Tampa, FL - Home sellers... think hard before lowering your price!  Today's real estate market is fraught with uncertainty on many levels.  One of them is pricing strategy.  I suggest you do some homework before lowering the asking price of your home, (this does not apply to short sales and foreclosures).

How does your home stack up relative to other homes that are competing for similar buyers?  Is it larger?  Smaller?  Does it have nicer finishes (i.e. Granite or Marble vs. Formica)?  Has it recently been renovated?  All these things count for buyers, and any one might make a buyer willing to pay more if your home compares favorably.  For more on value, please see: http://www.prettydogrealty.com/Value.

Another area to research is the amount of traffic competing homes are getting.  If they are priced similarly, or lower, but they also are NOT getting much traffic, then price may NOT the problem - unless all these homes are overpriced, which is not likely.  It could just be the current market conditions - NO BUYERS, period - which certainly will change over time.  So, the next thing to consider is time... Do you have some?  Or do you need to sell quickly.  If you need to sell, price may loom larger in your decision making process.  But if you are not being forced to sell, and the quality (value) of your home compares favorably to competing homes in the area, and if others are not getting any more traffic than you are, it may be a good idea to hold your price until one of these factors changes, which could indicate its time to reassess.  It's a dynamic marketplace and there's no telling when things will change!

Tampa, FL - There are many good Realtors all over the country - people who take their real estate jobs seriously and who dedicate themselves to their clients and their business.  It's their livelihood and they treat it accordingly.  These folks return phone calls promptly, offer accurate directions to their listed properties, have adequate (at least) pictures of their listings, and do the real work required to be successful, whether they are working with a seller or a buyer.

There also are many bad Realtors out there.  These folks seem to make money in spite of themselves.  They make a living off the good natured, yet naive friends/clients who don't realize that their trusted agent is not very good at their job (I was being kind).  There are those who have many listings, but do the absolute minimum - only posting it in the MLS and an occaisional open house - to sell a property.  Others fail to return phone calls promptly (some of these might also be the ones doing the absolute minimum to sell a property).  And some have email addresses, but never respond to emails, even those that ask questions about a property they have listed.  A few don't answer their phone's, and don't return phone calls.  One such agent here in South Tampa has been guilty of all of the above, and this person has been, and still is very successful!

All these shortcomings do make a difference.  Potential buyers will walk away from properties represented by non-responsive Realtors, which extends the time to sale.  I know as I have clients who've done just that.  A client deserves better - even if they don't realize that better exists!  For a better Realtor, please visit: www.PrettyDogRealty.com.

So, let the 'client' beware, be they sellers or buyers... Choose your Realtor carefully, and that means asking relevant, difficult questions.  An agent isn't necessarily good just because they have been in the business for many years, or have many listings, or are a good friend.  That has been proven many times over.  They just know many people who are too lazy or trusting to take a little time to learn the truth about their 'good friend.'  A good agent will work just as hard for you after the papers have been signed.

I welcome your opinions.  Please feel free to add your comments!

Tampa, FL - I remember well the temptation to purchase a brand new car upon landing that first job after graduating from college, all too many years ago. I resisted the urge. Today, I look around and see recent grads in the same situation as I, but many succumb to this itch that seemingly needs immediate scratching, often buying a very expensive car that then necessitates a less than desirable living situation... Roommates. You may think that roommates are cool, but in reality, once college has come and gone, they often get old very quickly.

While the immediate gratification of a nice, expensive car may feel good, the euphoria usually fades rapidly and then reality sets in - you are now tied to a car, with its credit/payment ramifications, that limits your ability to accumulate the real wealth that enables early retirement and a better life. A car is... well... a car. It's good a getting from point A to point B. But, as one gets older, even as early as the 30's, it becomes very apparent that retirement is the key to real happiness. Retirement is real freedom. And, freedom equals happiness, which is why so many people move to the USA. Start working toward that today - there's plenty of time for nice cars tomorrow!

Everyone can achieve real freedom, but it comes with a cost... rather than spending tons of money on a depreciating asset - a car, especially an expensive one - one might be far better off by resisting the urge to impress the world at large with things, and focus on accumulating real wealth. One should consider buying real estate - a home - as soon as possible, which today could be as early as the day you land a job. This is how to accumulate real wealth at an early age, and how one can retire young and enjoy life to its fullest for a very long time, rather than just in the so called 'golden years.'

No one gave this advice to me when I was a recent grad, and I'm still working today. It is easy to look back and see how much money I could have accumulated had I just been a little more thoughtful about the choices I had made and the way I had lived my life. Had I simply purchased my first home when I was just 22, I'd have retired long ago.

So, I ask all recent college graduates to take advantage of the great first-time home buyer loan programs available today and get in the game! Resist the urge to purchase a Mercedes when a Honda, or even a Hyundai (e-gads...) will work just as well - even better if you ask some who have had nothing but trouble with their Mercedes. A couple of smart decisions today could give you plenty of time to buy an even nicer car a few short years from now, and you'll also be well on your way to retiring at a young age.

For more information, please visit: www.PrettyDogRealty.com 

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