the end of yesterdays post, I have recently received a "Just Sold" post card from one of the local real estate agents.  The main thing that caught my eye was the statement he made that if you gave him your home to list he would "sell it in 69 days or I'll sell it for FREE...GUARANTEED!*.".  Then in very tiny and blurred print at the bottom of the card it says "*some restriction apply".  I promised you yesterday that I would do a post about what I thought those "restrictions" might be. 

In all fairness I went to his web site to try and see if I could find those "restrictions" listed there.  Unfortunately the offer is not extend on the site, so I could not get a clue.  I guess I will just have to tap into my own expertise to see what it would take for me to extend a "guarantee" like this.

First and foremost, I would have to warn you that if I was going to sell it in 69 days or less we would have to definitely price it below market value.  The average market time in this area is 82.6 days.  That tells me that your average priced listing would take about that much time to sell so to get the job done we would really want to go low.

Then we would have to discuss the condition of your house.  All of those minor little defects that you have lived with so easily over the years are going to have to be repaired.  If you want to beat the average, your house is going to have to be above average.  There is a current inventory of 222 houses available in the area right now and with an average market time of 82.6 days, smart buyers, with savvy buyers agents are not in any great hurry to settle for just anything.  We will need to put this under priced listing in move in condition.

Next I would have to tell you that "free" is really not free at all.  If it took more than 69 days to sell, you would still have to pay the cooperative compensation listed in the MLS to the buyers agent.  They have nothing to do with this "guarantee" and they are going to want to be paid.

Do you see why this gimmick caught my eye?  Failed "by owners" and other bargain hunters may well call him because of this post card, only to learn that "free" really isn't a great bargain after all.  This will only justify the reasons they have for trying to go it alone any way.  In my not so humble opinion a better, more truthful and still pretty effective hook would be, "I'll sell it in 90 days or I'll give you 50% OFF THE COMMISSION...GUARANTEED! A fair market price restriction applies." 

Is your REALTOR® putting it all up front and on the table?  I am. 

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.

Feb. 14, 2007 - Introducing The New Gene Molloy

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, moms and dads, readers of all ages, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the new Gene Molloy.  No longer will I be know as Gene Molloy the real estate agent.  From now on I shall be referred to as Gene Molloy the real estate broker.  That's right folks, after much studying, test taking and the proving of my upstanding moral character I am now a full blown real estate broker.

The difference is almost undetectable to the naked eye.  It's kind of like waking up on your birthday and looking in the mirror.  You look and feel pretty much like you did the day before, but you have officially attained a new level of maturity.  You may even be eligible for a new perk or two.  Perhaps you qualify for the senior citizen discount that eluded you yesterday.  Maybe you can finally buy into that new 55+, active adult community you've been longing to move to.  I'm sure you get the gist.  You simple just have more options than you did before.

Actually, I'm pretty proud of myself.  Because of all my newly acquired knowledge, the last deal I turned into the office was absolutely flawless, proving that if nothing else I have become a better i doter and t crosser. 

Of course posting to my blog has suffered because I was so tied up and I apologize if I sent anyone into withdrawals.  Maybe now I can get back to it on a steadier basis.  There are still rants to rant about and raves to rave.  The home buying and selling public still needs to have their questions answers.  The people out there that are an asset to the industry still need to be recognized.  The people out there that are a detriment to the industry still need to be exposed.  I can not and will not rest on my laurels.  I will forge ahead.  As a matter of fact, I am looking at a just sold post card right now where the sender says "I'll sell it in 69 days or I'll sell it for FREE...GUARANTEED!*."  I notice that asterisks there, do you?  Getting out my magnifying glass I see the tiny blurred print says "*some restrictions apply". Check back in folks, because my next posting is going to be about what those "restrictions" just might be.  

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.