Valerie Osterhoudt's Blog

Where do you draw the line when it comes to sharing information?  Since I've been in real estate (over 11 years now) I done a lot of work selling condos in the complex where I live, Cromwell Hills. I also done rentals in Cromwell Hills as well.  Which has lead to my building up a reputation of being a good, going above and beyond, Realtor. I've worked hard to get where I am now, by doing my due diligence for my clients.  To the point that I am now getting referrals from these people I've assisted.

With this, other agents and brokers in the area (going all the way to along the coast line of CT) are calling wanting to know how I am keeping deals together.  Who am I working with, can they have their names and numbers of these people and companies, because they are trying to sell condos in this complex too?  Cromwell, CTis in the center of the state and holds a lot of interest for many different reasons. One in particular is that being centrally located in the state, and gas prices still being over $4.00 a gallon here, commuting is optimal from this area.

My question is...Would you give all your contacts and connections to another agent to make their job easier, or would you graciously have them do this work themselves?  Where do you draw the line when it comes to sharing information?

This does not happen every day, and I wanted to share that when you price a property correctly... IT WILL SELL.

I did a CMA for a client at 843 Middle Street, Middletown, CT.  I spent time with her and went over all her options.  She took my suggestion of listing the property a *little* under Median price... which stood out from other listings in the area.

She might have priced it a *little* low, but she doesn't want to sit on the property month after month waiting for an offer.  Only to have to lower the price again... to where it is NOW.

After an open house I had.. thanks to my stuffed bear.... we had a multi offer situation... haven't seen this in years.  She might have priced it a little low initially, but the multi offer brought it over the Median price... IN LESS THAN 9 DAYS.....

I sat down to write up the offer on March 9th... and we closed April 19th... today.  Remember the "2 P's" in real estate sells property.... PICTURES AND PRICE.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2011 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... *** SOLD IN ***** 9 DAYS***** 843 Middle Street, Middletown CT***

The last time I knew, real estate was a profession that relied on communication.  Over the past year, I have seen this take a turn for the worse and has deteriorated.  What I want to know, is it just me, or is this the trend of how things have become?

Realtors are busy, especially now with the tax credit(s) coming to an end.  At least this is the way it is here in Cromwell CT.  There are more buyers looking then there was a year ago.. at least in this area.  But should a Realtor forgo communication with other Realtors and forgo professionalism? 

I call to get feedback after showings.. I know this is NOT the preference method any longer due to generated email responses.  But truly, have you looked at those forms.. they are generic and really don't get down to the details.  I service my clients and try to get the details they are looking for and doing this requires speaking with the buyers Realtor.  You can't tell a tone in a email and you can't question a response when just a box is checked off.  If you send an email to a Realtor with a question about there feedback, it takes hours/days for a reply,if you get one at all.  Who has time for this?  When a quick call takes little time, and it is done with.  As of late, I am not getting return calls.  I've learned to accept this, but I don't like it.

Now what really gets me is when a Realtor calls to schedule a showing for one of my listings.  Most time I need to confirm with with my client and then call the agent back.  In the past week, ready for this... I have scheduled 6 showings for one of my listings, and when I have called the agent back letting them know it is confirmed, but they will need to call me for showing instructions and the combination to the lockbox... I DO NOT GET A CALL BACK. I've called each of these Realtors 3 times, and not one return call. 

I've adapted this practice because as of late there are times that cell phone calls are not received.  To make sure the buyers agent has all the information, I feel speaking with them instead of leaving a message is the way to go, and doesn't leave any loose ends.

Only once, has one of the Realtors shown up expecting to get in, but never returned the call to know if it was a combination or electronic lockbox.  They didn't care what the showing instuctions were.  Non of the others ever showed up.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMUNICATION?  Is this something of the past... or just a trend of the times?

Advice for Buyers and Sellers... interview your Realtor to make sure you are getting the service you deserve.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.Cromwellrealestate.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

 Copyright ©2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... *** PROFESSIONALISM... IS IT A LOST ART????   ***

Last week Bob Stewart announced a new ActiveRain Challenge called Using Your Blog To Enhance Existing Relationships.  Write a post detailing how you have used the content of your blog to reach out to an existing prospect or client.

The purpose of my blogging is to provide information and to better educate prospective clients whether they be buyers or sellers.  Not always do they like to have their name in print on my blogs so I created a booklet that I keep in my office for prospects to take a look at.  In this it covers how ActiveRain is a place to get more information and what it has to offer... also there are events that happen in Cromwell, issues they should be aware of, as well as listings.

A link to my profile on ActiveRain is on the cover too.

Examples of blogs that I have created for prospective Buyers and/or sellers are:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1288773/jensen-s-fair-cromwell-ct

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1262831/annual-taste-of-cromwell-is-right-around-the-corner

http://activerain.com/blogsview/691610/time-to-interview-a-realtor

http://activerain.com/blogsview/799907/activerain-is-3-for-3-thank-you-give-yourself-a-pat-on-the-back

http://activerain.com/blogsview/465483/own-your-own-home-in-the-country

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE.. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

For real estate... all you need to know, is   VALERIEO

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low. For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889  cell- valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net.

Copyright © 2009 By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR, All Rights Reserved...*HOW TO USE YOUR BLOG TO CREATE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS*

Now that it is a buyers market and home prices are on the decline, YOU NEED TO PRICE AHEAD OF THE MARKET.    Years ago (WHICH IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE) the prices of homes kept going up, both the sellers and realtors liked this and would increase the price some to make adjustments for the market going in that direction.  But the buyers were on the outside looking in.  Now the tables have turned and the buyers are getting good deals. 

You wonder why there is a lot of inventory, and buyers are not buying??  The prices on the homes are inflated for the most part.  Sellers still want to get the price of years ago and are reluctant to list for less.  Most realtors don't want to price the home "ahead of the market" because they will not get as much of a commission.  In my mind both these parties are being greedy and not looking at the big picture.

We, the realtors are the PROFESSIONALS.  People are coming to us for "our" expertise.  This is a basic supply and demand market.  You have little inventory, price goes up... you have a lot of inventory, the prices comes down. We should have all learned this in real estate 101.

My sellers have listed their property (since the value of homes are coming down) a little above what they are closing at.  This way if the values come down even more they won't be out of the ballpark for offers, they will be ahead of the game.  Sure enough, these homes go under deposit in less than 2 months because the buyers feel they are getting a good deal.  The sellers are getting a good deal, because they are making as much of a profit as they can on present values.  The ones that list too high are still sitting there, paying their mortgage, taxes, (maybe condo fees) for months.  What does this all add up to? Perhaps they have spent thousands of dollars needlessly.  If the seller/realtor figures out what 6 months of sitting on the market with no contract has cost them, and if they had put their house on the market for this amount less then what they originally put it at, their home might be under deposit at this point.

For most of these sellers they will be looking to purchase a home elsewhere once their home sells... now you are the buyer shoes and you will be wanting a good deal.  So sellers put yourselves in the buyers position... PRICE AHEAD OF THE MARKET.

 What is our time worth as realtors and homeowners?  THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE GREEDY.