Greetings Friends
Summer is around the corner and with any luck, your vacation plans are locked. But what about your life plans? How locked, or rather, fluid are they?
Because change by nature is unpredictable, in this month’s newsletter I’m offering a reliable resource to assist you whenever your real estate plans shift, sharing some insights on why homeowners should reevaluate their primary selling goal, and presenting a first look at a beautiful new listing on the canals in Venice.
It’s post time!
warmly/ps
The Value of the Being Connected
Life changes come at us fast. A new job necessitates relocation, multi-generational family matters evolve. Or perhaps you’re blessed to be considering a second home for vacay or investment purposes?
In any case, how will you find a reliable real estate advisor if not in your neighborhood? Google? Zillow? Cousin Sal?
For almost two years I’ve been building out a national referral network of high-performing realtors. These are associates I’ve personally vetted to better understand their methodology and how they view the client/agent relationship. And it is proving both valuable and necessary; over the past 6 months alone I’ve referred friends to partners in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Below are just two examples of realtors I would be proud to introduce you to. Just say "let's go" and I'll find you a great resource wherever your journey may take you.
THE BOSTONIANS: Ellen & Janis
I first met Ellen Grubert and Janis Lippman at a Compass Retreat in 2022, where I was impressed by their warmth, knowledge and sense of community. And it’s that last part that is so important. Because they have lived and worked in the same area for over 35 years, they have developed a sense of mission that compliments their deep understanding and appreciation of the neighborhoods they both serve and love.
Meet them in the video below and if you are interested in exploring the Boston area, I would love to make a connection.
Navigate the Waterways of Fort Lauderdale with Laurie Spector
You may know Fort Lauderdale as the Venice of America or as one of the country's top Spring Break destinations. To Laurie Spector, however, it's simply home.
As leader of one of the pre-eminent real estate groups in all of Florida, Laurie is a powerhouse who sets high standards. What does that mean for you? Accuracy, accountability, precision, and results! Now, as a licensed attorney, you’d likely expect all of that. But what is surprising is how much joy and passion she brings to the process.
Watch her story below and if you are considering a purchase or sale in the Ft. Lauderdale area, I’d be more than happy to make an introduction.
ARE YOU SURE THAT’S THE OBJECTIVE?
Most everyone will tell you the objective is to "get the best price in the shortest amount of time.” And while I don’t disagree, I believe it to be simply table stakes. The challenge with it as your only goal, however, is that it isn’t particularly measurable until after the fact when it’s too late to modify tactics. That’s why I prefer to focus my efforts on two smarter objectives.
* Maximize Buyer Interest
* Minimize Seller Risk
Focusing on these objectives gives us a new level of control over the outcome. We can measure results, learn and adapt to what the market is telling us. And I promise you when we succeed here, we almost certainly will "get the best price in the shortest amount of time."
So, let’s talk about why we strive to Minimize Seller Risk.
The worst thing that can happen to a seller is to get into escrow with a buyer and fall out two weeks later because we hadn’t done our due diligence. We need to know up front what the buyer is going to find out later so we don’t get blindsided. This typically means conducting an appraisal and a pre-inspection, giving us time to prepare – making repairs, setting pricing expectations and anticipating buyer resistance.
But we also need to understand who our prospective Buyers and Agents are so we can uncover the ones that will be good negotiating partners. One way I do that is by personally hosting all open houses so I can meet with prospective buyers and their agents as they come through. I can learn a great deal by how they view the property and how they interact with me; the questions they ask, the desires they express.
While disruption and risk are a part of every transaction, with good prep and great communication, we can keep them to a minimum.
Next month I’ll explain what I mean by Maximizing Buyer Interest, but in the meantime, if you’re meeting with a prospective realtor, ask them about their objectives and how they go about achieving them.
SOLD!
The initial strategy was often at odds with itself: she wanted to be on the west side, he wanted a “deal.” She wanted a quiet, family neighborhood to raise theirs, he wanted a “deal.” She wanted a backyard oasis to entertain family and friends, he (you guessed it) wanted a “deal.”
And in the end, everyone got what their heart desired.
6342 W. 80th Street Westchester 90045
* Offered at $1,649,000
* Sold at $1,605,000
